Windows

Sid Meier's Pirates!

I love the game. Perhaps the game player should have been given a game options screen where aging could have been turned off, infinite notorious pirates, relatives and treasure spawns turned on, cooperative and competitive network and internet play, and an easier dancing mode that would let us enjoy all dances and the JS Bach music in the game. I guess we just don’t live in a perfect world.

Oferecendo enorme variedade sem prejudicar a acessibilidade, mas acima de tudo, capturando a emoção e liberdade de singrar os mares do Caribe na era romântica das navegações, "Pirates!" pode enganar com sua simplicidade, mas continua sendo um dos mais envolventes e abertos jogos já feito.

And Sid delivers again with the updating of PIRATES! This is great news. And not just for us old folks. The new PIRATES from Firaxis delivers all the greatness of the prior version while adding enhancements and twists that make it all fresh again. Don't get me wrong…this isn't for the adrenalin fan. There's no crazy wild ride here. There is, however, a great game that displays a ton of research and hard work and thoughtfulness in the design.

Ultimately, however, Sid Meier's Pirates! is an exciting gaming experience, its versatility makes it accessible to a variety of gamers, and it possesses dynamic game play that eliminates the monotony plaguing so many single-player games.

Obwohl Pirates! ja im Grunde genommen ein recht simples Spielchen ist und sich viele Szenen oft wiederholen, geht von diesem Spiel eine unglaubliche Faszination aus. Wer also noch auf der Suche nach einem perfekten Weihnachtsgeschenk ist, der sollte hier zuschlagen. Ich jedenfalls werde den Piraten auch die kommenden Monate die Treue halten.

Pirates! is a spectacular remake of the 1987 game bearing the same name. Combining brilliantly charming and addictive gameplay with an easy-to-learn interface, you really can't go wrong with this remarkable title. For anyone who has wanted to sack the cities of the Caribbean or go cannon-to-cannon with Henry Morgan, Blackbeard or several other popular pirates, this is your chance. If you haven't had dreams of piracy in your life, you'll still find this game extremely enjoyable and engaging.

Nevertheless, this is still a completely engrossing strategy game that will easily consume countless hours. While the average pirate career might last only about 5 to 10 hours, there's tons of replay value here, as you can play on harder difficulty levels, try out different approaches, and check out different sailing eras. With its engrossing gameplay, impeccable pacing, and charming presentation, Sid Meier's Pirates! is quite simply one of the most enjoyable games to come out in years.

Back in the 1990s Microprose got me fired from a job and almost caused me to flunk out of college. The addictive nature of Civilization, X-COM and Pirates! meant that playing games became more important than going to work or attending class. But now, since playing games is work, I can safely confess that I've been totally captivated by Firaxis's remake of the old C64 classic. The new game adds a few new gameplay elements to the mix and updates the graphics but it still tightly adheres to the strengths that made the first game an all-consuming addiction for those of us who played it.

Though most of the minigames are short and fun enough that you’ll probably find yourself saying “Just one more battle” often, you might eventually wish for a slightly deeper game. There is some replayability since you can change your character’s special skills or national allegiance, but the missions and goals are too generic for this to make much of a difference. A bit more variety in the missions, more action during the treasure hunts, and the option for a bit more strategic depth (like running your own pirate town) would have been nice. Even with these minor problems, Pirates! never loses its appeal. The simplicity of the gameplay and charm of the presentation are happy reminders of a more innocent age when games were just fun for kids rather than targets of congressional hearings.

This is a beautiful game, deeply detailed, with an easy to learn and use interface. The music is excellent, and even allows you to import your own MP3s if you like. This is the must have game of this year, if you miss this one, you are missing a true game classic. Sid Meiers has had many great games, but pirates has to be his crowning triumph. Miss it not!

Die Steuerung ist einfach, das Spiel übersichtlich, die Minigames abwechslungsreich und die Grafik schick. Alte Pirates! Haudegen und alle anderen Fans der Piratenära können bei dieser gelungenen Fortsetzung eines hervorragenden Spiels bedenkenlos zugreifen.

