bit-tech Shopping: Buena Vista Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (XB360)

• 1080i (HDTV)
• 1080p (HDTV)
• 720p (HDTV)

Rating: 6

Time with product: 3 Weeks

Strengths: +Visuals +Authentic music+Good for kids, no blood +Duel mode (a break from the repetitiveness)+Multiplayer

Weaknesses: -Quick movie cash in-Mediocre game-Lame AI-Lack of real actors involvement

Summary: At World?s End is the video game adaptation of the PotC movies Dead Man?s Chest and At World?s End. Visually this game looks incredible. The characters, settings, and backgrounds are all richly detailed. The music used in this game is very much authentic to the movie. Unfortunately everything else about the game seemed rushed. Combat is repetitive hacking and slashing which is not very engaging or challenging. In rare instances players will enter duel modes with their opponent. Duel mode is similar to fencing in which players will react/defend/counterattack their opponent. It is a nice break from the boring hacking and slashing but duel mode provides very little challenge. The game does support multiplayer (co-op split screen or competitive challenges) but those features are severely lacking. A little more polish could have made PotC: AWE a great game, but as it stands this game is just another rushed mediocre movie tie in game.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 1

Strengths: +Great graphics+Recounts last 2 PotC movies+Playable characters

Weaknesses: -Repetitive gameplay-Not authentic voice actors -Horrible Camera-Horrible AI

Summary: Pirates of the Caribbean at Worlds End is based off the last 2 PotC movies. Players will be able to play and expand on key scenes from the PotC movies. Playable characters include Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth, and Will Turner. Unfortunately the voice actors in the game are not the real actors from the movies. The game from the characters to the backgrounds looks absolutely gorgeous. Too bad the gameplay in PotC consists of nothing more than taping buttons repeatedly. Enemies in this game all look generic and have horrible AI. The camera in this game can be problematic and can make simple moves difficult to accomplish. Pirates of the Caribbean at Worlds End is a game for fans only.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Days

Strengths: Realistic voices. Well done characters. Huge world to explore.

Weaknesses: Odd camera angles at times. Basic gameplay.

Summary: This is a pretty good game to own for fans of the Pirates movies. The characters are all well done as is the voice over work. It's a great looking game with lots of areas to explore. The game play itself is pretty basic with all of the usual button mashing moves but you'll be too busy enjoying the scenery to really care.

Rating: 6

Time with product:

Strengths: Nice graphics, fun sword-swinging action game

Weaknesses: Repetitive

Summary: Going into this game I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. The graphics are excellent and it seems you are really playing the movie. Nearly all of the game consists of fighting off hordes of enemies while trying to reach different objectives (find someone, collect something, get to a certain place, etc). While this can get repetitive, there are tough mini-bosses that are immune to regular attacks and require special attacks which you can only perform once filling up a meter. This keeps the game a little more challenging. There are also sword duels where you are placed in a linear sword-fighting battle with a single opponent. This mixes up the gameplay nicely as here instead of button mashing to get kills you must anticipate your opponents attacks and swing or block high, middle, or low to defeat them. Overall this is a decent game for fans of the movie and well worth picking up at a discount price ($20 or so). It stands above most movie-licence games in that regard.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1 Days

Strengths: Good picture quality, it's Pirates of the Caribbean

Weaknesses: Boring combat moves, plot to be honest is a bit boring too

Summary: This game could have been better. After all it's based on swashbuckling pirates! Action! Excitement! Danger! This game though doesn't quite live up to all of those. First is the actual combat moves: most are quite repetitive, and all you do is mash a button to defeat the enemies. Not that this is all bad though: it's fairly easy to move through a level so you can pick up some achievement points. The baddies aren't dispatched very spectacularly -- the sword fighting could be more realistic. The second problem with the game is that the missions/plots are plain and simple. Again, not really bad though if you consider you progress through it quickly because it's straight forward. Nothing really extraordinary, though you might recognize some parts from the movie. I know I sound harsh, but it's really not a bad game, just not exceptional. It's good for some mindless hack-n-slash fun and some pirate fun! You might want to rent it first before buying.