If you are a fan of the original Pirates, and have been waiting for a *good* update that takes advantage of modern hardware, then you will not be disapppointed with this new release. Not a whole lot has changed gameplay wise, which is a good thing. I was able to jump right into playing without reading the manual, as the gameplay was very familiar. They didn't try to muck the game up with too many details and extra sequences, although the ones they did add fit in nicely with the game. For example, swordfighting an enemy captain is still there, but it is much more cinematic, and gives you a little more control with the ability to jump and duck, as well as taunt your enemy. Sneaking into a hostile town has been updated with a sequence that has you avoiding and knocking out guards, and impressing the governors daughter requires you to follow her steps in a dancing sequence. While the dancing sequence is my least favorite of the group, performing well can win you special items to use in the game (and they are quite handy). While each of the mini-games can get a little repetetive, they all fit together very nicely and make for a quite addictive game of Pirates. Firaxis did very nicely on the graphics, as the ships are nicely detailed, they bob and lean in the wind, and the clouds and storms add nicely to the effect. I'm going to go out on a limb and make a comparison to "the sims" in that Pirates doesn't have an ultimate goal (although there are quests and a storyline that has you rescuing your family) so much as you are trying to make your career as impressive as you can before you finally retire. It's a quite open-ended game where you can make as many friends and enemies as you like. - If you loved the original, then this new version will not disappoint. If you never played the original, but enjoy open ended games like "the Sims" then its quite possible you will enjoy the light-hearted "Pirates!"
When I began playing 'Pirates!' I was captivated by the colourful graphics and allround atmosphere of the game. But slowly, as the hours past by, I realized there wasn't nearly enough to do and that the game was extremel... Read Full Review
Sid Meier's Pirates! is one of the few games that caught the essence of its predecessor and mixed with new technological features to create a magnificent game, both on gameplay and graphics, and why to do not mention, th... Read Full Review