In the age where mediocre games with movie-sized blistering budgets and high profile voice acting have become standard, Sid Meier's Pirates goes in the other direction, focusing on the basics of what makes games great.

Sid Meier's complete remake of the GameSpy Hall-of-Famer Pirates! quietly slipped onto store shelves this season, but it's not to be missed. It's got a simplicity and elegance that you just don't see in PC games anymore: It's pure gameplay, fun from the opening credits onward. As a player you'll be constantly engaged, firing broadsides, clashing swords, sacking villages and -- oh yes -- taking time for the laaaadies. Pirates! is piracy without the work, and while it may grow repetitive after extended play, it's in a class of its own.

I’m not normally the guy that beams with joy whenever an old classic is revitalized and updated. The main reason for this is the many disappointments I’ve had with such updated classics.

Sid Meier’s Pirates! has some minor stumbling points, but overall is a rich and enjoyable gaming experience. The game bridges many genres and though it gives them the “lite” touch, it all combines into a wonderful romp on the high seas. If you are looking for adventure, this is a game that deserves your attention.

Beinahe göttlich! Sid Meier's Pirates versetzt mich zurück in früheste Kindheits- und Jugendträume. Zum Glück haben die Jungs von Firaxis nicht zuviel verändert, so dass Veteranen ohne Probleme ins Spiel finden, Neulinge aber auch nicht übermäßig gestresst werden. Optisch solide präsentiert, erfreut mich besonders der unglaublich hohe Suchtfaktor des Spiels: Einmal durch die Karibik geschippert und schon muss man immer mal wieder auf Beutefeldzug gehen. Kurzum: Nostalgisch, kultig, klasse!

Like its predecessor, Sid Meier's game effortlessly takes the best of every style of gaming and mixes it into a consistent and enduringly charming whole. Certainly there are games with more strategy, and others with more action, but few, if any, can claim to be as breathlessly easy to enjoy. Little wonder that underneath the plush graphics so little has changed in Pirates! - it simply didn't need to.

Die Frage, ob es seinen Preis wert ist, kann ich Ihnen getrost beantworten: Das neue Pirates! macht genau soviel Spaß wie sein Vorgänger. Am Sound und der Grafik hat sich einiges geändert, und zwar zum Guten! Fans von Strategie- bzw. Simulations-Spielen muss man Sid Meier's Pirates! einfach wärmstens empfehlen. Die Suchtgefahr besteht auf jeden Fall immernoch.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things a game company can do is produce a modern day version of a classic game. The original game is so beloved in the hearts of gamers that a remake can often suffer by comparison; however, this incarnation of Sid Meier’s Pirates is likely to please the fans of the original version of this game. Its huge open-endedness does an excellent job of establishing the proper atmosphere while the balance of combat and economy produces a quality strategy title.

Sid Meier's Pirates! is één van de weinige games dat een succesvolle overstap heeft gemaakt uit het duistere gameverleden. Bovendien heeft het spel een erg hoge herspeelbaarheidsgraad, is de gameplay bijna perfect en zijn de graphics en het geluid helemaal op punt. Kortom: één van de leukste strategiegames van het jaar.

Deceptively simple, Sid Meier's Pirates! Live the Life is one of the most charming gaming experiences either. Though this has much to do with the art style and Sims-talk of characters, the entire game is in fact light-hearted and very enjoyable. Sailing the Caribbean, from Florida town to Panama and Vera Cruz to Trinidad is pleasant in and of itself. If you wish to merely trade, you can trade. If you want to be a pirate or a hero of your nation, you can do that too. Save your family? Only if you feel like it.

Everybody loves pirates. They wore big interesting hats, cautiously invented the retirement fund ('buried treasure') yet operated heavy machinery ('boats') while ripped to the tits on cheap rum and cocoa leaves. Few can help but love that kind of thing, the Royal Navy being a notable exception. But who the hell are they to complain? I feel comfortable laughing at their ridiculous trousers and silly canvas paraphernalia because I, quite frankly, live a long way inland. See this low hill? How tough is your Destroyer now?

