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Pirates of the Burning Sea pc Game Reviews
Pirates of the Burning Sea
Critic Score
Metascore: 77 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.1 out of 10
based on 28 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 38 votes
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Rate this game

Pirates of the Burning Sea is an MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder. Set against the backdrop of the New World of the 18th Century, players can choose one of three nations – England, France or Spain – or choose the role of a Pirate and battle it out for glory and power.

PUBLISHER: Sony Online Entertainment
DEVELOPER: Flying Lab Software
GENRE(S): Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
PLAYERS: Thousands
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: January 21, 2008

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

96
Cheat Code Central
The premise is fueled by historical accuracy, so there is a lot of realism to the gameplay, yet this isn't just a game for nerds. It's deep, but the curve is gradual, which will accommodate a wide range of gamers.
Read Full Review
89
PC Gamer
Even if you're not the seafaring type, Pirates of the Burning Sea offers genuinely enjoyable core gameplay that, despite a steep learning curve and a few rough spots, will capitivate even the driest of landlubbers. [May 2008, p.60]
86
Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s not trying to be particularly clever, but what it does it does very well and when the political and economic side of things starts to affect how you play you will find yourself in a very immersive world that will surprise you and keep on doing so.
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85
Game Chronicles
MMO developers that are working on new designs really need to take note of what the people at Flying Labs did with Pirates of the Burning Sea.
Read Full Review
84
GameZone
PotBS offers different fare from the usual assortment of MMOs in release, and that is a good thing. The game, though, is not one that can be truly appreciated inside a week. It takes time to delve into the nuances of the game mechanics and to explore the depth of what is offered.
Read Full Review
83
GameShark
The lack of innovation isn't what causes the game to suffer; instead, it's a bunch of minor nagging flaws that prevent it from being perfect. Still, in the end the thrilling ship combat and deep economic model thrusts the game into the upper tier of current MMOs.
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82
IGN
The real time ship combat is awesome in its tactical complexity and the player economy is deeper than we've seen in just about any other game. Unfortunately, the sword combat feels tacked-on and really cramps our swashbuckling groove.
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82
YouGamers
Surprisingly good effort for a pirate-themed MMO. Instead of a reskinned Everquest-derivative, we get some actual gameplay innovations.
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80
Yahoo! Games
The game is at its best when it is most imaginative, and even after the novelty of the outstanding setting fades, you'll find fathoms of depth in the ship combat and trading systems - especially once you find a regular group of sea-dogs to join.
Read Full Review
80
PC Format
It needs a lot more polish, but it's a really enjoyable romp, with some splendid scene-stealing stories. [Apr 2008, p.108]
80
G4 TV
Pirates of the Burning Sea is a very, very deep game. There’s PvP for those who want it; trading, crafting, and a detailed economy for the would-be barons of the sea; and the kind of strategic and dynamic combat that will appeal to gamers who just can’t get into the typically boring MMO function key combat system.
Read Full Review
80
Thunderbolt
It's a great MMORPG, and while it begins as a fairly overwhelming experience, it soon evolves into an almost casual game.
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80
GameSpot
If you can overlook Pirates of the Burning Sea's steep learning curve, you'll be rewarded with some of the most unforgettable moments in any online RPG.
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80
Gaming Nexus
Half brilliance, half blunder, Pirates of the Burning Sea sets players up with a boutique online experience rife with piracy, privateering, national pride, cutthroat commerce, user-generated content, conquerable ports, and a highly-listenable musical score.
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80
GameDaily
With plenty to do and gorgeous visuals, Pirates of the Burning Sea is a quality MMO no one should miss.
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80
Video Game Talk
An excellent MMO on nearly all counts, but suffers from a shockingly huge learning curve.
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80
GameSpy
The steep learning curve for Pirates of the Burning Sea is a shame, because underneath that crusty exterior is a brilliant naval combat game and one of the more interesting economic models ever introduced to the online gaming scene.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
These brave and new interpretations of familiar ideas are what sets Pirates of the Burning Sea apart from a great many other MMOs out at the moment.
Read Full Review
80
GamerNode
Features a depth not often found in MMOs. While its steep learning curve may turn off a few early on, eventually things fall into place. Once you figure things out shaping the world is highly engaging.
Read Full Review
78
Strategy Informer
There’s no doubt that Flying Lab have created the best online sea-faring adventure there is for players to get their fix of the Caribbean with such a large, intricate and growing community.
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75
Game Revolution
A unique hybrid of plundered gameplay elements. It doesn't manage to actually improve upon its MMORPG parents, but if you've become tired of space lasers or elf wizards, Burning Sea is easily the most interesting new game in town. In the long run, it will be the complex economy and the faction warfare that will determine the success of this ocean venture.
Read Full Review
72
PC Gamer UK
It's so fundamentally flawed that most gamers are going to simply bounce right off it. [Mar 2008, p.72]
Read Full Review
70
VideoGamer
Newcomers might find things a little too complex, but PC gamers who have experience with these types of games should be rewarded for their efforts.
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70
Total Video Games
Pirates of the Burning Sea has perhaps one of the steepest learning curves in an MMO to date, but with its strong implementation of dynamic economies, sea combat, and swashbuckling, it provides more than enough reward for player perseverance.
Read Full Review
67
1UP
It's an acquired taste. And for die-hard pirate fans, it's the only MMO that offers eye patches and peg legs as rewards. What are you waiting for?
Read Full Review
60
EuroGamer
In the ship combat, the depth of the trading, the spectacle of mass PVP, and the fine period detail - (the lovely music, the animated colour of the towns, the crew scrambling over the rigging of your ship) - Pirates of the Burning Sea is a highly specialised, but highly seductive game. It's a hobbyist's paradise. Unfortunately, you'll need to be a hobbyist to put up with its many serious flaws.
Read Full Review
60
games(TM)
No amount of crystal-ball gazing can help Pirates Of The Burning Sea be anything more than a slightly above average MMORPG in the here and now. [Apr 2008, p.110]
40
PC Zone UK
A lazy game that makes no effort to be atmospheric or fun, leaving only a husk of ideas that could have, potentially, been fun. [Apr 2008, p.76]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 38 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jeff A. gave it a9:
I think the core of the game is very solid, and it's got a lot of potential which will be realized by dedicated and active development and community relations teams. It learns from both the strengths and weaknesses of games which have come before, and applies its own flavor and feel to it all.

