Bethesda & Ubisoft's Pirates Of The Caribbean Game: Forgotten For A Reason?

Back in 2003, no-one expected a film based on a theme park ride to be anything but a failure. 16 years later and we’re still scratching our heads as to how huge it actually became.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl released to monstrous acclaim and a pirate’s treasure in box office returns, as well as giving Johnny Depp an Oscar-nominated role he would repeat for the next decade.

So naturally, the rush was on to cash in on the film, for fear it was simply a flash-in-the-pan. Along came Russian video game developer Akkela, a studio famous for making the Postal series and a fair track record making games about piracy, attempting to create something that could coincide with the film.

Brought in to publish the title was Bethesda (who would continue making Pirates titles with The Legend of Jack Sparrow) and Ubisoft (who would one day make Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag).

The game released to very little fanfare, and generally came and went to be forgotten to time. But as the first major tie-in to the franchise, does it deserve new appreciation?

The first thing you’ll notice about the game is that it bares almost no similarities to the film it’s supposedly based on. Instead of the exploits of Jack Sparrow or Will Turner, you follow the story of Captain Nathaniel Hawk who had just survived a storm and must repair his battered ship, as well as hire a new crew within Port Oxbay.

Following this tutorial segment, a French armada attacks the port with your small ship able to slip out and report the attack to the British Governor. From here, Nathaniel is recruited to fight against the French and their allies, whilst twists and turns in the story can make or break your alliances with these countries, while also avoiding the threat of pirates, including the infamous Black Pearl.

During this time you’ll be forced to become a pirate yourself, and make allies with an inventor who can lead you to a treasure that can defeat the Pearl, which is very rarely (if at all) a threat until the very end of the game.

There are also many side quests throughout the open world spanning seven islands, as well as the opportunity to build a fleet of your own, from tiny tartanes to the enormous Man O’ War (a ship only playable by capturing near the end of the game) and everything in between.

The game operates much like any RPG; i.e. fight, compete quests, earn experience and purchase upgrades.