Sid Meier's Pirates! - Xbox

[Nintengod]

Sid Meier's Pirates! - Xbox (released July 2005)

I became incredibly addicted to the original version of this on the Amiga 500 well over a decade ago. The game was so open ended and it wasn't as straightforward as other games that you go through levels defeating bosses, till a final boss then you win the game. Oh no....this game goes on forever should you wish.

This 2005 release was effectively a remake of the original game I loved so much. So can't fail to impress right? Almost....graphically this is certainly far more impressive than the original (which appeared on most consoles and computers, most impressive on Amiga in my opinion), however it does tend to slow down a fair bit, which in my mind is inexcusable, and then there are many annoying bits which interrupt what should be seamless music due to loading off the disc.

Having said all that negative stuff, its still essentially the same old game. You start as a young fledgling pirate wanting to make your way in the caribbean. You have a sword fighting duel to become a captain and you find yourself making way through the ranks by plundering towns, ships and doing certain activitys on behalf of towns and nations governors. You can even wow the governors daughter - I managed to finally marry the beautiful daughter of the governor of St Kitts after duelling with her then suitor and by also taking her to numerous balls to show off my dancing skills (which is just hitting a few buttons in time like Parappa the Rapper!).

So Pirates is certainly not a bad game, has a few graphical glitches which can be irritating, but its still the same game as I played over a decade ago and is still hugely addictive. It's also available on PC and PSP. Not quite as charming as the original, but still at £5 that I got it from Ebay - well worthwhile taking a look!


Score : 7/10

http://www.gametab.com/images/ss/xbox/3945/box-l.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Sidmeierspirates2004.jpg

http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/72973/duel2_png_jpgcopy_qjpreviewth.jpg

[Shooting Palanx]

This game looks cool, will look for this, I have an XBOX :D so it is all good.

Nice Review.

[Nintengod]

This game looks cool, will look for this, I have an XBOX :D so it is all good.

Nice Review.

Thanks. Yeah, its a decent game and can get you very hooked! The ballroom dancing bit is not too amazing and a bit of a gimmick, but its such a vast and engaging game, and getting promotions is great! I love the way the character actually visibly ages during the game as well.

[Shooting Palanx]

Woah, don't reveal too much, after my last exam, I will invest some time in getting these games.

[Lightning Strike]

Looks like a fun game, grat review

[Nintengod]

This game has had some coverage in recent days.....so BUMP!

I've had some issues running this game on the 360. The FMV sequences can be a bit jerky. Anyone else had experience with this?

I no longer have the original Xbox, but can't remember if the FMV in that was also a bit stuttery. I know that the in-game bit had some issues, but can't remember about the videos.

[flameboy118]

get it for pc. much better, seriously

[Nintengod]

get it for pc. much better, seriously

I can't be bothered to re-buy it for another system.....besides, the PC version isn't rated much higher (if at all), and the Xbox version has additions that are exclusive to the console.

I was merely wondering if anyone else had the jerkyness on the FMV bits running it on a 360.

The game itself isn't worth buying twice.

[flameboy118]

no its not, but someone thinking 'oh, that looks good', might wanna know that theres a better pc version out. and i reckon i would buy it twice (though I would never buy the xbox one in the first place)

[Nintengod]

no its not, but someone thinking 'oh, that looks good', might wanna know that theres a better pc version out. and i reckon i would buy it twice (though I would never buy the xbox one in the first place)

Boring and pedantic.......and repetitive. Sort yourself out. :rolleyes:

The Xbox version has more features than the PC version. For example, there is an overlay map whilst sailing, and also more structure to doing "missions". There is also a multiplayer (up to 4 players) option on the Xbox version.

Sure, there are some framerate issues which i've outlined, but the above features even those out, and besides, pending on CPU/GPU of a PC, it could happen on that to. So its a moot point.

[flameboy118]

whatever you say. and you generally dont state how boring someone is (well you do, but no-one else does

sure, whatever, but the pc version is even better on your precious gamerankings by a good 8%. oh what, suddenly reviews dont matter? funny that.

[Nintengod]

whatever you say. and you generally dont state how boring someone is (well you do, but no-one else does

sure, whatever, but the pc version is even better on your precious gamerankings by a good 8%. oh what, suddenly reviews dont matter? funny that.

I never said that, but reading the general reviews from "your precious" Gamespot.....they say they are about the same.

