If
you're new to CCCP, or you don't bother to read many
reviews, you're probably not aware that we reviewed
Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates a couple of years ago. At that
time it was only available via downloading but since
Ubi Soft has picked it up it's going to be distributed
to the masses the way that it should have long ago.
Yohoho!
Puzzle Pirates is a great game that every puzzle fan
should consider. It's unlike anything you've ever
played before. You enter into a persistent online
community that is made up of pirates and pirate-related
characters. It's kind of like a RPG but without the
nerds. 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.
A
lot of the puzzles that you encounter will be variations
of Tetris-based variations. There are some that are
totally different but I won't spoil the fun. Suffice
to say that there are a lot of different puzzles that
you will encounter, although many you will replay
for obvious reasons.
Puzzles
are your challenge and your lifeblood. They provide
you with work and will reward you if you're successful.
At first you're going to have to work in the community
that you live. The puzzles you encounter will depend
on the occupation you choose. You might become a clerk,
a cleaner or a pharmacist just to name a few occupations.
Once you've established yourself on land you will
want to take to the seven seas. Plundering jobs are
posted on the bulletin board. Find a crew of fun-loving
swashbucklers and you're on your way.
You
begin your high seas adventure as only a part-time
employee. If you're good, you'll probably be asked
to join the crew full-time. Plundering amounts to
attacking another ship in an effort to steal its precious
cargo. Once you enter into battle you will continue
to play your puzzle while the navigator tries 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 you can clear blocks and send swords
crashing down into your opponent's playfield.
Yohoho
does stress teamwork, especially at the beginning
of the game. There is no other way to advance your
character. Eventually you will get greedy and want
to strike out on your own. We call that capitalism.
The only way to do this is to save your money and
eventually purchase a ship of your own. Once you're
in business you will still need a crew so you're always
going to intact with other characters both socially
and for business purposes. You'll be supplying jobs
which will help boost your community's economy.
The
puzzles aren't difficult, nor are they long. I think
they are perfect the way they are. You 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 you can improve your speed and accuracy
over time.
This
game won't take up much space on your PC. You could
probably even run it on a 486 with no ill effects.
The program is Java based with nice cartoonish graphics
and well designed, colorful puzzles. The characters
are cute but not in a sickening way. They look like
those Lego Star War characters but only in pirate
gear.
For
twenty bucks you will get access to the online game
for one month. From then on it's less than ten bucks
a month. If that sounds a little steep you will at
least get your money's worth for the first month if
you're looking for something to do over the upcoming
summer holidays.
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