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Another RSTS favorite of mine

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is another favorite RSTS(Real Slow Time Strategy) game of mine. What I mean is setting the game time on the slowest possible setting and micro-managing. This is how I like to play a lot of games and the makers of Port Royale understand there are a lot of players like me. The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is because there is a Port Royale 2 that is better.

difficult and complex, but great

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 22, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As the title indicates, this game is complex and can be difficult. It is also, if those traits are interesting to you, incredibly addicting. This could be a bad thing :-)

I love Sid Meier's games: the Civilization series, Alpha Centauri, etc. Civ 2 and AC are my favorites due to the detail and control available. I mention these due to the traits of those games being similar to this one. The context, however, is starkly different. A little more background: I just bought this game a few days ago after a hankering for Avalon Hill's Blackbeard, which is a great board game. I went online to do some "research" on Pirate games, and read a few reviews of Port Royale, its sequel, and Pirates! by the aforemention Meier. What I read led me to Port Royale, and I found a copy and bought it. I've played games for years, and enjoy them, everything from RTS to FPS, and running the gamut from graphically boring to exquisite (Neverwinter Nights, for example).

To the game: The aspects that appeal most to me in any game are: a sense of adventure, open-ended potential, and a vibrant game world with a decent AI. I'd say that Port Royale has all of these in abundance. There are many paths to success... one can choose to be a lawless pirate and attack ships and sack towns, one can choose to create a booming trade business via shipping, one can build businesses in a number of towns to facilitate that, one can choose to build reputation with a nation and rise to the level of a governor, or one can choose to do all or a combination of any of these things. Replay value, in my opinion, is very high.

The sense of adventure is created partly by the large environment, and discovering new towns. It is helped if you ignore the map that comes with the game, which actually depicts every town's location, which can come in handy when you decide to take on missions at the behest of the various Governors. The rapidly shifting economy is also a repeated source of randomness and adventure, as commodities shift in value drastically through supply and demand.

The open-ended nature of the game is driven by the aforementioned various paths one can take, and the fact that you can choose to ignore missions until such a time as it becomes convenient. Missions are time-sensitive and difficult in many cases. Ships take damage in sea battles, and need be repaired and armed against future attacks, even if you are taking the path of the merchant, so it may be prudent to wait before taking on a mission.

The complexity comes mostly in learning the trade system and managing businesses. I thought I'd be bored with the trade aspect and choose to be a pirate or a buccaneer, but I actually find the trading system to be a blast. My first few runs saw my ships destroyed, and my businesses going into the red.

Life on the seas is managed by the control of one or more convoys, which are always represented graphically by one ship. You can grow your convoy in two ways (that I've discovered): one: by capturing ships on the seas, or two: by purchasing ships and adding them to your convoy. You can operate multiple convoys if you so choose, simply by buying or removing a captured ship from your existing convoy, and then hiring a captain. Controlling multiple convoys adds another level of complexity, but can be a lot of fun, and is a great way to build one's fortune.

The game offers automated trade controls as well... one involves setting buy and sell orders at businesses (storage facilites) in towns that can take advantage of the dynamic economy, and another involves setting up trade routes, which I have yet to do.

I recommend that anyone who finds the traits I mentioned compelling tries this game. If hack and slash and immediate gratification is more your speed (and I like that, too), stay away. You will be frustrated and annoyed.

If you like sim audit youýll love Port Royal

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 6
Date: August 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I was hoping to do a little pirating, but instead found myself muddled in finances. When you can't get through the tutorial without confusion its not good.

Its a game about Commerce

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: January 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

To be honest, I had a hard time getting into this game. It seems to deal only with the Commercial Aspects of the Carribean during the 1700's. It might have more to it, but I got bored.

Avoid this game!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 10
Date: August 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I played the demo of this game and loved it. I purchased the retail version, it is very buggy and usually doesn't work. I've tried getting help from Ascaron but they don't respond to my e-mails. Check out the forums at Ascaron.com. There are many others that are having the same problems and getting no help from tech support.

Port Royale is a great game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: July 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you love sailing the high seas, fighting pirates, finding treasure, and adventuring (at your own pace), then you'll love this game.

FULL of adventure and it has Churchs!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The cool thing although something I did not focus on using much in the game was the Church's, which aid in different ways.

You know if you like to think and love strategy games at a nice price, then this is a groovy game....

It is challenging but enjoyable, you can be the Pirates, Buccaneers or just a Merchant making bucks!

GO for building things as soon as you can and build your fleet with the same ships till you are ready to afford the bigger ones. DON't forget to max the Convoy with people and put enough cannons & cannon balls on board to take on the Pirates (depending on your political leanings).Dont max the convoy out with ships as you can capture and sell ones that you win.

I enjoyed this. Plus you really get a feel of that period in time.

GS

Partician II in the caribbean

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: July 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Well designed game and fun to play, but built on the same platform as Patrician II. Improvements to the trade screen makes micro-managing trade convoys easier and graphics are better. If you've played Patrician, it's going to look VERY similar.

Good Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: January 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you have any interest whatsoever in pirates or maritime history this game will intertain you. I am a Avalon Hill "Blackbeard" veteran, and I like what I saw in Port Royale. Although these two games are largely dissimilar, Port Royale caused me to make the switch.

Good Idea, Bad Programming

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: December 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The idea of the game is great, but there are conflicts within the programming that causes it to crash constantly, even with an updated computer. If you check the maker's site, they have many reports of the same problem. The Idea is great, the graphics are good, just wish the game would actually work. You have to download a patch to even attempt to get it to work. Check out ASCARONS FORUM on their web site--Would I buy it again? No. I would hesitate at buying any software from ASCARON.

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