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Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates Review: Is It Worth It?

Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates Interface

Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates Review: Is It Worth It?

Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates is a great game that every puzzle fan should consider. This game was developed and published by Grey Havens in 2003 for Java, Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s unlike anything ever played before. Players enter into a persistent online community that is made up of pirates and pirate-related characters. The program is Java based with nice cartoonish graphics and well designed, colorful puzzles. Let’s look at whether this game is worth the investment or just a quick rental.

Puzzles and More Puzzles

Characters in yohoho puzzle pirates
Characters in Yohoho! puzzle pirates.

A lot of the puzzles that you encounter will be variations of Tetris-based variations. There are some that are totally different. Suffice to say that there are a lot of different puzzles that players will encounter, although many will replay for obvious reasons.  Puzzles are the challenge and the lifeblood. They provide players with work and will reward them if successful. 

First players are going to have to work in the community that they live in. The puzzles encountered will depend on the occupation chosen. Some might become a clerk, a cleaner or a pharmacist just to name a few occupations. Once gamers have established themselves on land, they will want to take to the seven seas. Plundering jobs are posted on the bulletin board. Find a crew of fun-loving swashbucklers.

Yohoho! Puzzle Pirate Start

Yohoho puzzle pirates interface
Inface allows for easy access to whatever you pirate needs.

Players will begin in a high seas adventure as only a part-time employee. If they’re good, they’ll probably be asked to join Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates crew full-time. Plundering amounts to attacking another ship in an effort to steal its precious cargo. Once they enter into battle, they will continue to play the puzzle. While doing this the navigator will try to avoid obstacles and cannon balls. Everyone on board has a different job, henceforth a different puzzle to perform. The stronger ship can invade the weaker one which will plunge all players into another Tetris-style game in which players can clear blocks and send swords crashing down into they’re opponent’s playfield.

Teamwork Makes a Dream Work

Board missions
Mission board is a useful tool.

Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates does stress teamwork, especially at the beginning of the game. There is no other way to advance in character. Eventually players will get greedy and want to strike out on their own. We call that capitalism. The only way to do this is to save money and eventually purchase a ship. Once in business players will still need a crew so they’re always going to be intact with other characters. Both socially and for business purposes. They’ll be supplying jobs which will help boost the community’s economy.

The puzzles aren’t difficult, nor are they long. They are perfect the way they are. Players won’t get stuck on too many of them and you won’t be wasting time learning tons of rules and control commands. Some strategy is required. Each puzzle will have a rating stat so that players can improve their speed and accuracy over time.

Final Thoughts

Instead of killing characters for experience points, you solve puzzles with other members of your community to gain money and further a common cause. Players that you encounter don’t take things too seriously. There is a deep vein of humor that feeds the seven seas. It’s all in good fun. If players have not tried Yohoho! Puzzle Pirate now is the time to dive in for some puzzle fun.

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