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Pirates of the Burning Sea

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 29 critic reviews
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Based on 48 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 8.0 (out of 10) based on 48 User Votes

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

Captain P gave it a10:
I'm at level 35, French Navy. So far I love the game. The ship combat is a blast. The ships are more and more powerful as I level. The graphics are fantastically beautiful. The missions are well written and engagine - particularly the career story arch missions. When I play this game, I feel like I"m on vacation in the sunny Caribbean with beautiful skies and sun on my face. Love it.

Steve C gave it a3:
Over the past 10 years of gaming i have played hunreds of pc games. Over the past 12 months i have played most of the new releases and a lot of WOW but as a mature gamer i am anticipating the release of the new MMO Conan game so i thought potbs would be a good stopgap until it arrives. I am largely disappointed in this game. It lags terribly and to say it is an online game the world feels very underpopulated with other players...and thats on a busy sever. The Trading/crafting is quite complex to begin with but as long as you pick up the draughtsman recipes you can progress quite well and make a profit. But make a profit to do what?The swashbuckling/combat i feel is a joke---requiring very little skill and giving you very little control. The only intresting aspects are the naval ship v ship encounters which do require skill and a lot of input and are quite pretty visually. These do get quite boring after you have done a hundred or so---and you wonder whether it is worth all the hassle to get a bigger ship with bigger guns just to engage in the same tedious battles. I am a good judge of games and agree with most of the game rankings on this site BUT please folks by all means try the game for the first free month but you have been warned it is no WOW killer. The other downside is ..because it is an online game-most game shops wont trade it in as a part ex on your next game..so your stuck with it. Hope you have more fun with it than i did---binned after 2 weeks.

Matthew W. gave it a6:
I played this game both retail and beta and I have to say it can be fun at times but the game is much too repetative to be something a general audience would find vewry rewarding. For fans of this genre this game is a dream come true, truely if you're a pirate at heart you will never find a better game theres little doubt of that. But the sword combat is very bad and feels tacked on and underdeveloped. But the ship combat and nation PVP is very cool and engrossing if you find the right server. Population is apparently an issue already. I wish the game the best though because it does fill the niche quite well, just don't know if there's enough of a fan base to keep a mmporpg afloat.

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.

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Pirates of the Burning Sea

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