• New Horizons on Maelstrom
    Maelstrom New Horizons


    Visit our website www.piratehorizons.com to quickly find download links for the newest versions of our New Horizons mods Beyond New Horizons and Maelstrom New Horizons!

My First Impressions of the Game

William

PA! Admin
Pirate Legend
PlayLogic sent PA! a copy of the game, and having played it for the better part of Saturday and Sunday, I'm still a little undecided on the game - even being undecided the game is like crack and I still want to keep playing ... But that is because I'm a sucker for adventure games.


First off ... cannons exploding SUCKS! I mean, I'll deal with it, because its definitely adds a challenge to even an easy mode game, but Daaaaamn. There is nothing like taking your Lugger up against a Schooner and going to fire and BOOM! - watching debris fly from your ship and noticed you just blew out all the cannons on the side of your ship ... Crap ... Guess I'm gonna have to try to board them. (Note: Cannons exploding have a lot to do with you or your officer's skill in Cannons and what type of cannons you have. Iron cannons cut down on exploding cannons by 40%, but are very expensive in the beginning. I highly recommend getting them once you have a sturdy ship.)


The AI seems a little off to me. And by a little, I mean the following:

So I'm taking my Brig up against 2 pirate vessels ... A Schooner and a War Galleon. My Brig ONLY has about 117 crewman on it ... The War Galleon has a hell of a lot more, and I only had about 80 between soldiers (those who fight on deck) and sailors (those keeping the wooden bath tub afloat). I blew out my cannons .. AGAIN ... and figure since I had the wind to my advantage, I would come in close to board. So what does the Schooner do? RAMS me. What made it even worse is, it immediately went to boarding. So I fought my way through, killed the captain of the ship, but upon leaving, I am now an Insta-Sink because I just thrashed my vessel getting rammed. Quickly hitting enter three times to get through the quick menu allowed me to avoid loading from another save, but Gosh that sucks. ... And the War Galleon that was so fond of pounding me with it's cannons from afar? Ran away like a little girl!

In life's typical paradox, though the game is meant to be open ended, I feel slightly contrained. In POTC where I could inevitably fall off the stone retaining walls, or walk through the grass, or hell even swim in the water in certain areas, you cannot do really any of these things.


For those of you used to POTC, the controls are going to be a kick in the teeth. I can't tell you how many times I was clicking the left mouse to move forward. I haven't tried re-mapping the keys to anything comfortable yet. I think A,S,D would me more comfortable for the sword fighting moves, because that puts your pinky on the shift key (parry), and the thumb on the space (block). That's just me ...


I am beginning to think that trading is FUBAR. Grab items from a colony that exports and bring to a colony that imports. The price they would buy for was LESS than what the other colony (which had tons) sold for. Granted, this is without adding skill points to trading, having an officer to that, or adding a special skill. So who knows.

In dorking around, the best way I've found to make money up front was (playing English first time) do the missions, but check around town as well. The Governor will generally have a huge window in which to complete his mission, and there is usually SOMEONE needing to be taken somewhere, or a ship to be escorted. I would link together doing the Governor's mission, transporting one more or people to another island, and escorting a ship. That would quadruple my earnings while on the mission. In the beginning doing this with a lugger or schooner, you can fully man your ship and have your salary from the nation you served cover them, meaning everything along the way is yours. By the time I would finish with the Governor's mission, I could make 20,000 or more. I've been lucky the last several missions with the occasional pirate or French (now at war with England) taking me on, and receiving some nicer guns and swords at the end of the fight. Having nicer ones, I sell those off and make some moila there too.

I've just started moving into the actual plot, so I can't tell you much about the rest. After checking the INI's and seeing them all encrypted (Damn!) I'm a little worried that this once won't go as far as POTC did. But I'm an optimist I guess. Maybe another patch? Mission Editor? Something?

