Pirates! Gold Plus

You cannot select the sword before a fight in this version. It should be possible to choose from rapier, longsword, and cutlass. Cursor key control is erratic at best in ship fights. Ship sailing speed seems too slow in pinnace vs pinnace combat.

The game that put Sid Meier on the map (released two years before 'Civilization'), 'Pirates!' is a game with a shocking amount of depth and variety. While it's not too much less vague then most of the PC RPG's of the era, there is absolutely nothing that you HAVE to do - You can travel anywhere and do anything that you want at any time you want. As a result, the vagueness isn't frustrating because you can learn where everything is with no pressure of having any goals or missions to accomplish. And don't worry - If you think the lack of objectives will make the game boring, it doesn't. There's enough to do- trade with merchants, raid villages, battle and loot ships, and of course fence -that you'll be entertained for hours on end. Though the controls, specifically of the ship, can be a bit stiff and unresponsive at times, this is probably the best sandbox game that could have been made in 1987, and no doubt the best that was.

First, I don't know what "BLIND3RDEYE" has played. But what he has written it not the truth and 2 stars are wrong. The PC Version of Pirates Gold has all the features of the classic game and some improvements. Like the captains cabin and many more. The sword fighting was the same like at the old Amiga version. The graphics were great and at 1993 they were to change to 800x600 SVGA !!! The amiga / ataris version is never better and many years older. Don't change this with the Pirates Gold Sege Mega Drive/Genesis or Amiga CD32 version. ithe graphic is not the same. For me as a PC User 1993 I was the luckiest player as Pirates Gold with such great graphics and improvements was released. Because, before we had only the first original version similiar to the C64. There were to choose at the best: EGA colours!!! And the game starts only with a boot disks. the graphic was horrible, but with enough imagingation in your mind, you could play it over months. The sound was from the internal pc speaker. Sure the Amiga version was better at this, I agree, but never better than the Gold version. So if you want to play this game, play the PC Gold version. (800x600) (check also Pirates! from 2003 or Port Royale 1+2)

the original sid meier's pirates 1987/89 is still my favorite game. i still own the original box, map, disks, manual. ive gone to explore other versions of the original, NES, Sega, japanese PC-88 & PC-98, Amiga, and of them all i believe the IBM-PC Dos (and dos booter) versions are the best example of this work of art. the difficulty levels are fairly balanced, simple progression, simulated high seas adventure, economics and politics. this game taught me more about the Caribbean geography, locations, history and intrigue than any textbook or school class room; even the History channel documentaries are pale comparisons of the level of detail. with the timeframe a back drop of classical music parades through your PC speaker (or Tandy) as you explore towns and navigate dangerous waters. hoping to your last breath that someone more experienced and powerful than you does not take everything you own, especially your life. your main goal is to save your family and aquire massive fame and wealth. nothing is more challenging than life itself.

This is a great game, but stay clear of the Gold edition being sold here. Full of bugs and controlling the ship in the open sea battles is next to impossible (unless you want to do it with a mouse, which is not very comfortable nonetheless). The DOS version is acceptable, but the very best among the classic versions are the Amiga and Sega Genesis ones. I bought the pack being sold here for a clean conscience (and the great manuals), but ended up playing the terrific Sega Genesis edition through an emulator.