I have a disease called piratism. For those who aren’t afflicted, piratism is the condition of being enormously entertained by the concept of pirates. Yes, sufferers of this disease know there’s nothing funny about a bunch of dirty thieves who travel the world pillaging all they see. But we can’t help ourselves – it must be something about the goofy hats. Fortunately, inspired souls like legendary designer Sid Meier understand our condition and have provided us with the perfect outlet for our bizarre obsession: Pirates!

Cet épisode dépasse largement le volet original. Pas seulement pour sa réalisation mais aussi grâce à tous les ajouts qui y ont été faits. La richesse du gameplay et la réalisation vraiment réussie sont toutes deux responsables des longues heures que l'on passe à voguer sur son galion à la recherche d'une renommée dans le monde de la piraterie.

Vielleicht ist die Formel um einen echten Klassiker zu schaffen wirklich so simpel wie einfach: 'keep the pace of the game moving and keep it fun'. Diese Worte stammen von Designerlegende Sid Meier und anscheinend hatte er recht, denn seit nunmehr 2 Jahrzehnten zählen seine Werke zu den Meilensteinen der Computer- & Videospielgeschichte. Allen voran das zeitlose Pirates! Rund 17 Jahre nach der Erst-Veröffentlichung kommt nun unter dem Titel Sid Meier's Pirates! die 2004'er Neuauflage eines der beliebtesten Spiele aller Zeiten. Also, lichtet den Anker und Leinen los, sehen wir mal, was das Piratenleben heutzutage alles mit sich bringt.

I missed the original Pirates! back in the old days of the PC, but playing this revival gives me an inkling of why it's such a venerated name. It's varied, addictive, and replayable, with a big difference between the experiences available at lower and higher levels of difficulty. A 3D makeover gives it plenty of piratey character, but it's not overburdened with too many modern frills -- no lengthy cinematics or voice acting or flashy interface bits to get in the way of the eternal quest for loot. Again, a smart lesson in the value of restraint.

Even so, 'Sid Meier's Pirates!' remains a must-buy for both the younger fans who know only of Pirates of the Caribbean and us old, scurvy sea dogs, who just feel like losing ourselves once again in the magical world of 'Pirates!'. At first I thought this was just another shameless attempt to milk more money out of an old franchise (a-la what they did with the new Larry game), but thankfully, Sid Meier's Pirates! rises above this ignoble practice to offer a very polished and fun, albeit still inherently retro remake of an old classic.

Spiele von Sid Meier finde ich total überflüssig. Colonization, Alpha Centauri, Gettysburg ... Wer braucht die? Ich nicht. Doch es gibt eine Ausnahme: Pirates!. Der moderne Aufguss kommt mir gerade recht. Das virtuelle Piratenleben erinnert mich an meine Jugend als gesetzloser Rebell im Kinderbecken unseres örtlichen Schwimmbads. Ich liebe es, den Silver Train zu überfallen, Holländer und Franzosen gegeneinander auszuspielen. Ho, ho, bald bin ich wieder "King´s Advisor"! Ach Mist, den gibt es ja nicht mehr ...

What we are left with is a remake of one of the greatest games of all time, which in and of itself is an accomplishment worthy of praise. It's just as addictive as ever; I've been banned from speaking like a pirate at work and even tried to write this review with my pirate keyboard, but gave up after the first few paragraphs. Years from now, I'll still be popping Sid Meier's Pirates! back into my computer to pillage on the high seas, but that has as much to do with the original as it does with this remake. Now if only Sid Meier would sit down and rethink the whole game, creating a true sequel instead of just an update, we really have something to yar! about.

