I've been playing this game for 5 days (40 hours). Waited for a year for
this game as well a Sea Dogs 2 that is coming out for XBOX. It is a keeper
for me. If
you never played AOS games on a PC or console then you probably won't like
this one either. The following are just my observations. If in doubt rent
it first.
So far no freezes or crashes. I played it for 8 hours straight Monday (rain
holiday) and no obvious problems. No corrupt saves and I've done allot of
saving and loading. I've tried about everything major except fort battles
and all seems to work decent. It does have some fantasy to it with
skeletons, zombie monkeys and such but it is mostly just a good Age of Sail
game. The game world is made up of just fantasy islands but it does have
reference to Europe (circa 1600's) for nationalities. What follows is in no
particular order of importance to me. Just a mind dump. Hope you find
something useful.
Ronin
The only bugs or play faults I've seen so far:
1) The original equip problem in the tutorial deck in the beginning.
Solution is equip sword or telescope/pistol as you get them. Don't collect
them all then try to equip them.
2) On your quest, you can have companions with you. They get in the way in
narrow alleys and stairways. You have to push them out of the way which
sometimes doesn't work.
3) Free Camera (Right Thumbstick) doesn't work in some locations like the
Store. Forced to turn player to look left or right.
Game issues:
1) average 5 second load times and their is allot of loads on land.
2) very little spoken dialogue. Most is just voice greeting and then allot
of reading. Very disappointed that no real speech was put in. It does
impact the immersion level and raises the reading requirement. This is the
most retro aspect of the game.
3) Sea battles are slow and aiming is very hard
4) sword fighting is simple controls but hard to win at low skill level or
in multi combat. Hard to replenish health with potions while fighting
5) Manual is pretty basic. No real info on how to use the wind/aim gauges
or icons. Very little back story or tips. No real idea on how or the best
way to earn experience points. So far I got them by surviving storms,
Sinking ships(more for pirate) and completing missions.
6) No programmable controls. This was a shame and should always be an
option.
7) No real way of identifying ships in MAP view other than Pirate or not,
Can't tell if a fleet or one ship until after interception. Should have a
lookout function.
8) Can't use your own soundtrack. Pirate soundtrack a bit boring but can be
muted in options.
9) Ship travel / game speed can only be increased X4
10) world/area seems large but not really. Lots of boundaries.
11) Can only save game on land.
12) Cumbersome method to get people to dialogue with you. You have to
lineup just right to make them acknowledge you and press A.
13) No world map supplied in the manual or game. Can and have printed one
off the UBISOFT site and in the beginning it is useful.
14) Can't pick your player. Start out as Male English Freebooter. No
physical character appearance evolution.
15) No DTS. The ship battles would of been excellent with DTS. Especially
when you can be in first person view on deck aiming your cannons and taking
fire.
Cannonballs whizzing by and crashing into your ship.
16) No game editor. I love to build maps and scenarios.
17) No battle mode. Can't just setup a ship battle and play it out. Good
for practice and wargaming.
18) 1 Player only. NO XBL or System Link. Why have only NPC fleet captains?
Love to coop or wage war against my mates.
19) No surrender function. It is battle to the end or try to escape for
both sides.
Good things:
1) A combination of Pirates Gold!, Sea Dogs and Cutthroats. No real relation
to the movie which I liked. Map travel is similar
2) First and third person optional viewing on land and sea.
3) Good graphics and sound effects on land and sea. Ship animation and
battle damage good. Lots of animation in the surroundings.
3) Towns, Mines, Dungeons, Prisons, Forts, Jungles to explore with hidden
treasures and attackers of all sorts.
4) Earn money by stealing from houses and selling what you get. Look every
place like wagons, barrels, trees and bushes for hidden items
5) Lots of stuff to trade with a helpful online trade log.
6) Can Save anytime on land. Good because you die allot until you gain some
skill and ability points.
7) Can have a fleet of four ships and give individual orders (attack certain
ship, defend, sail away, heave-to). Order system is a simple popup menu.
8) Can upgrade ship/weapons if you have the gold and experience ranking.
9) Some resource management.
10)No food/water to worry about
11) Nice cutscene graphics.
12) Good weather affects as well as night and day. Love the Twisters,
Lightning, Sunrise and Full moons.
13) Short learning curve. If you have played any Age of Sail games then you
will jump right in. 2 to 4 hours for a total novice.
14) Seems pretty open ended as what path you want to take. Can do quest,
just trade or be the scourge of the sea.