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Pirates of the Burning Sea

EMAIL PRINT pc

7.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 29 critic reviews
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Based on 54 votes
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Game Info

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

Summary

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.

Also On The Web: Official Website

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...

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.

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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]

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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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.

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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.

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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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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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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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Pelit (Finland)

Pirates of the Burning Sea is basically Sid Meier's Pirates! as a MMORPG. High points of the game are the ship battles and a detailed, working economy, but the swashbuckling episodes and rather mediocre graphics are a bit of a letdown. Still, it's a refreshing change to a stale sword-and-sorcery genre. [May 2008]

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]

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.

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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.

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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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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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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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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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Video Game Talk

An excellent MMO on nearly all counts, but suffers from a shockingly huge learning curve.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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PC Gamer UK

It's so fundamentally flawed that most gamers are going to simply bounce right off it. [Mar 2008, p.72]

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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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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.

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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?

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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.

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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]

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

The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 54 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

chad a gave it an8:
Lacks the proverbial "carrot on a stick" people have come to expect from MMO's.. if you are the type that likes to hunt for the EPIC LOOTZ this is not the game for you. PVE is average at best, and the player driven economy is deep, if held back by low server populations. I have been playing this game for almost 3 years now, and pvp still gives me a rush like nothing else i have found in gaming. If you have the patience for a learning curve, are a risk taking adrenaline junky and like the idea of naval combat in the age of sail you have GOT to try this game. A niche game, to be sure, but the pvp combat is unrivaled..

Trev M gave it a9:
I have been playing this game for two years and am hooked. As one of the biggest and most experienced PvPers in the game, I can tell you tyhat this is the best MMO i have ever played, with a fantastic PvP Risk vs Reward system. Only downside is a fairly low population. Help fix that problem! Trev Macer, Blackbeard british

Sergey s gave it a2:
I was Flying Lab Software (the game maker) subscribed customer for 7 months and you'd think they'd care about customer loyalty, right? Their customer support has no understanding of such basic things as "customer appreciation" or "customer satisfaction". They don't even have a phone to call in, all communication is done over e-mail. Too bad such a promising game must suffer from incompetent customer support.

Matt G gave it a9:
This game is truly addicting. I've played it since beta, and it is now a year and a half later. I've gotten bored with it and tried to quit to play other games, and it always sucks me back in. It can be difficult to get pvp sometimes, but when you get a big 6v6 ship battle, or especially a massive 24v24 pvp port battle to take an enemy town, it's a huge rush. It's got everything. For the pve player, it's got endless missions, a complex player based economy, and over a hundred ports to sail too. For the pvper, it's got Port Conquest, nation v nation RvR with 4 nations, 5 different pvp viable careers, and epic battles with a beautiful ship combat system. I DEFINITELY recommend

Al G gave it a3:
While I enjoyed this game initially with all the different kinds of ships and all the personalization capabilities the game's ugly side reveals itself towards the end. As players will find themselves running a gauntlet of endless grinding, game bugs, unbalanced PvP, as well as economic baggage that seem to be intentionally designed to make it impossible for solo players or players who can't find a good guild to join to obtain decent ships. The most infamous of which is the Lineship Structure Bundle. In addition to all this the developers at Flying Labs Software are less than helpful and tend to ignore player issues. I've also seen some documented cases of FLS devs banning players accounts for simply expressing their opinions about how the game is operated and monitored. If you are a player interested in naval combat set in the age of sail I highly recommend you try either East India Company or Empire: Total War as opposed to this game.

christophe d gave it a9:
Good game but the players make the economy in the game,need more players on the servers and this game is great

Jon C gave it a9:
A really fantastic game which has improved by a vast amount since its release. I've been playing for months and it really is great, if somewhat confusing when you start out.

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Pirates of the Burning Sea

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What The Critics Said

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