Caltrops - Gamerasutra - new Pirates game. Initial impressions

Forum Overview :: Gamerasutra

by FABIO 01/04/2005, 9:01pm PST

Looks like they didn't fuck it up. It's basically the exact same game with some improved mechanics. You can now see every ship moving around on the map (instead of the sudden popup random encounters in the original) and you get text readouts on what type of ship it is, its nationality, and any valuable cargo it may be carrying.

Ship to ship combat. The same, only now you get to choose between 3 different types of cannon shot (solid shot for anti-hull, chain shot for sails, and grapeshot for crew).

The fencing sequences are much improved. In the original the best bet was usually just picking the cutlass and pounding the overhead slash key. Now you have to hit the correct block key (high, medium, low).

There's a totally new land combat sequence. I haven't gotten to it but it looks like some sort of RTS deal with different units like infantry, ranged, and cavalry.

The dancing mini-game is actually the hardest part about this game so far.