As is the case with mostly 2D games in 3D worlds, there are some control issues to deal with. The environments are filled with ropes that must be grabbed in mid-air and other such obstacles, but it can sometimes be difficult to line up your character properly with them. This results in a bit of trial-and-error gameplay, and some unnecessary falls and deaths that wouldn’t have otherwise happened. Also, the developers got a bit too happy with the constant usage of equipment, and as a result some areas become a bit of a chore having to always switch between and use them.
As is the case with most DS games, there are several different mini-games to overcome and add variety to the game. Lockpicking finds the player using the stylus to draw a line between tumblers, which must be done quickly and accurately or the attempt will fail. Also, some doors can only be opened with gears found in the level (why so many doors are missing gears remains a mystery however), and the player must rotate them to then unlock the door. Finally, map fragments must be dragged and arranged in order to unlock new areas. These are pretty standard mini-games for a DS title and don’t add much to the experience, but at least they add a bit of diversity to the overall game. Multiplayer-wise, the game also supports local wireless play, both for dueling and playing Liar’s Dice. Young buccaneers may get some enjoyment out of these, but I don’t see them being used that often as they’re pretty limited gameplay modes.
Graphically, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End suffers a bit from the decision to use 3D, which gives it a rough look not unlike early PSone titles. Still, the characters are representative enough, and the NPCs and environments are solid. Aurally most characters have one or two quips, with NPCs often uttering them when they die. The music is excellent, with slight variations on the main movie theme and other “piratey” romps that suit the action well.
Bottom Line:
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is by no means one of the best action adventures on the system, but it’s a solid title that should please fans of the franchise and pirates in general. If there is ever a 4th movie in the franchise, the developers of the inevitable games to go with it would do well to take more than a few cues from this version.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 7.2 |
Posted: 2007-11-06 09:17:58 PST