Pirates!

Developer: MicroProse	Graphics:
Publisher: MicroProse	Sound:
Year: 1990	Difficulty:
Genre: Strategy	Replay value:
Number of players: 1	My overall rating:	9/10

A well-known title, released three years earlier on C64.
You are a sheep farmer in Larzac. No wait. You're a buccaneer in the Caribbean. You're given a boat, a crew, a stock of tuna sandwiches et voila; you're left alone in this giant sandbox. It's very easy to play and quite immersive because there are a variety of ways to run your life: trade with coastal cities, hunt treasures, rescue your lost family members, become a privateer in the service of a major colonial empire or a mercenary for the highest bidder, or all at once if you want!

In a game it's rather rare and incredibly enjoyable to have no directions and no rules to follow. In addition it fits well with the theme of piracy: do whatever you want, the way you want it. Your actions will determine the quality of your retirement days after you end your career. At best, you will manage with all the gold of Spain, loads of titles of nobility and the governor's daughter of your choice.

I suggest that you take a look at the manual because it is full of historical anecdotes and advice to better understand the game's mechanics. Get a map as well.

Different versions came out on PC, Sega Genesis, CD32 ( Pirates! Gold , 1994) and more recently on mobile phones with better graphics but some "depth depletion" in return). I recommend the original versions on C64 or Amiga.

Places to download:
Amiga Island
Amigaland
Emuparadise
Planet Emulation
The Game Archives
The Old Computer

Other sites of interest:
Sid Meier's Pirates! Home

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