I haven't played enough to give a firm review, just my initial thoughts of it. I definitely find it enticing to play, and so far haven't experience any errors (minus one that relates more to Windows that anything) - Looking forward to trying to capture a town soon. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<" border="0" alt="dry.gif" />
 
How stable be de game thar, William? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> Be a tellin' ol' Fred Bob, matey! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
Good to read a review that does not mention constant crashes all the time, gives me hope as my copy should arrive in the next two days.

Most of the other stuff sounds fixable with modding and this has already started with the K3 mod.
 
pretty sweet deal gett'n a free copy thar William <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> one P perks I'd be think'n <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> look'n forwrd hear'n more,That'd be European verson ye be play'n ? still 'aven't heard anyting on a US release yet,ur am I missin sumth'n <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
This is the official release, wrapped in the package for US release directly from PlayLogic.

<b>PiratesAhoy! also has a copy IN HAND to give away for promotional use - I'm thinking having a logo contest? Sound good? Suggestions? </b>


I'm running this from my laptop, btw. P4 3.06GHZ, 1GB Ram, and a 128mb ATI Radeon vid card. Having played the game for over 10 hours now, I have not experienced any crashes except for hitting the shift key too fast and Windows sticky keys taking over ... I'm sure there are probably more, but that is the first I've experienced playing that long. That is MUCH better than when I would play POTC (non-modded) and have it go down without even a warning ...

I did notice an issue with a small lag in the fps after about 4 hours of playing, but saving and going back in took care of that.


PlayLogic stated that reports of the game constantly crashing they think have to do with beta copies people are playing, and of course the russian release you can find on torrent file sharing sites. This game was due to be released a while ago, but Akella went into major bug-fixing mode to make sure they had a more stable release.

Once AOP:CT installs it shows you the version number. I believe (not having looked at it since last night. Hehe ..) the US release is v1.4.


Like I said, it feels like there is something missing, but there is also A LOT put back in, and some of the quirks I'm learning to deal with.

Smuggling is a little different now. Instead of hooking up with someone in the tavern you sail to any uninhabited island where there are usually a smuggler's group nearby. After talking to the one of the ships, you can trade in contraband. If you are lucky, or have special abilities to counter it, you might avoid a military patrol - or you might get your butt handed to you. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Another little story: So there are a couple items that are contraband, Chocolate and Paprika being two of them. NO ISLAND will buy it, however, some islands sell it (How does THAT work!?) ... Anyways so after duking it out with some pirates I found myself with a rather lucrative amount of Chocolate and Paprika ... Hmmm, what do to with it? I decided I would try my luck at smuggling and see what I can get myself into.

So I sail for Dominica and rendezvous with a smuggler's vessel just off the coast. I sell my Chocolate and Paprika, and here comes a small military patrol vessel - A lugger!? Against my Brig!? PLEASE!

So I hail the Captain of the vessel and DEMAND he pay me to avoid clobbering him - Hands me 2500 in gold to avoid sending him to Davey Jones' locker! Argh!!!

Didn't work one the three corvettes waiting for me next time though ... They cut my crew apart ... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blah:" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />


Oh, here's one major quirk I have ... I swear they use the same 3 or 4 people for voiceovers. Every person in the tavern sounds the same, every person in every British colony sounds the same, and they slightly change things up for the different nationalities. But still .... C'mon ... It doesn't cost THAT much to do voice-overs, does it?
 
And the skins - I haven't noticed different ship skins for the different nations...
 
<!--quoteo(post=161155:date=Sep 11 2006, 12:07 PM:name=William)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(William @ Sep 11 2006, 12:07 PM) [snapback]161155[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
<snip>
PlayLogic stated that reports of the game constantly crashing they think have to do with beta copies people are playing, and of course the russian release you can find on torrent file sharing sites. This game was due to be released a while ago, but Akella went into major bug-fixing mode to make sure they had a more stable release.
<snip>
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Fred Bob hain't so sure he be completely buyin' dat explanation, William. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" /> De reports o' stability problems all seemed tew begin after de German release on Aug 31st, which btw be version 1.41, just like de latest Russian patch version. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh" border="0" alt="huh.gif" /> Most o' dese irate folks be siting thar consumers rights, having bought their copies, so thar prolly be mo' tew dis issue den PL be a sayin', Fred Bob be speculatin'! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" />
 
hi

i ve buyed the game on saturday and in fullscreen mode its crashing time to time. disable fullscreen helps (so the original version is crashing.. not only betas..).

