Sid Meier’s Pirates!

This is an excellent remake/update to the original Pirates!, which I used to play endlessly on Commodore 64 as a kid. Read this review with that in mind, especially if you're like me and somehow spent the last 13 or so years under a rock and failed to get this game. Often what happens with remakes that are separated from the original by decades is that while the graphics are shiny, the soul is lost. Fortunately, this is not the case with Pirates!. The back story and the way to move up and ahead remain unchanged, which is good news. There are some added features, like special items, specialist crew members, which make the game better. Personally, I really like the addition of the dancing mini-game - although I must say I had a hard time mastering it and would have evaluated it quite differently, had I been writing this review much earlier. It really fleshes out this aspect of the game. One thing I really loved in the game is the introduction of health. In the C64 version, the game simply ended after about ten years on the seas. When one had played it through the 20th time, one basically knew when this would come of course. In this version your character ages, suffers wounds and deprivation if in gaol or stranded on deserted island, and his health deteriorates as a result. Thus, if you play really well, avoid being struck or defeated in combat, buy the herbs that keep the sickness away, you may extend the game but sooner or later age will catch up with you and force you to retire. All in all, this is an outstanding game, which I replayed many-many times. Go, get it, and make the Caribbean tremble!

Playing as a Guybrush Threepwood-looking young sailor lad, you embark on a quest to rescue your family from the cruel noble who enslaved them and stole their fortune. Along the way, you can discover buried treasure, have a duel with Blackbeard, plunder Spanish treasure galleons, woo the beautiful daughters of governors, become a decorated naval hero, and get revenge on the evil Marquis Montalban. Pros: Swashbuckling adventure, graphics that are slightly dated but still serve their purpose admirably, lots of things to do and collect, decent, minimalist music, an enjoyable plot, wide variety of ships, and open, free exploration of the Caribbean with the choice to do anything you want in almost any order. The pirate encyclopedia also has some fun historical info about the notorious pirates you'll face in battle. It's a Disney-fied 1600s setting where everything is sparkling clean, nobody drinks or bleeds and all deaths are off-screen, but depending on your point of view, that might be part of the charm. Cons: Sailing is extremely time-consuming and tedious, ruling out all but a few ships because the others are just too damn slow. The biggest flaw is the repetition- you'll be watching the exact same cutscenes dozens of times, and it sucks a lot of the reward out of the main goals. Rescuing a family member, victorious the first time you do it, becomes rather hollow when every one (and there are only four) has the exact same reaction, with the same animation, in the same shack. The gameplay is the same- when you've seen one swordfight or ship battle, you've basically seen them all, though they do try to slightly mix up the defeat of the main pirates, at least, almost as if deliberately hanging a lampshade on how similar it all is. The ballroom dances are a chore and last far too long, but you'll want to do them to get valuable items and information. Finally, and this might just be me, the difficulty seems to ramp up mercilessly as soon as you pass the lowest setting.

Set sail on a course for fun. Seriously, this is just a crazy fun game; It never gets old. You decide whether to rescue your lost family, marry a governor's daughter(or romance them all), hunt down villains, or defeat the main pirates and steal their treasure. Regardless of your choice: It will be fun. Simple and intuitive and somewhat repetitive in places doesn't really hurt the game play and compelling story. No adventure is ever the same in PIRATES! Also, if it ever gets too easy then just play on the SWASHBUCKLER level and shut up. LOL Great game!!

I am not a gamer... actually this is the only game that I play. I love it... it feels like I am out there in the Carribbean travelling with them! I highly recommend it

aside from Civilization, Pirates is Sid Meiers most enduring series, and its high time to get a new remake of this classic. Until then, enjoy this game's expressive and fun art style, accessible yet deep RPG and sim aspects, and nicely big but not too big world.