Sid Meier's Pirates!

[Peterson]

Hey all,

I'm looking at getting a new desktop computer, and everyone knows if you buy a new computer, you have to buy a new computer game, right? Right.

Anyway, I'm a huge fan of Sid Meier's work, as well as a die hard player of the old 1987 Pirates! original game.....

So, my question is - has anyone played the newly released remake? Is it as cool as it sounds? Are there serious bugs or annoying parts (like GTA: SA's "dance craze" session for example)?

Thanks in advance,

Peterson

 

[evildmguy]

I had the original game on my C64 and I loved it. I bought this with a lot of trepidation because of how much fun the original was.

This game is all that and more.

Imagine the first game but with better graphics and sound! Graphics don't always make the game but this one has it all. I have truly enjoyed it and if you liked the first one, you will like this one!

Arrrrr! Good luck, matey!

Have a good one! Take care!

edg

 

[devilish]

Very addictive! Lots of lost time to the darn game.

Haven't encountered any bugs -- only one 'story' bug where
a rogue that I captured (part of the family storyline) keeps
coming back kidnapping other family members. Would be nice
if it was a new pirate/rogue/person, etc.

As stated in the reviews, you can take multiple paths -- either
as a trader, a pirate, a politican (escorting boats, dancing with daughters,
transporting refugees, etc.) or any combination of the above.

One of the cool things I liked about the first time I played
was that you get to kick up your difficulty level (if you've been
doing well) as you play when you divide your plunder, lay low and
start up again. With each bump of difficulty, each factor of the
gameplay increases a bit in difficulty. For instance, dancing with
the Governor's daughter is easy in the beginning (the computer
tells you which keys to press and you just have to hit them ): later,
you have to look at the daughter's hands and hit the right key at the
right time.

I've put it down because I've been playing at standard difficulty (Adventurer, I
think) and keep getting thrown into prision because my fencing stinks.
Also, because I can't sit down and play it for less than 4 hours!!

 

[Insight]

It is indeed a GREAT GAME. In fact, I had to lend it to a friend because the game was sucking up all of my available time!

Here are a few considerations:

Get a decent video card. This is especially true for the dancing. This is one area I would like to see patched. Dancing is very hard. You have to be absolutely spot on in order to execute the moves. If you are even a hair off timing wise, or if you wait for the interface to hint at you which button to hit, you're dead.

One other bug. When you are on land and use the spyglass, MAKE SURE YOU TURN IT OFF BEFORE LEAVING. If you don't the dumb spyglass stays on and makes you move r e a l ... s l o w. And there's no way to turn it off once you are on your ship. Dumb bug.

Other than those complaints, it's a great game. Well researched and implemented. I hope they offer some kind of expansion for it soon. It's a keeper.

 

[Ranger REG]

Get a decent video card.

And what is considered a "decent video card"?

 

[KenM]

IMO a decent video card would be at 128 MB, and DX 9 compatible. I'm also interested in this game, can someone post the minimum/ recommended specs?

 

[Spatula]

Requirements are:
P3 or AMB 1 GHz
256 MB RAM
1.4 gigabytes HD space
4x CD-ROM (8x recommended)
64 MB SVGA video card that works with DirectX 9.0c or higher

The new Pirates! is, bascially, the old Pirates! with a face-lift. The gameplay remains surprisingly unchanged.

 

[Ranger REG]

Is that the minimum requirements?

If so, what the recommended system requirements?

 

[Insight]

Here are the Minimum System Requirements from the Official Pirates! Site:

System Requirements
Operating System: Windows® 98/Me/2000/XP
Processor: Pentium® 1.0 GHz or higher
Memory: 256 MB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 1.2 GB Free
CD-ROM Drive: 4X Speed
Video: 64 MB video card* with Hardware T&L support
Sound: Windows® 98/Me/2000/XP-compatible sound card*
DirectX®: DirectX® version 9.0b (included) or higher
* Indicates device should be compatible with DirectX® version 9.0b or higher.

(These preliminary system requirements are subject to change before the final product release.)

Above these, I would go with at least 1.5 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 64 or 128 MB Video Card that's certified DX 9.x compatible. I'm at about that, but my CPU is 2.33 GHz and I have no problems whatsoever.

 

[Spatula]

There are no recommended requirements on the box (aside from the 8x CD-ROM over the 4x minimum).