but the main problem is the story. at one point u get telled to conquer all colonies. that will take some time but when u look into the ini/..text/..questbook u will see this is the last enry. so their is no real mainquest (taking all colonies will be a bit boring i think... havent tried yet). also i havent find any sidequests. sure there are quests like bring ship from there to somewhere or transport goods/passengers/presents(lol) but thats not very exciting for a longer playtime. im just trying to raise in rank by the british governour but i think his orders wont get more interesting...

soo... without modding/patching in a real story the game will soon get boring... i just got my first man-o-war ^^ so i ll take down some enemy ships and forts but then?!

the game looks good, playing is ok and without fullscreen it dont crash that often. if its modable like potc pls put a hand on it and it can get a great game!

pls tell me if u find a quest or something like that ^^

edit:

i got the german version 1.41

pentium 2 ghz
1 gb ram
radeon 9600 pro
 
lol, I was just mentioning what was said throughout other forums. So far, I haven't experienced anything, so it's been good to me. It could be because I whisper sweet-nothings into to the computer speaker ...

I'll expect another patch or two if what they are reporting is true.

Yeah, there aren't different skins for the ship, but that honestly doesn't bug me.


I know people have mentioned that it is painstakingly slow on the World Map and that it takes forever to get from destination to destination. The counter to that is that a lot can happen from destination to destination too. In the beginning there is a lot that can be avoided, and generally no one but the pirates pay you any attention ... But as relations start changing, storms brewing, etc - it can be quite an experience sailing from Barbados to San Juan.

Last night I was playing and I was being chased by two pirate convoys. I was in a hurry to get to La Vega on behalf of the English governor, so I wasn't really wasn't to get into a firefight yet. As I'm trying to avoid them, a storm starting brewing right overhead. ...Crap... Twister tore up the ship, but we survived. Managed to find port in Monsterrat to get my ship repaired, and sign up some men that I lost as sea.

As I'm leaving Monsterrat, I see white sails coming at me. Oh? Who could that be? 3 French military vessels deciding to pick a fight! What the world? So I check my log - Oh look ... England is at war with France ... So after sinking their vessels off the coast of Monsterrat, I make my way to La Vega. I manage to take care of business and decide to see if I can pick up some business heading back that way - you know, maximize profits. So I agree to take on escorting a ship to Antigua. Escorting seems to attract pirates .... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blah:" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> ... So as I'm escorting the ship, I'm about half way there when I look up to catch the score on the Giants/Colts game on Sunday Night Football ... then I look down ... Just as I did, ANOTHER storm coming. Crap. It's huge, I cannot avoid it. Manage to survive the second storm raging through and dock at Antigua ... Whew! Close one.



<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->but the main problem is the story. at one point u get telled to conquer all colonies. that will take some time but when u look into the ini/..text/..questbook u will see this is the last enry. so their is no real mainquest (taking all colonies will be a bit boring i think... havent tried yet). also i havent find any sidequests. sure there are quests like bring ship from there to somewhere or transport goods/passengers/presents(lol) but thats not very exciting for a longer playtime. im just trying to raise in rank by the british governour but i think his orders wont get more interesting...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I think those ARE the side quests to be honest. I've done 5 missions for the English Governor so far and I'm still a Lieutenant, so I've no clue how much it takes to get promoted. I wonder if Leadership has anything to do with that.

The mod thing will be interesting ... all the INI's are encrypted, so I wonder what can be done about it.
 
hehe the worldmap travelling ^^

maybe we are spoilt with the potc modding where r and äh g? key were added to the worldmap for lightspeed-travel ^^

after 7 missions i was a captain. so wont take very long. in the manual they say u can rise up to vize-king....
 
