Developer: Firaxis

Publisher: 2K Games

Systems: PC (reviewed), Mac, Xbox, PSP

Release Date: Nov. 22, 2004

ESRB Rating: E

Official Web site

0:00 I've heard very good things about this game for years, and have a friend who's been trying to get me to play it for nearly as long (hi, Mike). That said, I probably wouldn't be touching it if it weren't freely available on my GameTap account.

0:01 A pirate opens a chest and finds the Firaxis logo. The 2K logo just fades in as normal. Bleh. The title appears over a cloud-covered map of the sea. The cursor becomes a ship's steering wheel during some long-ish loading.

0:03 The best thing about playing old games on my crappy computer: For once I can turn the video settings ALL THE WAY UP. *flex*

0:04 "It began with a celebration. Indebted for years to the Marquis de Motalban, a family's prosperity was soon to be restored -- carrying both their hopes and their salvation." Scenes of a 3-D family laughing and drinking at a dinner party. Then the Marquis comes with bad news: The fleet has been lost and the debt's come due. The family's property is seized by redcoats. The kid of the family tries to fight back, then runs off. "While his family was enslaved, the boy swore revenge." Ten years later, we pan over the docks, and see the now-grown boy begin his quest. I'm not sure how I feel about the silent, all-text and animation story presentation.

0:06 "Seeking passage to the new world, you inquire at a public house." A guy hands my character, a clean-cut muscular boy, a "crew sign-ups" parchment. The default name is "Incognito," which tickles me so much that I decide to use it.

0:07 I can sign on with the French, Spanish, Dutch or English fleets by clicking on stereotypical captains sitting at wooden tables. The Dutch guy looks the most contemptuous, and really, when else am I going to play a Dutch character? "Welcome aboard, Mr. Incognito. We sail with the tide."

0:08 I'm washing the deck, minding my own business in a cut scene, when the captain comes over and slaps me. "Pushed beyond all decency, the crew mutinies!" Fight scene! Too bad I'm just watching. My character fights with a fellow crew member atop the sail, jumps down, grabs a rope, and swings into the captain's face. Everyone cheers as we send the captain off in the lifeboat. I'm now the captain? Well that was easy! We make our way into the Caribbean, "A fortune to be had. A family to rescued. Revenge to be served. Your destiny awaits you." Whoa... heavy!

0:09 Off to the Dutch outpost of St. Martin, a modest city with 1,600 people. Steel drum music plays in the background... a nice touch! I talk with the governor first. "You may be interested to know that we are at war with the evil Spanish, the perfidious English and the slimy French." Well that about covers everyone, huh? He gives me a letter allowing me to plunder and kill those on enemy ships. The English St. Kitts is nearby to the southeast, so I'm off to hunt for bounty...

0:12 ... But first, the Tavern. A busty barmaid tells me of the "Sea Otter" rumored to be going to San Juan with 1,000 gold! A band of 20 men offers to join my crew of 40 (that was easy, too!). The more the merrier, right? A "mysterious traveler" offers me a secret treasure map for 200 gold. Hey, nothing ventured... right? The map tells me to search "West of San Jaun" and even has a big X marking the spot. Nice!

0:15 Off to the merchant, with a simple interface for trading -- my stuff on the left, his on the right. I have 400 gold and four months' worth of food. I buy a couple more months of food and also some sugar and spice (no option for "everything nice").

0:17 I could get copper plating to make the ship turn faster, but it costs 500 gold. I knew I shouldn't have bought that treasure map...!

0:18 Come sail away with me... I click somewhere on the ocean to move the ship, but the game suggests I use the keyboard instead. FINE! 4 and 6 turn, while other buttons raise and lower the sails. Seems my speed is at the mercy of the wind...

0:19 Before I can really do anything, I run into the Sea Otter... the one with all the gold! They have more men than me but fewer cannons. ATTACK!

0:23 That battle was surprisingly fun. I was expecting a simple turn-based thing, but instead I get a battle of positioning and accuracy on the high seas! It's all about circling around and trying to line up astride the other ship, then firing a variety of cannon balls. Having speed dictated semi-randomly by the wind is a neat twist, too. In the end they run out of guns and I approach and take over. "A wealth in gold and plunder are yours for the taking!" That means 1,000 gold, 45 tons of sugar and three cannons. Huzzah!

0:25 Apparently I lost eight crew in the attack. I can use 21 of the remaining 52 to take over the new ship, or just sink it. Hey, what's a pirate fleet without more than one ship? Let's keep her!

