March 3, 2007 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is going to be a different kind of Pirates game. Unlike the lackluster handheld games presented for the second installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Man's Chest, the third (and perhaps final) installment of the oh-so-profitable Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will be the first in the series to make the jump to next-generation systems. So what does this mean? Very little has been confirmed for the game, but early demos of a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version have been shown, and what's been seen so far indicates that the jump to next-gen systems will bode extremely well for the series.

First of all, there's the story. Of course it is assumed that it will be largely based on the third movie, but early reports indicate that there will also be material in this game from the second movie and elements of characters' backgrounds as well. This decision may have something to do with the fact that a Dead Man's Chest game never made it to current-gen systems when it was released (A PlayStation 2 game based on the character of Jack Sparrow was made, but it had little to do with the actual movie). This extended amount of substance for a game should translate into a longer (and perhaps more satisfying) gaming experience then was presented in the former Pirates of the Caribbean games.

Another inspiring piece of evidence in favor of the quality of the newest round of Pirates of the Caribbean games is the autonomy of the characters and the nearly-full interactivity of the environments. An early demo shows off Jack's ability to use his sword to climb up wooden walls. Jack can also pick numerous items in the environment to be put to an interesting use later on (like glass bottles, which can be used for combat later). The 3-D environment is limitless in potential, especially when coupled with the dynamic graphic capabilities of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Here's hoping that the developers really foster this capability from its early phases.

Then there's the arena where the demo really shines. Combat! The only character so far who has been seen in combat is Jack Sparrow, and it is unknown if there will be any other characters with which to fight. But from an early look in the game, Jack Sparrow's fighting in the newest installment will be pretty darn cool. In addition to using Jacks trust sword and fist in melee-style attacks on multiple enemies, users will be able to execute some of Jack Sparrow's signature moves from the various franchises. Reports have also confirmed that William Hobbs, the fight director on such films as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask was called in to assist in creating the most cinematic fighting experience for this as possible.

Graphics on the demo version look good so far. Although the majority of characters remain in a work in progress state, one character that has really been worked on is your main man, Jack. The Jack Sparrow that we have been shown is beautifully animated, with breathtaking detail put into every single braid and swipe of eyeliner that makes Jack, well, Jack. We expect to see more as more information on this game becomes available, but for the time being, we can rest assured that great time and effort is being showered on our favorite scallywag.

Overall, following the development of this game is pretty exciting. Not only is Buena Vista embracing the jump to next-generation consoles, but it looks like they've listened to what the people want. By expanding the storyline, hiring fighting choreographers, and paying attention to detail, it looks as if (fingers crossed) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End might be the first game in the franchise to be a worthwhile game.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

Features: