Uncharted Waters

"Yar! These Waters Be Uncharted, Ye Scallywag!"

Uncharted Waters. Yet another fine game brought to us by the strategic simulation masters known as KOEI. A lot of people don't like their games...but damnit, I do. This game, despite some flaws, is superb and time consuming. Make sure you have a lot of free time before you plan to get into it.

Graphics: Okay, I'll admit...they're dated. Plain as that. While in a town, the graphics are nothing awe inspiring...or even inspired. It's grainy, and you're character movement is kinda jumpy. While sailing, the graphics are equally dated. You move square by square, with absolutely no fluid animation. Poor by SNES standards.

Gameplay: Difficult. Sailing may take some time to get used to, because you need to tap a direction to point your ship, and then let go, else you'll stay in the direction select. In towns, it's simple enough. Move around, play poker at the bar...and buy goods. Maybe visit a king. Maybe. While in town, it's easy, but on the open sea, watch out beginners.

Sound: Again, nothing inspired. It's simple, but it is meeting the scene well. Classic port tunes, and the sailing music is good. Nothing that great...not much else to say.

Replayability: Once you beat the game, you won't want to play it again for some time. You will, however, postpone beating it so you can run around and do whatever with your great fleet. This gets high marks. I played it for a long time before FINALLY beating it. I just held off so I could go pirating.

Fun Factor: Massive. At first, you'll hate selling sugar in your tiny little schooner, but once you get the cash and officers to man a good sized fleet, you'll enjoy exploring the new world and, if it's your thing, destroying trade ships and other pirates. It's a highly entertaining

Concept: Original, to say the least. Leave it to KOEI to make a game about sailing. It's innovative, and all together, was pulled off well. 'nuff said, really.

Difficulty: Depends. if you try and go attack a fleet in the first half of the game, you WILL be stomped. If you try and sail to Japan or the New World Early on, you will starve and die. if you take it easy at first, however, you'll do fine, and have a lot of fun in the long run.

Buy or Rent? Rent it first, to see if it's what you want in a game. It should be cheap enough to buy though, fi you want to go out and get it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/26/04