Sid Meier's Pirates!

Post by **Ddrak** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:10 pm

Had a quick look at this game, and if you ever played the original on the C-64, Mac or Amiga you'll instantly recognize and enjoy it. It's pretty much the same game as the original except in very well rendered DX9 form and a lot of stuff I'm sure they wanted to do in the original being put in.

I played the original to death back on my C64 - probably will play this one to death too...

Dd

Akhbarali · Post by **Akhbarali** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:17 pm

I read that this version is very similar to the original (which was a turn off to some degree even though I loved the original back in the day) but if the combat is substantially different I would definitely be interested. Did they alter ship to ship and/or land combat? How about dueling?

Akhbar

Post by **Ddrak** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:28 pm

I can't comment on ship to land - didn't get that far yet. The web site suggests they did some work in that area to give different types of units and armaments but I don' think it's going to be anywhere near as complex as any sort of military simulation.

Ship to ship combat is similar but much smoother - you get to sail around firing cannon until you get close enough to board. There's various upgrades for your ships that affect combat (different types of cannon, hull plating, lighter sails etc.) but essentially it is the same concept. The web site mentions multiple ship combats but I didn't get far enough into it to see.

Duelling is also similar in design with a lot of fun graphics laid over the top. Playing initially on 'easy' and having skill in fencing made it pretty much trivial to win though.

The biggest change that I noticed was you see all the other ships on the ocean as you sail around, rather than just waiting for a 'you see a mast on the horizon' messagebox. Lets you either dodge other pirates with your fleet, or go straight for the Spanish.

They've also added some extra plotline elements (you have to find/rescue your family from slavery to some evil Marquis) but mostly it is very much the original game with some appropriate extensions where the advances in technology allow them, rather than anything truly new.

Dd

superwalrus · Post by **superwalrus** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:04 pm

holy jesus, this is awesome! I played the original PIRATES! a lot more than any other game growing up.

Walrus

Akhbarali · Post by **Akhbarali** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:41 pm

Just grabbed a copy at lunch today and it looks great. Read over the changes and they all make a lot of sense to me. Can't wait to get home and give it a try.

Akhbar

Post by **Relbeek Einre** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:01 pm

Lemme know if they remake the Starflight series.

SabiarofErudin · Post by **SabiarofErudin** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:54 am

Is this in anyway related to the original nintendo game "Pirates"? I just remember playing the hell out of that game when I was a wee little one. Although my favorite game on the NES was by far l'empereur. Sad huh?

SicTimMitchell · Post by **SicTimMitchell** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 11:31 am

I loved Pirates on the Amiga.

The one bummer was that eventually your pirate got old and had to retire. I understand this is still part of the new game. (You could start a new pirate of course, but.)

-=Xilanthanax=- · Post by **-=Xilanthanax=-** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:31 pm

woo, nintendo pirates. http://vimm.net/vault/NES/details.php?file=pirates

-=Xilanthanax=- · Post by **-=Xilanthanax=-** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:32 pm

Boo, you'll have to look around on the site for it.. it won't support direct linking, my bad.

As far as gameplay goes, this is the best ""sim"" out there, and it is no surprise that it was designed by Sid Meier of SimCity fame. You play a novice pirate with a skill in one of five categories; Navigation, Fencing, Gunnery, Diplomacy, or Medicine. Each has a different game effect, and all are worth trying. You are given command of a ship, and you set out attacking ships and towns to gain money and buy supplies. You can align yourself with one of the four nations and become a privateer, or mercenary pirate, and in return for your services you can be granted titles and land. You can also trade goods (either bought or stolen) to amass personal wealth. In your travels you can also meet diplomats (any their lovely daughters), as well as find maps to buried treasure. The gameplay is, in short, perfect.

So it looks like it may have been.

JamiesanTGrauerwolf · Post by **JamiesanTGrauerwolf** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:42 am

Loved the game when I played it on my amiga back in the day. I will eventualy own this.

Akhbarali · Post by **Akhbarali** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 4:29 pm

It's great. Just enough like the old one that it feels very comfortable but enough new content and updated mechanics to make it seem fresh as well. Invading towns is way better, swordplay about the same and ship to ship much more challenging (although you can still win battles against far superior ships if you are very skilled at running and gunning). More quests, more objectives and a smarter AI (especially with regards to swordplay at hte highest difficultly level) make for a great expereince. Game pacing is also excellent. Getting rejected by the governor's daughter for dancing poorly was pissing me off but I found that sacking a few towns and putting their old man to the sword made the sting of rejection go away.

Akhbar

Araden · Post by **Araden** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 5:23 am

I played the original sid meir Pirates game on a tandy computer, back in 88 or so. Played starflight too back then, miss both of those games.

The new one support a joystick? I might have to buy it....

Post by **Ddrak** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:19 am

I just use the keypad. Not sure about a joystick.

Dd

Akhbarali · Post by **Akhbarali** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:33 pm

I played the original with a joystick but have adjusted to the keyboard controls without a problem. I no longer have a joystick on my 'puter so have not checked to see if this game supports one.

Akhbar

Brell Rants

Sid Meier's Pirates!

Sid Meier's Pirates!

hmmm