Final Verdict

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.

It's that kind of freedom and pressure-free atmosphere that makes Pirates! as good as it is. Now, if only it would be so nice as to make dancing less important in courtship - or at least less difficult - we'd have a completely enjoyable game. In fact, it ties into the only design flaw we ran across - it would be nice to be able to individually set difficulty levels for ship combat, dueling and dancing.