Gameplay

Put it in Perspective

The game is played from three different perspectives. While on any of the islands, you view Nicholas in a 3D third-person perspective much like Ultima IV or Rune. When on the high seas you have the choice of a first-person view like Quake3, or a third-person view of your entire ship.

In town you can walk through the streets, and stop to chat with the locals. Occasionally they will give you some bits of useful information, or even provide you with a quest. Some of the game's main story elements, such as what happened to your father also start by talking with strangers. This part of the game is nicely done and there are a wide variety of folks to chat with and many interesting side stories to follow. My only complaint is that Nicholas moves at a snail's pace, even when running and it gets annoying when you're just trying to drop into town for a quick errand.

You just can't look tough in those hots.

I spy...

You can also visit the town store, tavern, and on the larger islands, a shipyard. The main islands controlled by each world power also have a Governor's mansion and you can speak with these powerful men to gain letters of marque, information and quests.

Commodities Market

The store is where you buy and sell the commodities traded between the islands. Each country has a few goods that it imports, and some that it exports. The economics are fairly simple - buy low, sell high. Early in the game, while your ship is weak, smart trading is a great way to generate the cash you'll need to buy a bigger, better vessel.

Sign here, here, and here.

One of the fleet.

At the start of the game your map of the Archipelago only displays Grand Avila, a Spanish colony, and Highrock, controlled by the English. Since you have just escaped the Spanish and stolen a ship you are unwelcome on any Spanish island and will be attacked if you try to land on one. You can uncover other islands by sailing around or through accepting quests. There are many islands in the Archipelago and it takes quite a while to explore them all.

Downtown Highrock.

Gotta see a guy about a ship.

Don't Tell Me What to Do!

One thing I should mention about the game is that it is completely non-linear. You can literally do whatever you want. If you feel like just sailing around - go ahead, as long as you have the cash to pay your crew. If you want to start looting ships, that's cool too. Maybe trading is your thing - go for it. The game never forces you into any action.

This is a great idea and is a lot of fun, but it did take some getting used to. At the start of the game you're plunked down on Highrock and left to your own devices. The game doesn't even suggest what you should do. I have to admit I was a little baffled at first - I'm used to being spoon-fed a completely linear story and given a set of tasks to complete and some victory conditions. Don't look for any of the above here. You're set up as a captain with no other goal than to build the best career you can, any way you see fit. It's quite liberating, and a little overwhelming.

Where'd everyone go?

A visit to the Governor.