Pirates of the Caribbean - Xbox

With the blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean hitting the big screen, the release of a video game based upon it seemed almost inevitable. Well it’s happened, it shares the same name as the film and it’s on Xbox.

Some of you might say, “Ho-hum, another film, another video game tie-in”. It’s undeniable that video games and cinema are becoming more affiliated with one another, and in the past this used to spell disaster. Games based upon films were notoriously poor, but with both industries progressing at a phenomenal rate, the gap between the two is narrowing and such games are becoming better and better.

Taking command of a ship and its crew, players head up the adventure by accepting and completing an assortment of daring quests, whilst along the way chasing rumours of dangers and riches, changing allegiances amongst the colonial powers and even partaking in the odd bout of swordfighting. The overall objective is to scale the ranks of pirate power through a combination of skill and daring.

Throughout the game, players are able to customise their captain, crew, skills, and attributes to their individual preference. Heading off on a bit of shore leave means it's possible to interact with townspeople and shopkeepers, thus providing the opportunity to replenish stores of ammo and crew, as well as allowing for the exploration of the wilderness in search of adventure and - you guessed it - treasure.

At the core of the proceedings is a party-based game mechanic, which allows players to hire friendly captains to form small fleets of ships for trade or battle, as well as your own band of adventurers for when on land. Ultimately, players are able to control their own destiny by following the game's story or, alternatively, sailing off in search of the elusive pirate loot.

With advanced AI, highly detailed characters and lush environments, Pirates of the Caribbean makes a good accompaniment to the film. As the Hollywood marketing super powers generate worldwide pirate fever, the game could be just the ticket for anyone fancying a bit of vicarious swashbuckling. more