Pre-order 'SID MEIER'S PIRATES!': PC

You gotta hand it to Sid Meier; this guy can make a freakin' game! Not five minutes after I loaded the preview build for Sid Meier's Pirates!, I was hooked. Simply put, Pirates! is the game that Bethesda's Pirates of the Caribbean wanted to be: an open ended, somewhat roleplaying-based game that's easy to pick up and difficult to put down.

Messing around with a classic is a dicey proposition – just ask any Star Wars fan about the "adjustments" George Lucas has made to the original films.

The original Pirates, released in the dawn of computing known as 1987, was incredibly advanced for its time, combining strategy and role-playing into one pixilated masterpiece. This remake follows that mold exactly.

You start the game having convinced the Captain of a ship to take a long walk off a short plank, assuming command of this small vessel and embarking on the life of that liberator of goods: a pirate! The only thing set in stone is how the game begins; the rest is up to you.

The game takes place during the 17th century down in the Caribbean. One of the first things you'll want to do is visit one of the local Governors to get a Letter of Marque, which lets you become a legal pirate with the authority to loot and plunder the ships of that Governor's enemies. After that, crew up your ship and head to sea.

Once I got into the meat of the game – battling, plundering, exploring new areas, plundering, wooing the Governor's daughter, and did I mention the plundering part? – the game really started to impress me.

The first thing I noticed was just how darned easy the game was to pick up. I'm not sure if there's any documentation on the build we got, but I didn't need any; it was that intuitive. Left click to move, hold down the mouse to move faster; right click on a vessel to attack it. When the enemy vessel surrenders, you have the option to plunder it (did I mention I liked plundering?) or scuttle it. You can also cart it along and sell it for a decent sum at a port. The shipwright never seems to question why I keep selling him damaged vessels that "got in the way of some wayward canon fire."

You also have the ability to get in touch with your inner Johnny Depp by swashbuckling with the enemy Captain. In addition to being fun, these battles are quite funny. There are three different settings to the battle in, and the goal is to force the other Captain off the ship. In one humorous moment, I cut a rope holding a crate in the air, golfing the enemy Captain into the sea.

Every now and then, you'll want to return to port to sell off the loot, repair your ship, and check in with the Governor to see if he has anything for you to do, in addition to seeing if you're eligible for a promotion. You can also add new crewmembers, buy cargo to try to sell at other ports (although I found that acquiring my cargo on the open seas to be much more cost-effective) and buy treasure maps. Like any good RPG, the tavern is where you'll hear all the good rumors, hit on the barmaid, and hire crew. The shipwright is where you go to purchase ship upgrades, repair your ship and sell off the ships you've taken as prizes. While you're there, make a quick stop at the merchant to sell off that stuff you've plundered.

The graphics are 3D, and the overall art direction is similar to the Monkey Island series – fun and cartoony. The soundtrack is well done with a nice little pirate jingle going in the background. Overall, the graphics and sound do their jobs well; they are neither underdone or over the top.

All in all, the game has that trademark Sid Meier touch, who, like author Elmore Leonard, simply leaves out the boring parts out. The build we got was amazingly addictive, and is one of those rare games that you pick for a few moments before bed and realize you missed work the next day. It's due to plunder people's free time this November.