They also mention that the missions are supposed to get more difficult as you continue doing them, so we'll see.

7 huh? Sweet. I'll keep them up and see. I just want to make enough salary a decent portion of my troops so I can put the rest to good use. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
Portions of it look like it's in C, yes, but other sections of the INI files look like gibberish if Zsa Zsa Gabor spoke it.

... This is killing me. I'm at work at the moment - I'd rather be home playing. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=161167:date=Sep 11 2006, 11:21 AM:name=William)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(William @ Sep 11 2006, 11:21 AM) [snapback]161167[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I know people have mentioned that it is painstakingly slow on the World Map and that it takes forever to get from destination to destination. .
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Won't bother me to much William,play'n SH3 +Seawolves Expansion took me 14 days =9 hours playing time to complete one patrol ,although sunk Battleship Nelson so was well wurth the round trip <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
William, the crashing seems to occour when you progess further and further into the main quest, up to the point where about 1 in 4 boardings causes a CTD after completing it.

also, piracy in a corvette is very very lucrative with the right perks picked, just sail light and get a dutch or English corvette (they seem to be a bit faster), silk sails and raid convoys.

i went from nearly nil to well past 350.000, a corvette with 32lbs iron cannons silk sails and full crew in three weeks (starting as pirate and with everybody hostile), however you get significantly slower with a full hold and the ability to run like a little girl is rather important when you have pissed off all the nations raid too many convoys in a area and the rate of military patrols go trough the roof. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
I think that is how I will play through next time. I'm soooooo happy Akella gave you the option of being a pirate from the start. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I'll get further in and see what happens with the crashing.

So far, despite the quirks, I'm really lovin' the game.
 
In regards to the voices sounding the same, is it possible to transfer the POTC voices into this game?
 
<!--quoteo(post=161187:date=Sep 12 2006, 05:27 AM:name=Shrike)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Shrike @ Sep 12 2006, 05:27 AM) [snapback]161187[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
William, the crashing seems to occour when you progess further and further into the main quest, up to the point where about 1 in 4 boardings causes a CTD after completing it.

also, piracy in a corvette is very very lucrative with the right perks picked, just sail light and get a dutch or English corvette (they seem to be a bit faster), silk sails and raid convoys.

i went from nearly nil to well past 350.000, a corvette with 32lbs iron cannons silk sails and full crew in three weeks (starting as pirate and with everybody hostile), however you get significantly slower with a full hold and the ability to run like a little girl is rather important when you have pissed off all the nations raid too many convoys in a area and the rate of military patrols go trough the roof. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hi.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":gday" border="0" alt="hi.gif" />
Reading all your posts I'm feeling allready sorry about the money wasted. My copy is to arrive in a few days.
I live in Australia by the way. How come nobody says anything about the STARFORCE PROTECTION
on the disk?????
That seems to be the most talked item on the Net!
Isn't anybody worried about their computer etc not to talk about your PRIVACY!!!? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/duel_pa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ixi" border="0" alt="duel_pa.gif" />
 
Starforce does not directly affect your privacy in any way, it doesnt phone home or anything like that.

what it can cause is "step down" issues on especially cheaper DVD burners potentially destroying the drives, there are also some iffy issues regarding the way it operates as it essencially curcumvent the "ring" security system present in more modern Windows versions, the real kick to the teeth however is when your computer is not completely compatible, and if you happen to be using SCSI CD drives, then you lose as they get supressed by the copy protection.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starforce" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starforce</a>

the short story is that starforce applies a sledgehammer style method in copy protection, while it is effective (well, its not in this case to be honest. this game was avaliable as a pirated game from the 3rd of september and properly in closed circulation a bit before that) it has huge potential issues connected with it and it doesnt play well with a host of other applications such as image software (Alcohol 120% is a typical one) nor is it excactly a reliable peice of code by the looks of things, there has been more than a few cases where large scale stability problems can be traced back to Starforce, Silent Hunter III especially have these issues and "off the record" solutions often include getting a crack for the game to get rid of the copy protection.
 
Back
Top