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

music1 positive mentions

graphics1 negative mentions

A nostalgic experience for those who played the original game, capturing the essence of classic pirate adventures.
Offers a fun and open-ended gameplay style, allowing players to engage in various pirate activities like raiding and trading.
Includes both the original 1987 game and the 1993 Pirates! Gold, providing a great value for fans of retro gaming.

The controls are laggy and unresponsive, making the game nearly unplayable on modern systems.
Frequent crashes and bugs significantly hinder the gameplay experience, leading to frustration for players.
The game lacks proper copy protection information, which can lead to loss of progress and confusion during play.

music
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its classical compositions that enhance the exploration experience, evoking a sense of nostalgia. While some users experienced performance issues that affected the music playback, recent fixes have improved the overall functionality, allowing for a smoother auditory experience. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, despite some technical hiccups.
- “With the timeframe, a backdrop of classical music parades through your PC speaker as you explore towns and navigate dangerous waters.”
- “The music and layout have such a nostalgically fulfilling aspect to it.”
- “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.”
- “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
0 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
20 % 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 effectively capture the essence of a classic DOS game, although the crew's constant 'yo-ho-ho' when spotting a ship can become quite annoying.”
- “While the game offers a lot of content, the graphics do suffer from the conversion process.”
- “For those seeking a pirate simulation that allows for ship upgrades, specialty crew members, tactical cannon shots in combat, and charming graphics, I recommend the newer version for a better story focus on finding your lost family.”
- “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
0 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
25 % 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, many players prefer it despite some omissions and drawbacks. The mechanics of firing at ships and boarding them, as well as attacking towns, are present but not well-received by all players. Overall, the gameplay has significant issues 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, but not as good as this version; some things got left out or worsened. Personally, I 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
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for underperforming on modern hardware, with users reporting significant lag and freezing issues even on midrange gaming laptops. Despite advancements in technology, the game's performance appears to be worse than on older systems, contradicting expectations of improved efficiency.
- “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.”
- “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
33 % neutral mentions
33 % 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, especially when compared to newer versions that provide a better story focus.
- “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.”
- “If you're looking for HD graphics and a great storyline, sadly you are looking in the wrong place.”
- “The storyline is lackluster: find your relatives.”
- “If you're looking for a pirate sim that allows you to upgrade your ship, build specialized crew members, and engage in tactical combat with different cannon shots, along with cute graphics, then you should consider the newer version for a better story focus on finding your lost family.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The Mac version of the game on Steam is plagued by significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, laggy music, and performance freezes, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “I loved this game years ago, but trying to play the version for Mac through Steam is completely bug-ridden.”
- “The music and gameplay are laggy, freezing constantly; it's just poor performance.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
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.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters left me in tears.”
- “I felt a profound connection to the story that resonated with my own experiences.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Replayability is considered moderate, with players feeling satisfied after approximately eight hours of gameplay before losing interest.
- “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've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay.”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % 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 breaks the fourth wall with hilarious references to gaming culture that only true fans would appreciate.”