Ganz großes Kino: Pirates! ist ein schnelles, spritziges, buntes Abenteuer. Wer die Vorgänger kennt, darf aufatmen: Der würdige Nachfolger ist da! Neueinsteiger lassen alle Hoffnungen auf Handel oder Aufbau im Hafen zurück (dafür gibt’s Port Royale 2) und freuen sich auf flotte Kurzkämpfe in schneller Folge. Die tolle Handlungsfreiheit kaschiert geschickt, dass das ziellose Piratenleben im Kern eine eher anspruchslose Punktejagd ist. Aber was soll’s, zuviel Tiefgang setzt schwere Schiffe auf Grund. Und in Sachen Wiederspielwert ist Pirates! nach wie vor Spitze.

Vor 17 Jahren eroberte Sid Meier mit seiner Freibeutersimulation Pirates! die Herzen von Millionen Computerspielern. Jetzt steht die Neuauflage in den Läden. Und das war eine ganz schön schwere Geburt. Denn trotz zahlreicher Online-Petitionen, E-Mails, Unterschriftenlisten und Wäschekörben von Bettel-Briefen sträubte sich Sid Meier (unter anderem Civilization 1-3, Railroad Tycoon, Colonization) jahrelang erfolgreich gegen einen Nachfolger. Bis es 2002 dann doch so weit war. Gemeinsam mit seinem langjährigen Weggefährten Jeff Briggs und dem erfahrenen Firaxis-Team begannen die Arbeiten an der Neuauflage des 17 Jahre alten Klassikers.

Da ich das originale Pirates! nie gespielt habe, sah ich dieses Remake als Chance, diese Bildungslücke zu schließen … und war nach ein paar Stunden etwas enttäuscht. Mir fehlt eine Verknüpfung der für sich genommen kurzweiligen Spielelemente – etwa eine spannende Story oder eine wirkliche Kampagne. In Sachen Langzeitmotivation erleidet Pirates bei mir deshalb Mast- und Schotbruch. Weil die Fechtkämpfe aber Mantel- und Degen-Flair verbreiten, die Seeschlachten super sind und das grotesk schwere Tanzspielchen meinen Ehrgeiz anstachelt, bleibt das Freibeutertum auf meiner Festplatte. Als Spiel für zwischendurch.

De fans van het origineel zullen vast wel een ooglapje dichtknijpen, maar voor de overigen voelt Pirates! wat oubollig en repetitief aan.

Don't reject it out of hand, however. It's a charming game, full of detail, with an old-fashioned deep design. It's still as unique as the day it was conceived in terms of marrying an action front end with a bubbling simulation world to explore. Its execution of an open-ended exploratory world as fine as anything you'll see in gaming - probably including most MMOs. There's certainly people reading this who'll find themselves press-ganged into service, only to fall in love with the life and end up as the next Virtual-Blackbeard sailing the PCeas. A rum old game. And even when it walks the plank, it walks it with style.

Loin d'être un ratage complet, ce remake de Sid Meier's Pirates! ne réussit pas à séduire autant que l'original. Le gameplay ouvert qui faisait tout le charme du jeu il y a 10 ans est toujours présent, mais sa simplification l'a rendu répétitif. Une déception.

En faisant vibrer la corde de la nostalgie, Pirates réussit à ressuciter le fantôme du hit qu'il fut à la fin des années 90. Malheureusement, son gameplay préhistorique ne parvient pas à maintenir l'illusion très longtemps et on n'aspire qu'à une chose : le voir retourner dans sa tombe. A réserver aux nostalgiques qui ne veulent pas croire que pour une fois, c'était mieux avant.

Pirate… Pour beaucoup d’entre vous, ce nom ne signifie rien de plus que celui du nouveau bébé de Sid Meier (le créateur de Civilization et Colonization entre autres). Mais pour certains gamers des années 80 – 90, cela rappelle un nombre incalculable d’heures de jeu à sillonner les mers des Caraïbes, décimer les flottes anglaises, espagnoles, françaises et hollandaises et réduire leurs forts à de pitoyables tas de ruines fumantes. Bref, Pirates est pour certains un nom d’outre-tombe, synonyme de beaucoup d’aventure et de fun.