If you own both PC and Xbox, but prefer the ease of use of consoles and want more features.....buy the Xbox version. If you wish to have more stable (possibly pending on hardware setup) framerate but less features....buy the PC version.

They're both about the same weighing them up. The game isn't all that great overall anyway.....so its certainly not worthy crying about or thinking too hard about which version to buy.

[flameboy118]

gamespot gives the pc version 0.6 more, and your gamerankings gives it 0.8 more. thats an immaterial difference? funny coming from someone for which galaxy, a brilliant game, is just 0.2 better than mgs2, a terrible game. course thats by your rankings, and by my gamespot, or an average of ign and gamespot, mgs2 is better

its all incredibly, ridiclously hypocritical though. im always saying, in relation to mgs4 versus galaxy, if you want better story, better presentation, better graphics, better audio, a longer game, better fan service, deeper gameplay, more varied gameplay and better gameplay go mgs4, but if you cant get into a complex game, go for galaxy. but all you say is: 'you are objectively wrong because my gamerankings says galaxy is 0.2-4% higher, even though your system puts mgs4 0.4% higher, i dont care- you are still a fan of westlife and the matrix revolution'. and now, as soon as the reviews go against you, both my system and yours, your suddenly saying- dont listen to them, my version is better anyway. pathetic. and the game is all that great fyi

[Nintengod]

gamespot gives the pc version 0.6 more, and your gamerankings gives it 0.8 more. thats an immaterial difference? funny coming from someone for which galaxy, a brilliant game, is just 0.2 better than mgs2, a terrible game. course thats by your rankings, and by my gamespot, or an average of ign and gamespot, mgs2 is better

its all incredibly, ridiclously hypocritical though. im always saying, in relation to mgs4 versus galaxy, if you want better story, better presentation, better graphics, better audio, a longer game, better fan service, deeper gameplay, more varied gameplay and better gameplay go mgs4, but if you cant get into a complex game, go for galaxy. but all you say is: 'you are objectively wrong because my gamerankings says galaxy is 0.2-4% higher, even though your system puts mgs4 0.4% higher, i dont care- you are still a fan of westlife and the matrix revolution'. and now, as soon as the reviews go against you, both my system and yours, your suddenly saying- dont listen to them, my version is better anyway. pathetic. and the game is all that great fyi

You're floundering badly now. Like I said before, give it up, otherwise you'll never have a proper girlfriend.

If you can't see what a tedious dullard you really are, then this is the time to sit up and take note. You ARE a tedious dullard.

[flameboy118]

just like the other thread really, youre saying the same thing so what il do is copy paste because i dont have time for this:

im not devoid of wit or personality at all, perhaps im just too busy trying to make a point when posting at you, but more importantly i dont make witty or personal quips because i feel its always an argument between us, so they would be misplaced

dont think i havent noticed the 'ive been beaten (again), so im going to go to the lowest common denomonator and insult him personally, so it seems like im on top and so he's too defensive to notice that im out of things to say.' you do it all the time, we argue for ages, looks like itll never end. then suddenly, after a particularly valid point, you just revert to insulting me/whoever.

you think im making a fool of myself, and that everyone is cringing at how much of a fool im making of myself? you reckon everyones thinking: 'oh that nintendgod, hes effortlessly and witfully won another argument, showing himself to be superior, and making the other person a cringeworthy laughing stock?' you think thats what people think of you?

well newsflash. two people, both very active forum members have gone to the trouble of sending me PMs basically saying 'dont let him get to you...we all know he is a fanboy and ****s his wii but dont worry he is the immiture dude...', 'but at least im not an ignorant **** i hope..', 'he never steps down from his head being so far up his arse that, it's going out of his mouth again... if that's possible , lol.'. those are quotes from the two separate messages telling me to 'Just ignore Nin like the rest of us. :P'. obviously youre loved

and i have a girlfriend of around 2 years atm, but w/e. dont say il never get laid, because im afraid youre already too late on that count ;)

[Nintengod]

well newsflash. two people, both very active forum members have gone to the trouble of sending me PMs basically saying 'dont let him get to you...we all know he is a fanboy and ****s his wii but dont worry he is the immiture dude...', 'but at least im not an ignorant **** i hope..', 'he never steps down from his head being so far up his arse that, it's going out of his mouth again... if that's possible , lol.'. those are quotes from the two separate messages telling me to 'Just ignore Nin like the rest of us. :P'. obviously youre loved

and i have a girlfriend of around 2 years atm, but w/e. dont say il never get laid, because im afraid youre already too late on that count ;)