Derek M, gave it a6:
Small world, repetable, sometimes boring, bugged. For genre fans.

Eric T, gave it a9:
This game is addicting. Whether you wish to play the market, decimate enemy ships, or duel enemy captains, you'll find enjoyment in the game's mechanics. It delivers a unique experience every time. It doesn't matter if you have 15 minutes or 5 hours to play, you can log in and get something done. The game play is excellent, but the UI could use some work- it's large and cumbersome. Overall, I would highly recommend this game to anyone who may be interested in buying it in the future.

David D. gave it a7:
Great potential, but needs some bug and feature fixes. Had fun in beta, but frustrated by limitations when playing alts.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
At first this game seemed like "Generic MMO 2.0... Now with Pirates!" After playing it for a few weeks, however, I find that I'm really enjoying it. In fact, the more I play the better it gets. The combat is interesting, the economy is engaging and the grind is barely noticeable. If you decide to try this game out, stick with it through the difficult learning curve and you'll bee well rewarded.

Timothy T. gave it a9:
Different than your standard MMO, but a lot of fun. RvR pvp is great. 100% player driven economy. Great potential for the future.

Brian R. gave it an8:
A really interesting mix of Eve Online's strategic overtones and Sid Meier's Pirates! - but in both cases simplified and made more MMO friendly. Not too friendly! There's enough realism and short-handed realism that you can get immersed in tall ship battles or a rich and complex economic game (crafting is utterly simple, this is no SWG, but figuring out why to craft and how to profit from it, or whether to forgo crafting and specialize in "freetrading" between ports is the key here). As far as atmospherics go, you know where you are from the minute you step out of the tutorial. Colonial ports, scummy pirate dens - and a rather elaborate visual character designer (think CoH/CoV) helps you fit right in or stand right out as you please. I haven't had firsthand experience with the strategic game yet as it's just going live today but I'm having fun with the PvE missions, the roleplaying and the ship battles. Can't wait to see the economy and the PvP game fired up too. This is definitely aimed at an older crowd with functioning attention spans.

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