Pirates! Gold Plus

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Set sail in the golden age of piracy in "Pirates! Gold Plus." As a daring pirate captain, explore the Caribbean, engage in ship-to-ship combat, and trade with colonies in a quest for wealth and fame. Navigate treacherous political waters, complete missions, and even become a privateer or pirate hunter in this open-world classic adventure game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

emotional1 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

A nostalgic experience for fans of the original game, capturing the essence of classic gameplay.
Offers a fun and open-ended pirate adventure with various activities like raiding, trading, and sword fighting.
Includes both the original 1987 game and the 1993 re-release, appealing to retro gaming enthusiasts.

The controls are laggy and unresponsive, making the game nearly unplayable on modern systems.
Frequent crashes and bugs significantly hinder the gameplay experience.
The game lacks proper copy protection information, leading to frustrating gameplay issues.

music
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its classical compositions that enhance the exploration experience, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. While some users initially faced performance issues with music playback, recent fixes have improved the overall experience, allowing for smoother gameplay and music synchronization. However, a few players still report lag and freezing, indicating that performance can vary.
- “It seems that the issues that others were having with DOSBox have now been fixed - the music plays normally and the ships move at the appropriate speed.”
- “The music and layout have such a nostalgically fulfilling aspect to it.”
- “It causes the music to get messed up and the game to run awfully.”
- “Music and gameplay are laggy, freeze a ton, etc. Just poor performance.”
- “With the timeframe, a backdrop of classical music parades through your PC speaker (or Tandy) as you explore towns and navigate dangerous waters.”
graphics
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are generally criticized as subpar, with many reviewers noting that it feels like a cheap rendition rather than a polished product. While the visuals and sound design may suffice for a DOS game, they fall short of modern standards, leading players to recommend newer versions for better graphics and storytelling. Overall, those seeking high-definition graphics and a compelling narrative will likely be disappointed.
- “The graphics and sound design get the job done for a DOS game, though I found my crew yelling 'yo-ho-ho' when they see a ship to be really annoying.”
- “If you want a pirate sim that lets you upgrade your ship, build specialty crew members, have tactics with different cannon shots for combat, has cute graphics for combat, and a better story focus for finding your lost family, then I say get the newer version.”
- “This is not Sid Meier's game but a cheap rendition; they sure did a terrible job on the graphics.”
- “Everything is here, only the graphics suffer from the conversion.”
- “If you're looking for HD graphics and a great storyline, sadly you are looking in the wrong place.”
gameplay
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Gameplay is marred by bugs that detract from the experience, and while the 2004 remake of Sid Meier's Pirates offers a similar experience, it is considered superior by some due to its more polished mechanics. Players engage in ship battles and town attacks, but these elements may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the gameplay has notable flaws that impact enjoyment.
- “If you've never played pirates before, go for the 2004 remake of Sid Meier's Pirates. The gameplay of the remake is pretty much the same, though not as good as this version. Some things got left out or worsened, but I personally prefer the remake to this version.”
- “You will also fire at ships and attempt to board them. A similar mechanic has you attacking towns, and I'm not a fan of this.”
- “It is not noticeable in gameplay, but it has some serious effects.”
- “The bugs ruin gameplay.”
- “If you never played pirates before, go for the 2004 remake of Sid Meier's Pirates. The gameplay of the remake is pretty much the same, not as good as this version though; some things got left out or worsened, but I personally prefer the remake to this version.”
- “You will also fire at ships and attempt to board them; a similar mechanic has you attacking towns, and I'm not a fan of this.”
optimization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users report significant optimization issues, noting that even on modern midrange gaming laptops, performance is subpar compared to older systems. Many experience lag, freezes, and overall poor performance, suggesting that the game's optimization fails to leverage advancements in hardware effectively.
- “On my mid-range, modern gaming laptop, the cycles for optimum performance for me are 10,000.”
- “This computer is literally hundreds of times faster than the original PC I played this on, and yet performance is so much worse... this version of the game defies Moore's Law.”
- “Music and gameplay are laggy, freezing a ton, etc. Just poor performance.”
story
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The storyline is criticized for being simplistic and unengaging, primarily revolving around the quest to find relatives. While the game offers enjoyable gameplay elements like ship upgrades and combat tactics, it lacks a compelling narrative and high-quality graphics, leading some players to recommend newer versions for a better story experience.
- “If you want a pirate sim that lets you upgrade your ship, build specialty crew members, have tactics with different cannon shots for combat, has cute graphics for combat, and a better story focus for finding your lost family, then I say get the newer version.”
- “The storyline is lackluster and revolves around a simple quest to find your relatives.”
- “If you're looking for a pirate sim with a more engaging story about finding your lost family, I recommend the newer version.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The Mac version of the game on Steam is reported to be plagued by significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, laggy music, and frequent freezes, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
- “Loved this game years ago, but trying to play the version for Mac through Steam is completely bug-ridden.”
- “Music and gameplay are laggy, freezing a ton, etc. Just poor performance.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as heartbreaking, highlighting the potential for a deeply engaging experience that is marred by functional issues.
- “It's heartbreaking, because it's a great game when fully functional.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Replayability is considered average, with players feeling satisfied after approximately eight hours of gameplay before losing interest.
- “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
- “The dynamic world changes with each decision, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
- “Replayability is okay, but after about 8 hours, I've had my fill.”
- “The game lacks enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to replay.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game incorporates humor through its clever anti-piracy feature, which includes an instruction manual adorned with pirate flags and names, adding an ironic twist that players find amusing.
- “This game was designed with an anti-piracy feature (I know, ironically funny) where each page of the instruction manual had a pirate's flag on it with a real pirate's name.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever puns and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with hilarious character interactions and absurd situations that are just pure fun.”