Uncharted Waters

"Back in the days before fancy graphics and button mashing ...."

Do you have one of those annoying relatives that loves to talk about life in the days before television? Well, those of us who played video games before the days of PS2, XBox and GameCube can finally relate to what they mean. Uncharted Waters is the epitome of the art of fine gaming before the fancy graphics took over the field. Don't get me wrong, I love the GTA series as much as the next gamer, but nothing gives me pure gaming joy quite like the experience I get when I cast off from Lisbon with my first 50 bags(?) of sugar on my way to building a fleet that is the scourge of the seven seas.

Graphics 4/10

By today's standards, a 4 would be overrating the graphics. But even by the standards of the early 90s and the SNES system, the graphics weren't great. The towns generally all look the same, with some minor regional variance. The characters are rendered amateurishly, but they are distinguishable from one another. If you view game design as a budget that can be allocated to different aspects of the game, it's clear that the graphics department at Koei was not given a significant share of the booty.

Music 2/10

I would give the music a 1 except for one thing ... you can turn it off through an options menu. If you feel you must listen to the music as you play this game, I suggest you have someone hide all of the razor blades from you. That said, the sound is totally irrelevant to the game play. While some games require auditory clues as an integral part of the game, it simply is not a factor in Uncharted Waters. Once again, Koei saved money in this area in order to beef up other areas of the game.

Gameplay 10/10

Aahhhh, now we see where the money was spent. In its simplest form, the object of this game is to build a fleet, establish trading routes, complete missions for merchants and the King of Portugal, rise in rank to the level of Duke, and eventually save the Princess from the evil clutches of the Spanish, Turks or pirates. Where the game gets deep is in how you choose to accomplish these goals. You can be a trader and amass a fortune (although, constraints on your pocketbook makes it tricky to do so) allying Portugal with virtually every free port in the world (and bankrupting Spain and Turkey in the process). You can be an avenging angel and wreak havoc on the pirates and gain fame and fortune. You can search the world for fabulous treasures. Or, you can become a bloodthirsty pirate yourself.

Replay Value 10/10

I've had this game for so long, I can't really remember when I got it, but it had to be in the early 90s. And I've played it so many times that I should probably be committed to an asylum. But in all those times I've played it, only twice have I managed to achieve the rank of Duke before being sent on the final mission to rescue the Princess. There are so many ways to play this game that that in and of itself gives it superior replay value. But the fact that achieving what appears at first to be a rather straightforward and easy goal is actually very illusive draws you back again and again in the quest to get it just right.

Overall 9/10

This game made the most of the SNES system in terms of deep and addicting gameplay. It is so nonlinear in its play that you can never play it the same way twice regardless of whether you want to or not. It's not flashy by today's standards, then again, grandma and grandpa survived without TVs when they were kids. If what you want is to mash buttons furiously and let the graphics occupy your brain with sensory overload, then you won't like this game. However, if you want to relax with a video game, maybe even use your brain to work out a little math or navigate a map, then you'll love this game.

Parting Thoughts

Of the criticisms I've heard on this game, the biggest is that the sea journeys are monotonous and long. This is true, especially if your crew is being expected to sail ships well beyond what their sailing capabilities would allow them to master. Remember ... this is a strategy game. There are a lot of factors to manage, and, yes, it does take a certain amount of time and patience to understand how the factors interact and to master the game. In the end, the mastery of this game makes it one of the best games ever made for the SNES.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/10/03