0:26 Round about St. Kitts, our "fleet" runs into the English Coastal Baroque "Nutmeg." I'll see you on the other side of the battle.

0:28 Well that was fast. I fire one chain shot and they surrender. Wimps. I guess our more impressive numbers scared them. This time we get 15 enemy sailors volunteering to join our merry band. "Welcome aboard, lads." Also: 500 gold, 17 tons of food, 10 tons of "luxuries", 10 tons of "spice" and EVEN MORE GUNS! I'm strangely invested in the amount of booty I'm plundering here.

0:31 "News of your victory spread quickly... The French governor of Montserrat may be inclined to give you a promotion the next time you're in town." The Dutch Gov. of St. Eustatius, same. Coo.

0:32 Hey, St. Eustatius is right there. Let's talk to the Governor! "In recognition of your service to the Dutch crown, I am pleased to promote you to the rank of Captain. Congratulations!" Wow, this is moving very quickly. Now crew recruiting will be easier at Dutch ports, I'm told.

0:33 The governor's attractive daughter enters the room. "My, Mr. Incognito, you are quite a handsome young ruffian. Perhaps when you have achieved the rank of Colonel, you could escort me to the grand ball!" Hey, what's with this mushy stuff? I thought this was a game about VIOLENT PIRATES!

0:34 In the tavern, I get 13 new crew, a barmaid tells me about another ship with more gold and I get another "mysterious traveler" offer -- this time for a French Chapeau that'll get me into the ball. For 1,000 gold? No, thanks!

0:36 Interesting... spice is more expensive here than it was in St. Martin. I sell all I have, plus the "luxuries" I got from the ship. That means more money and space in the hold for food! I now have a year's supply. Huzzah!

0:38 I repair my ships and and upgrade 'em with "fine powder" so they can fire farther. Again, moving quickly... the interface is very intuitive and fast.

0:39 No sooner do I sail away then I get a "fame point." Don't ask me why, it's not explained specifically.

0:40 I go to attack St. Kitts, but my 44 pirates are no match for the 440 soldiers stationed there! The game doesn't even let me attempt the attack. Probably for the best...

0:41 In the English port of Nevis, however, the governor welcomes me and gives me a letter allowing me to attack his enemies. That means I can attack the Dutch now, too? Sweeeet!

0:43 I get 34 new men in the tavern, and the mysterious traveler gives free information about prices in a nearby port. The bartender tells me the best place to sell sugar too. I love this town!

0:44 The English Sloop "Desire" has two fewer guns and two fewer men than me. Should be a good battle! Let's-a go!

0:47 That was tough, mainly because I find it hard to aim with chain shot. Would a target reticle be too much to ask for. Ah, I guess that wouldn't be very piratey, now would it? Anyway, I take a lot of damage this time, shown via holes in sails, fire on ship, etc. Was it worth it for 678 gold and some food and luxuries. Barely...

0:48 The Dutch West Indiaman "Liesbeth Hudson" has only eight guns and 34 men. Even with my ship damaged, it's an easy conquest that nets me 21 sailors, 309 gold and lots of food and spices. Yum.

0:51 Back to St. Martin to get some repairs and upgrade to Copper plating (which, somehow, helps me turn faster).

0:53 I feel bad battling against a Dutch ship, since I started out with the Dutch. But, whatever, pirates can't have sympathy. Yarrr!


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0:55 I sell a bunch of Luxuries in wealthy Nevis, but I can't sell them all because the merchant hasn't enough money. Phoo.

0:56 An English Brig has many more guns and men than I do. Since the hour's almost up anyway, let's save and try a battle anyhow!

1:00 It's a battle for the ages. Early on we stay far apart, lobbing volleys at each other across the ocean. My more maneuverable ship can dodge as the shots are sailing through the air. Meanwhile, I methodically take out their weapons. As the battle goes into the night the wind dies and we're caught trading blows at a standstill. When the wind comes back near dusk, I'm running circles around the battered enemy ship. When his mast comes crashing down he finally gives up. I get 48 sailors, a bit of gold and a LOT of food and guns. Huzzah!

Would I play this game for more than an hour? Yes.


Why? All of the good stuff about simulations (a sense of control and accomplishment from building something up) without the bad stuff (micro-management, slow pace). Plus some kick-ass strategy/action battle sequences to boot. What's not to like?

This column is based on a retail version of the game downloaded from GameTap.

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