Review: LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean

Gameplay involves playing as one of several characters who destroy objects to gather brads, use LEGO pieces to build structures, solve puzzles and battle those trying to stop you.

As with the previous games, not a word is spoken during the action. Goals for a level are acted out in cut scenes, sometimes lengthy, and often are difficult to ascertain without having seen the movie referenced.

Each level features at least one puzzle that must be solved to advance. These puzzles can sometimes be maddeningly difficult, with the solution sometimes pretty darn obscure. For instance, you may have to jump up to a ledge, knocking down some LEGOs which are assembled into a music box, which is then carried to a spot that causes it to play, encouraging people in a bar to come out, thus opening the door, allowing you to enter.

Another exasperating aspect of the LEGO series is the complete lack of save points in a level. If you aren’t able to complete a level in one sitting, you must restart from the beginning. A level that can take more than 30 minutes to complete should have a place to take a break.

In the course of play, needed characters are unlocked, with many of them having special abilities of use in achieving some goals. For instance, some characters carry a blacksmith hammer that is used to cool hot parts, whcih must be assembled to advance the storyline. Others wield a guitar that can mesmerize enemies, who can then be quickly eliminated. Female characters, as another example, are the only ones who can jump to higher areas of levels.

While playing a story level, available characters can be selected from a popup wheel to fit the situation at hand. Oftentimes, the necessary character hasn’t been unlocked, necessitating replaying of levels once that character is available to find all secrets.

After completing a level, free play mode is unlocked and the level can be replayed with any of the characters that have been unlocked, two at a time. Switching between the list of characters unlocked is accomplished on the fly.
The star of LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, of course, is Capt. Jack Sparrow. All of the movies are centered around his misadventures.

Sparrow’s special ability is his possession of a compass that, when used, leads to hidden items that can’t be located otherwise. These secret items are separate from other goals.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean allows players to replay scenes from all four Pirates movies – The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End and this summer’s On Stranger Tides.

In addition to solving puzzles and advancing the storyline, players can unlock nearly 100 characters and gather 85 gold LEGO pieces. Other extras involves finding hidden ships in bottles – which are sprinkled between story mode and free play – and numerous other smaller items and goals. The game can also be played in co-op mode with a friend.

Despite the lengthy unpassable cutscenes and lack of save points, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is an enjoyable game, It does nothing to tarnish the Lego game brand and provides hours of blocky fun, with plenty to keep a player busy from start to finish.

Platform: Xbox 360/Playstation 3

Rating: Everyone

Manufacturer: Disney Interactive

Rating: 8 nubby cuboid chilies