"What I am seeking is fortune and fame – now that is an
adventure!"
Tales of adventure on the high seas seem to be in vogue right
now. There is other releases dealing with pirates and Caribbean, as well as a
major film being released.
Port Royale has primed its cannons and hopes to drop anchor into
the market, and just might do exactly that. This is a game that is well crafted
and while it does have a few setbacks in some areas, the game does have depth of
gameplay. Ascaron and Tri Synergy have teamed up for this PC release and
provided game players with high-seas adventure, a touch of role-playing and
civilization building against a rich tableau of changing politics and marauding
bandits.
"On these seas lurk those who think they can have easy pickings
with their cannons and cutlasses – pirates!"
The vice governor of Cat Island has that aristocratic air to him
that either speaks of his disdain for most of those he comes in contact with,
his sense of humor or his stupidity. However, there is little to doubt about the
6500 gold coins offered by the Spanish government for Jean Fleury, infamous
pirate known to sail the seas around Tortuga. Find him on your journeys, battle
him and win, and your coffers grow.
But that is not the main way of succeeding in this game. Each
port in the Caribbean has some supplies and each lacks supplies. By playing the
classic marketing game of buying low and selling high, you can quickly increase
your wealth, standing as well as your fleet and armament.
In many regards, this game plays out like a classic civilization
game, with some mini-adventures thrown in along the way.
The mapboards are nicely designed. This is a point-and-click
game. You can use the keyboard to move around the maps, but for the most part,
you click where you wish to go and your ship sets sail for that port, or that
spot on the open sea. Finding pirates and engaging them is hard, and you will
need to check in each port to see who is wanted, how much they are now worth and
where they were last seen. If they were last spotted nearby, be prepared for a
sea battle.
Also, other NPC ships are thrown into the mix and what each port
has a stock of, or needs changes constantly. You must preplan and then be
prepared to be disappointed. The evolving nature of this game is quite good.
Game features include more than 60 towns to visit as well as
secret places to discover, treasure to find, battles to fight, developing farms
and plantations, the option to be either a merchant or a pirate, and a rich
historical back that will embroil you in a territorial fight. Want to capture
towns? You can certainly try. While the game does have a historical perspective,
and while there are missions that you can undertake, Port Royale is amazingly
non-linear.
The game’s sound is full-bodied and fits the time frame well.
From ambient ocean noises to a variety of music and the sounds of industry, the
game makes certain that what you see is supported with solid sound elements.
And what you see is very good. This is a three-dimensional game
that is lush to look at. The mapboards, viewed from god-perspective or from the
clouds, look much better than the boat icon sailing upon them. The towns are
bustling with activity and look very nice. If, indeed, there are any elements
that don’t carry the graphical tone of the game, overall, it would be the
rendering of the ships. At times they look like quickly made models plunked
into the world.
Be prepared for a bit of a learning curve. Though this game has
a slow-paced tutorial, you will likely spend at least 40 minutes getting
comfortable with the various aspects and control elements. The game also comes
with bonus material including earlier renderings used in the game.
Port Royale has great depth of gameplay. The missions, the
battles and the opportunity to create your character the way you see fit is very
well done. This is a game that requires thought, more so than physical action.
Port Royale is very well done and is an enjoyable adventure in a time when
surviving was an adventure unto itself.
This is the type of game that will appeal to fans of
economic-style games, as well as those who enjoy a good sea battle.
This game is rated for Everyone.
Gameplay: 8.5
The game maps are huge and the game plays out in real time. There are three
phases to the gameplay, the sailing, the ports and the battles. Players do have
the ability to speed up time rather than have it drag by as they voyage from one
port to another.
Graphics: 8.3
Lush and colorful, this game looks very good – unless you zoom in too close and
then the details pixilate.
Sound: 8.5
The ambient sounds are very well done, and the musical score has that rich sound
that speaks well of the style of the game.
Difficulty: Medium
This game does have a learning curve of perhaps 40 minutes, and you can adjust
the level of difficulty for your battles. The game AI is very good and this game
will keep you on your toes.
Concept: 8.4
Port Royale is the type of game that combines elements of board games, sea
combat and economic models with a solid look. The interface is relatively
simple, and getting comfortable with it is a combination of getting comfortable
with it and the game’s concepts at the same time.
Multiplayer: 8.3
This game can be played over a Network or Internet. There are 4 main scenarios
to choose from and the competition requires thought and planning.
Overall: 8.5
Set sail for adventure in a game that allows you to create who you wish to be –
honorable but shrewd merchant or ruthless pirate. The world is well designed
with lush graphics and solid sound. Port Royale has depth of gameplay and
presents this enjoyable but challenging escapade against a rich background of a
battle for power in the Caribbean.
