One of the most controversial new additions to the game is dancing. Through dancing, it's possible to gain the favour of the governor's daughter. Many worried that it would ruin their game experience. However… you can all breathe easier; it is actually quite fun and really adds to the game. It's pretty tough to get used to in the beginning but once you figure out that you need to follow the directions the governor's daughter is giving you, you can really start learning it.

Some of the tunes you'll dance to can increase to a breakneck pace when nearing the end of the song, meaning your responses need to be faster as well. It's not as crude a movement as handling your cutlass, so be ready to fail miserably quite a few times. Once you have pulled off a few moves John Travolta would be proud of though, there are more rewards than in the original game. Not only can she provide you with knowledge of people's whereabouts, she may also offer you special items. Giving 'her' an item - for instance presenting her with a nice ring - may also help your standing with her and eventually, she may end up as your wife. For the time being though, she'll do as a mistress.

Not just your sword that gives you an edge

The swordfights have also caused some people sleepless nights. In the earlier games, hack and slash was all you really needed to do. Back then, just beating the keys faster would give you an edge, but that's gone forever now. You'll have to employ a bit more strategy, especially at the higher levels. You'll move forward and backward across the ship, just like before, but it's been done in such a way that it doesn't grow boring as swiftly as it did in the previous versions. There are different backgrounds, your adversaries will have different styles and sometimes they will make use of special moves, like swinging on a rope or diving backwards before dealing a powerful slash in your direction.

Of course, you do have your own bag of tricks. Items on the deck of the ship may be used to distract the enemy for a while. Your character initiates this without your intervention though. As you increase the difficulty level, you will notice that dueling becomes more and more difficult. Naturally you'll have to improve your skill at swinging, thrusting and parrying, but there is also an array of items that you can pick up throughout the game that will help you out. Swords that will make you faster, a shirt that will make you nimbler because it's more comfortable, leather vests to enhance your defensive skills and more. In a nutshell, the dueling has been freshened up considerably, without hampering the original feel of it.

Doing the town

Speculations about how the land battles would be handled ran wild until finally word came that they would be turn-based. Some people mentioned they would rather have seen real-time battles, but after playing it, I have to say that turn-based works well for me. After you have chosen your location to open the battle, you're given the initiative and move first. Technology wise, you'll almost always be outclassed, the enemy will have cavalry and almost all their units are equipped with long range weapons. In contrast, more than half your units will be armed with a Cutlass. That doesn't mean you're at a disadvantage though. A good pirate will make use of the available terrain that can be made up of hills, forests and rocks.

With some careful planning and a little help from lady luck, you may be able to attack the enemy from behind or the flanks, giving you a hefty attack bonus. Also, I don't have to tell any half decent strategist that cavalry in the forest are total rubbish. Don't factor out morale and height either, they play an important role during your battles. It is possible to overcome a foe that greatly outnumbers you, but it's just as likely that you'll get a beating for making a strategically bad decision. So you can see that even if the land battles aren't overly complicated, the turn-based system still leaves plenty of room for good strategists to have their fun in battling with their adversaries.

Sightseeing in the corners

Reading back on my descriptions of some of the more important parts of the game, I am forced to come to the conclusion that it is impossible to describe the sensation of actually playing it. There are so many hidden treasures in this game. How about trying to incite Indians or Pirate town leaders to soften up a big city before sweeping in yourself to finish the job? And what of those Indians that unexpectedly show up among the town defenders and turn out to be experts in fighting in the jungle? Not to forget the skilled officers you can pick up along the way, who can help you keep your crew happier, repair your ships at sea or increase the speed with which you can fire your cannons? The list goes on and on.

What impresses me most about Pirates!, is how wonderfully alive the game world feels. There is always something to see or something to do and as with any good Sid game, there are surprises lurking at every corner. And trust me, there are a lot of corners in this game. And what's better yet, is that the Beta that we've been playing, only holds about 80% of the actual game content. It's hard to imagine there being even more to explore! I'm certain that old and new fans alike will love Pirates! and I for one, can't wait to play the final version and continue my adventures in the new Sid Meier's Pirates!

Written by Falconer