"Slow and monotonous, yet fun...your typical Koei game!"

Now, I must say that when I got this game, I was simply picking up a hard-to-find NES game that I didn't think would see much play time...I already own the SNES "upgrade" version, so I was simply going to test it out. Little did I realize that this version was the better one...

Gameplay: 6
Probably the only part of this game that I wasn't too impressed with was the control scheme. After playing the SNES version, I got used to using the D-Pad to move around...NOT SO!!! The direction of your ship is controlled by hitting left and right until the ship turns in the direction you want it to, as opposed to hitting the direction you want to turn to on the SNES. This took me about 5 minutes to get the hang of...a very minor gripe in my opinion. The major gripe I had with the SNES version was the pace of the game, especially when sailing across the ocean. Such a major part of the game should have been a little more enjoyable. However, nothing totally ruins the experience.

Graphics: 9
I was rather impressed with the visuals here. In my opinion, the graphics are BETTER than the SNES version. The only thing keeping the graphics from a 10 is the choppy animations, especially at sea.

Sound: 8
The tunes really put you in the mood for sailing, although the sound is of a very low quality. Still, sounds better than most NES games, even if it's a little grating after a while.

Replay: 10
This game is LONG! Do not attempt to sit and play through it in one sitting. It won't happen...trust me. And even after the game is over, there are so many ways to play the game, you'll probably start over again. One of the greatest games for one of the greatest systems.

Overall: 8
Although I have played better games (*cough* Romance II *cough*) this one ranks high on my list. If you can take the pace of your average Koei strategy game, I highly recommend it...you won't be disappointed. If you are the kind of gamer that can't sit and play for hours on end without getting bored, stay away! Leave it for somebody who really wants it, because you probably won't like it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/17/04