This game is a genuine classic, and well worth the hours spent playing. From trading, industrializing towns with your own industries, to capturing bigger ships and outfitting them for Privateering or protecting your trade lanes, this is a great and fulfilling title. Its recommended for someone who prefers to think and likes a challange. Learning curve is roughly 8hours solid, but once you soon pick up the way to make a profit, it becomes really entertaining. Its well balanced economics adds to the challange and progression is steady. If the title becomes available again here at Mighty Ape – Don't miss the opportunity to buy a copy of this Great Game

As “david” mentioned above (other reviewer), its a brilliant title. It does take some time to get used to, but once you understand the controls, the trading, convoys, etc.. the game offers great satisfaction. But it's no walk in the park either – a balance of stradegy and cunning, I found the best is capturing enemy ships to augment my own battle convoys. its Great Fun! If you enjoy this simulation style of gameplay then Get This Game.

I haven't played a pirate sim since the original Pirates! so maybe can't offer a true review compared to other recent titles, but so far I like this game!

It's great to see a truely open-ended game, with the decision up to you on how you want to handle things. So far I have only done a small amount of trading before getting into the thick of it against Holland and Spain with my English military frigate, but It certainly is not an easy way to get rich as soon as military fleets start coming after you (especially the Spanish :/).

The battle sequences are great, much like the original Pirates! bearing and speed are key to getting the job done, with a few nice decisions thrown over to you as to whether you want to use chain balls and grape shot to take out the ship's sails and crew, or just try to sink them with heavy shot. Oh and the graphics are very pretty.

There is plenty more to it from here, setting up industries and getting trade convoys going will be next, while I try to make good with the Governor carrying out missions (haven't come across his daughter yet, either).

The soon to be released Pirates! may well prove to be the ultimate in the genre, but until then I know what I am going to be doing!