Oh dear lord flameboy....if you are taking advice from people who say such things as "and ****s his wii but don't worry his is the immature dude".....then you know you are struggling to garner any decent support!! Tell P-Sleva that I love him to :p xxxx

I'm sure your girlfriend is a real catch!! :p ;) The phrase "i wouldn't touch her with yours" springs to mind!! :D

[flameboy118]

um it was he is the immature dude, you just made that mistake, not the mystery PMer. and, as two people (both of whom you actually like and arent P-sleva) have told me, you are an ignorant **** etc. clearly thats how people see you, they tell me just to get on with the forum and pretend youre not there like everyone else does.

you never saw my girlfriend, and she is a catch thanks. im still trying to post a pic, but i get an I/O sever error at 2%.

[Nintengod]

um it was he is the immature dude, you just made that mistake, not the mystery PMer. and, as two people (both of whom you actually like and arent P-sleva) have told me, you are an ignorant **** etc. clearly thats how people see you, they tell me just to get on with the forum and pretend youre not there like everyone else does.

you never saw my girlfriend, and she is a catch thanks. im still trying to post a pic, but i get an I/O sever error at 2%.

"i actually like" - er how do you know I like them??? Moron.

I/O server at 2% eh?? Was she too big to download?? :D

[flameboy118]

haha that was funny il be honest. but no, shes not fat, its actualy a large bunch of people at 2.2mb (limit is 8). ive always had a problem with uploading (oh and its uploading, not downloading), like not being able to attach to emails

and when i say you like them, i mean not P-sleva (or me), no-one who owns a ps3 actually

[Nintengod]

haha that was funny il be honest. but no, shes not fat, its actualy a large bunch of people at 2.2mb (limit is 8). ive always had a problem with uploading (oh and its uploading, not downloading), like not being able to attach to emails

and when i say you like them, i mean not P-sleva (or me), no-one who owns a ps3 actually

Yes, I know it is uploading, I realised my error before but didn't change it because I forgot you are a dull pedantic bore who will correct people of these minor things.....and thats the reason why they'll never meet anyone decent as a partner.

You think I'm matey with everyone on this forum who DOESN'T own a PS3, and think i GIVE a ****?? :D Oh you still have much to learn!!

[flameboy118]

i only corrected it as an afterthought after i said the word uploading

notice how i havent made any comment on your gf, because it would be unfair to judge (although you'll say you can judge on my pathetic rants, but to be honest, youre the one who started this arguing between us, and you seem to have ranted at tonnes of members of the forum- indeed two people who you havent even ended up in fanboy debates with went to the trouble of PMing me saying what an arse you are), so i dont judge, although i easily could. i think all your insults and judging say much more about you than your little comments about me say about me

[Nintengod]

i only corrected it as an afterthought after i said the word uploading

notice how i havent made any comment on your gf, because it would be unfair to judge (although you'll say you can judge on my pathetic rants, but to be honest, youre the one who started this arguing between us, and you seem to have ranted at tonnes of members of the forum- indeed two people who you havent even ended up in fanboy debates with went to the trouble of PMing me saying what an arse you are), so i dont judge, although i easily could. i think all your insults and judging say much more about you than your little comments about me say about me

It says nothing, as you are equally as bad as me about getting the last word in (which I admit I am bad for!).

As for starting the arguing between us......erm, I think you'll find i posted (re-opened) this thread, and was asking people about FMV sequences on the Xbox version of Pirates, and if they were getting any ill-effects running it on a 360......only for you to make a snidey little remark about the PC version being much better....and there it started!

As for having 2 PMs about me.....they were just giving you moral support because they obviously think you need help! :D

[flameboy118]

i meant you started the arguing as a whole by making your way into some mgs4 thread. the point is you pick fights- youve argued a lot with p-sleva etc, im just arguing as a reaction to your abrasive nature, not the other way around

[Nintengod]

i meant you started the arguing as a whole by making your way into some mgs4 thread. the point is you pick fights- youve argued a lot with p-sleva etc, im just arguing as a reaction to your abrasive nature, not the other way around

Yeah, but you are a **** head, at least admit it.

[TeddyNamek]

Nin, stop being a big baby and get the heck over yourself...Everyone is trying to have fun and read about games, you start arguements like a house on fire, in your own reviewing thread too.

Calm down.

And, i'm not sticking up for anyone, before you rant about that again, just stay cool.

Good review by the way.