I love Pirates... but not that much.
I picked up Sid Meiers' Pirates! for the Wii because I had filled my computer with too much illegal music to be able to play the computer versio anymore. Am I joking about illegal music? Most difinitely, but I have enough to be able to go three weeks without hearing the same song. As for the game, Pirates! for the Wii. I wish I could go a little bit more.
If you have never played Pirates! and you own a Wii, then this is one game you should own. For those who love the 2004 version, I would suggest you hold off. There are possitive and negative points to the Wii version that both need addressing. I will begin with the negative, since that is all anyone cares about anymore. Keep in mind , I have only played about 10 or so hours of this game. If you have played the previous encarnation of Pirates! you might have enjoyed several games. Those were, most likely, treasure hunting and raiding parties. I will m\be darned if if I have yet figured out how to even land ashore to carry out either of those tasks. I have several treasure maps, and plenty of troops. However... I cannot land on shore. I have read that the only way to land is by telescope. If this is true, it takes away from the complete exploratory feel of the last version. Who really wants to wander around while looking through their scope for a bunch of markers just be prompted to find treasure? Also, if you one of the two weirdos who enjoyed the dance sequences in the 2004 Pirates! you will be very angry. The dancing is much less responsive to the Wii controls (as they are motion based). I basically quit even worrying about governor's daughters. If I messed up the dances, I simply said "Whatever, woman. You can find another pirate willing to kill hndreds of men for you." My final complaint involves navigation. The ability to sail against the wind has been reduced to zero, compared to the original game. Now, if you pass a foe, it almost not worth fighting them. They will have an upperhand with the wind that means you have to cripple them with your cannons. Granted, demolishing a ship is fun, but that goes against the entire creed of being a pirate.
The good: Oh man, there is a lot of good in this game. I will say, up front, that this game is not the best if you have already played and love the original Pirates! However, a newcomer will love this game. Even I was able to appreciate the new additions (which were awesome). The new stuff inludes an ability to customize your character and ship. You can change your hair, beard, and clothing. TYou an create a ship right out of your nightmares, with iron spiked siding and black pirate themed sails. You can even buy clothing from the mysterious traveller in the taverns around the map. Raiding the city has been changed to fit the Wii as well. I assume it is no longer the (awesome) turn based unit movement game of the earlier version. I hav also not experienced the (horrible) sneaking-about-town game. I assume that was removed as well. Now, when the city's guns fire upon you, you can take an attack mode. In this game, you fire cannons to destroy the enemy defenses. You aim with the remote at various marked units (with a handy lock on) and fire. Then you reload and repeat, as your boat floats through the harbor in first person. It is highly enjoyable, and I wish this mode was included on the PC verson. The final positive concerns sword fighting. Granted, I hose my character, Guybrush Threepwood, to be a specialist at sword fighting, but the Wii remote makes this mode almost too simple. I did get defeated a few times, however, so do not think that sword fighting in this game is child"s play.
Overall, Sid Meier's Pirates! for the Wii is a win. It translates very well to the console, much like SIms 2 Castaways. The difficulties and awkwardness are comparable to similar ations on the PC version, but the complete idea is translated well. My only true wish is to have been able to direct my men on land. No one really cared about the dancing to win the governor"s daughter. They should have given that spot on the memory up. Then they could have included tactical fighting and treasure hunting as it was on the first version of this game.