STORY & GAMEPLAY
Lego games are now very popular video games across all the games console formats. This is the second Lego game released for the Nintendo 3DS following hard on the heels of LEGO Star Wars . I usually buy all my games from Amazon.co.uk because of their fantastic low prices and great service, however I completely forgot to preorder this title! A quick rush to my local video game shop meant I just managed to grab this new LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean game on the day of release, 13th May 2011.
The game is based on all of the Pirates Of The Caribbean films including the latest instalment Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides (Cinema Release 20th May 2011). This is a rather nice feature ensuring lots of variety over the numerous locations and scenes contained within the game. There are 70 playable characters in total ( many initially are locked) each with different features and abilities to enable you to complete the various tasks, puzzles and battles. Common to all Lego titles you collect lego mini pieces for points and use the larger lego pieces to build various contraptions and items in order to complete the tasks and puzzles. Many of these tasks and puzzles are a simple case of finding the right pirate, swashbuckler , character or even animal to complete it. Other tasks are more complicated and need interaction with other characters and objects. Switching between characters is a simple click on the left or right shoulder button and thankfully all the other controls are very intuitive and straightforward which certainly helps the game. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR there be no battles then! I here you cry! Well no not true! there are plenty of swordfights and battles to be had , in fact it seems to be a large part of the game as you slice , dice , shoot and puzzle your way through the levels . There is even a duelling section in some of your battles with more important characters, where you are required to do a little button bashing with lucky Button B before matching the on screen button commands to bring your foe to their knees or quite often their backside !
Contained within the game are two modes, the Main Story mode and the Free Play mode. Once you have completed a level in Story Mode you can replay it in Free Play with a larger crew to add more variety. If you captain your crew well in Free Play you will claim hidden ship bottles and lego studs. Other additions include a Souvenir Shop where you can buy unlocked characters , hints , extras and watch cutscenes from the game. Pop along to the Tailors shop and you can create and customise a character to use in Free Play . It was a little disappointing to find that there was no co-operative mode or wi-fi online play options.
GRAPHICS , SOUND & 3D EFFECT
The graphics are very nice indeed with plenty of character given to your Pirates favourites. Captain Jack and all his swashbucklers , women and enemies are instantly recognisable, well animated and suitably humorous at times. The backgrounds, lighting effects and cut scenes are again very nicely created and add plenty of atmostphere to the game. 3D is certainly noticeable if a little too subtle at times . I feel that the developers have been a little cautious with this title and at times the 3D is almost unnoticeable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and perhaps I was expecting a little much , after all this is an adventure title with lots of backgrounds, characters and action all occurring on screen at the same time for parts of the game. Sound is suitably impressive , the Pirates musical score particularly well rendered and there are some neat spot effects, swashbuckling grunts , groans, clinks and clangs.
THE GOOD
Impressive visuals, great music and sound effects
Nice use of the 3D effect at times
Easy controls and great fun to play
Added extras and Free Mode will bring you back to play again
Streetpass option
THE BAD
No wi –fi, cooperative play or online play available
A bit too easy
Some of the tasks are too easy
VERDICT
After a good few long sessions on LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for the Nintendo 3DS I am happy to report this is a very good 3DS title, a little easy perhaps but certainly very enjoyable .The lack of co-operative and online play is a bit of a negative even with the streetpass option. However, the gameplay and replay value is greatly enhanced by the Free Play mode, other additions and unlockables. As an overall package I would certainly recommend LEGO Pirates with a hearty YO HO AAAARRRRRRR!
OVERALL SCORE 7.5 / 10
Review and Pictures by Timothy Hughes May 2011
Images taken direct from Nintendo 3DS screens in 2D mode from actual gameplay
The game is based on all of the Pirates Of The Caribbean films including the latest instalment Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides (Cinema Release 20th May 2011). This is a rather nice feature ensuring lots of variety over the numerous locations and scenes contained within the game. There are 70 playable characters in total ( many initially are locked) each with different features and abilities to enable you to complete the various tasks, puzzles and battles. Common to all Lego titles you collect lego mini pieces for points and use the larger lego pieces to build various contraptions and items in order to complete the tasks and puzzles. Many of these tasks and puzzles are a simple case of finding the right pirate, swashbuckler , character or even animal to complete it. Other tasks are more complicated and need interaction with other characters and objects. Switching between characters is a simple click on the left or right shoulder button and thankfully all the other controls are very intuitive and straightforward which certainly helps the game. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR there be no battles then! I here you cry! Well no not true! there are plenty of swordfights and battles to be had , in fact it seems to be a large part of the game as you slice , dice , shoot and puzzle your way through the levels . There is even a duelling section in some of your battles with more important characters, where you are required to do a little button bashing with lucky Button B before matching the on screen button commands to bring your foe to their knees or quite often their backside !
Contained within the game are two modes, the Main Story mode and the Free Play mode. Once you have completed a level in Story Mode you can replay it in Free Play with a larger crew to add more variety. If you captain your crew well in Free Play you will claim hidden ship bottles and lego studs. Other additions include a Souvenir Shop where you can buy unlocked characters , hints , extras and watch cutscenes from the game. Pop along to the Tailors shop and you can create and customise a character to use in Free Play . It was a little disappointing to find that there was no co-operative mode or wi-fi online play options.
GRAPHICS , SOUND & 3D EFFECT
The graphics are very nice indeed with plenty of character given to your Pirates favourites. Captain Jack and all his swashbucklers , women and enemies are instantly recognisable, well animated and suitably humorous at times. The backgrounds, lighting effects and cut scenes are again very nicely created and add plenty of atmostphere to the game. 3D is certainly noticeable if a little too subtle at times . I feel that the developers have been a little cautious with this title and at times the 3D is almost unnoticeable. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and perhaps I was expecting a little much , after all this is an adventure title with lots of backgrounds, characters and action all occurring on screen at the same time for parts of the game. Sound is suitably impressive , the Pirates musical score particularly well rendered and there are some neat spot effects, swashbuckling grunts , groans, clinks and clangs.
THE GOOD
Impressive visuals, great music and sound effects
Nice use of the 3D effect at times
Easy controls and great fun to play
Added extras and Free Mode will bring you back to play again
Streetpass option
THE BAD
No wi –fi, cooperative play or online play available
A bit too easy
Some of the tasks are too easy
VERDICT
After a good few long sessions on LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for the Nintendo 3DS I am happy to report this is a very good 3DS title, a little easy perhaps but certainly very enjoyable .The lack of co-operative and online play is a bit of a negative even with the streetpass option. However, the gameplay and replay value is greatly enhanced by the Free Play mode, other additions and unlockables. As an overall package I would certainly recommend LEGO Pirates with a hearty YO HO AAAARRRRRRR!
OVERALL SCORE 7.5 / 10
Review and Pictures by Timothy Hughes May 2011
Images taken direct from Nintendo 3DS screens in 2D mode from actual gameplay
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