Name: Buccaneer: Rise of Infamy
Genre:  Action
Platform: PC

I’ll admit it – I’m a fan of pirates. Ever since seeing Pirates of the Caribbean back in 2002 I’ve been hooked in by the phenomenon: replacing “yes” with “arr” in conversation, arguing their side in the ninja debate, and, yes, playing any game featuring even a hint of buccaneering. There haven’t been too many and few have really captured the true “pirate” feel. From the horrid Pirates of the Caribbean games to the glitchy Pirates of the Burning Sea, there have been fewer celebrations and more disappointments than I care to recount, especially in recent years. The release of Buccaneer: The Pursuit of Infamy hoped to shed its predecessors’ errors in favor of quick, easy gameplay, and a focus on accessibility, and in many ways it was a success. 

Buccaneer is the definitive independent game. Its developer, Stickman Studios, has only two people actively working on the title. That said, it suffers from few of the characteristic flaws that independent games fall victim to, and is a generally pleasant looking game. The graphics aren’t anything mind-blowing when compared to some of the console games on the market, but they are definitely leaps and bounds above expectations, and are more than adequate for a game based around plundering. Water effects and explosions are high caliber, and the game definitely boasts some graphical polish to cover up the low-budget blemishes. The sound is adequate, with cheesy, though sufficient voice-acting and fine sound effects.

Any sense of a plot or story is nonexistent; instead, the game focuses on mission-based, arcade style gameplay. Missions are non-linear and broken into several types, but they generally revolve around blowing up other ships. In fact, a majority of missions do, since there’s really nothing else to do in Buccaneer. There’s no sword fighting, no boarding enemy ships, and no real looting aside from paddling over to an enemy’s wreckage and hearing the over-excited voice-acting scream about booty. The developers have labeled Buccaneer as an arcade game, and that label isn’t misplaced.

Combat is achieved by clicking either the right or left mouse button to fire the appropriate cannons and that’s… pretty much it. Steering is a simple act with no regard for wind or physics, and most of the game’s issues stem from it not being complex enough, instead of being overly complicated. I understand that a simple arcade game was the goal, but that doesn’t mean that sailing against the wind shouldn’t be penalized in any way whatsoever. In an attempt to develop a game anyone could enjoy, Stickman seems to have drifted into enemy waters, creating a game with casual controls and hardcore appeal – an oftentimes dangerous combination. Thankfully, the gameplay is fun enough to mostly make up for this, and, no matter how repetitive it might be, steering around a pirate ship is fun.

There is multiplayer as well, and it comes in a wide variety of modes. Generally speaking it’s good fun, and makes up for many of the game’s shortcomings by adding much-needed diversity to its mechanics. Though the multiplayer is definitely a high point there’s barely anyone actively playing it, nearly negating its value. Luckily, Buccaneer is still ideal for LAN-Parties, if you’re able to find a few friends willing to join in the plunder.  Hopefully the game is cleaned up for a release on Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network as to create more of an audience, because the Buccaneer’s fast-paced gameplay is being wasted on the PC, where there is an overabundance of its type.

You might have seen that I’ve been using words like adequate and fine often in this review, and that’s really because it’s the best way to describe the game: good. Not great, not bad, but there are plenty of worse ways to spend $20. With over fifty missions and 26 ship types there’s enough to keep an eager pirate playing, but without an online audience the game’s potential is hindered. Though there are definitely some faults, Stickman Studios should still be proud of themselves for proving that a two person team can create something high-quality and entertaining. Good work, guys, Buccaneer is easily the best pirate game in some time. Now make something with more depth and we can really start talking.

 

 

Related Articles:

Review - Mirror's Edge - PC

Review - Lord of the Rings: Conquest - Xbox 360

Rare Wants Avatar Accessories to Be Handed Out Like Achievements