Sid Meier's Pirates!
Received too late to review. This is a back of the box review.
Sid Meier's Pirates! received unprecedented critical acclaim when it was first
released in 1987 and set the industry standard for innovative game design with its unique
blend of open-ended role-playing, real-time adventures and thrilling action sequences
The new games uses an entirely new game engine and delivers updated gameplay,
spectacular 3D graphics and many new features.
The newPirates! carries on with the great gameplay and design simplicity
tradition of the original while adding more challenging and exciting battle options, and a
deeper and more varied role-playing experience. In the leading role as a Pirate Captain in
the 17th century Caribbean, you explore high seas and exotic ports, overtake enemies in
fierce naval battles, engage in duels and try to seize valuable booty in an attempt to
become the most revered and feared pirate in history.
Hey, I hear that there is romance and dancing in this one. The boys will probably barf. - ed.-
Reviewed by: Editor - 12/04
Of course with the Sid Myers name on irates! you are bound to get a history lesson on colony life in the 1800. In deciding who you will ally with you discover the spheres of influence of the French, Spanish and English and get to take part in power grabbing. Pirating was a upwardly mobile profession in those days.
A folded up map is provided which I found at first, not being the usual Mercator's projection hard to read -- but soon learned the distinguish between friendly and enemy ports. It is easy enough to start the game. As a junior, many of your faults and mistakes are forgiven - enough so, that you can get to develop your skill. And, thank to you Sid Meyer, you don't die, maybe get your ship and sunk and thrown into prison -- but that provides yet another opportunity for learning.
You learn to plunder, instead of just sinking the ship along with the treasure. Being a pirate is more than sailing and plundering. You have to do ship maintenance, barter and sell, acquire sailors and court the governors and viceroys.
And there's romancing the governor's daughter which involves gift giving and dancing. The dancing requires key stokes in time to music. Easy for those who have done dance games. The boys will probably barf.
Reviewed by: Editor - 06/05
Ages: Everyone -- Violence, Suggestive Themes