In our final Pirate101 Review in Progress, we take a look at some of the "little things" that often are overlooked in larger reviews. Next week will see our official review launch but, in the meantime, check out this installment and leave us your thoughts in the comments.

Pets are also a useful and fun thing in Pirate101. I have a ‘Skarakeet’ that often joins me in battle and pecks the enemy on the head with a high chance of being given a second attack chance. It’s awesome! Believe it or not, the little bugger does a decent amount of damage and is able to dodge a lot of attacks, making him a durable pet and companion! The only thing I can’t do is control which target he attacks. He’s independent that way.

Read more of Suzie Ford's Pirate101: Review in Progress - Part 3.

Good Article: Couple notes which need to be included:

Questing: Side quests are meant to be fun and well.. side quests for small yet still meaningful rewards FOR EXAMPLE: I completed a side quest and received a new companion whilst my friend who did the same quest (different class) did not get a companion for that side quest.  I find that very motivational to complete side quests… don’t you?

Main Story quests are worth tons more XP and that is how you progress and level more quickly.  Side quests tend to be below 100 xp I noticed.  Main story line quests are more like 1000 or 2000 xp.  They usually include a dungeon or boss fight which is truly fun!

Crown Shop Advantage: 

There is only an advantage if you give a crap about the cash shop.  In Pirate101, they give you the ability to purchase items which are not available for your class, for example, if you’re a swashbuckler, you get specific companions compared to other classes, in the cash shop you can purchase other classes companions to be your own if you really care!  Yes there are other items that you can buy to make you super Pirate but, in the end, if buying your way through the progress of the game is your fun then enjoy!  I do not use the cash shop, I enjoy feeling like I earn the pet I found, or the companions I receive, or the items I loot etc.

F2P:
Not at all.  Lets just say, the industry says F2P however, it SHOULD be F2T, free to Try.  You can get up to level 8 or 9 regarding the content of the game then you cannot go anywhere.

Get used to it everyone, this is where the industry has gone.

Ambience:
The themes and styles in the game are amazing, the designers surely were creative and inspired.  Love the environments, colors and themes, just awesome!

Voice Overs:
Done very very well!

Music:

Great!

Community:

Very friendly, always fun to play with others in this game.

Later past level 20, all of your companions start to get all their new skills, and fights start to get CRAZY!  Every character is constantly performing special attacks, reaction shots, and many other abilities!  It gets really interesting!

Summary:

This looks like its meant for kids BUT it is not.  There is a lot more thinking involved and it is just TRULY a fun fun game!  It has its limitations however that still doesn’t hurt how enjoyable it is to just jump in and fight some strategic battles!

Cheers! 

The combat reminds me of Shining Force, Final fantasy tactics! The combat system REALLY REALLY Shines IMO! I love the battles now! Even more since the combat update!

Also to note. Doing side quests are good! What looks like a waste of time in some cases has brought my companions up to nine! With no cash shop!! AWESOMENESS!

Originally posted by shantideva
This game is not F2p! Thanks alot KingsIsle/Mmorpg for falsely marketing this game as one, now i have a very sad 7-year old who can't play due to rent/bills taking priority in our household. Take one hit for free but the next one will cost ya, only aimed at children..very underhanded KingsIsle.

Sounds more like a personal issue than a Kings Isle issue. Also, I guess you did not read the review as the reviewer made it quite clear this is not a f2p title. Besides the first world is free to play. A 7 year old would have plenty to do just in the first world alone. My inuitive thought though is it is not just for your 7 year old. You will get no sympathy from me. As my grandchildren play. As 7 dollars a month is well worth the fun they have playing this game. Also, everyone has bills. but Pirate101 is very generously priced for a mmo!

I played pirates101 with a friend for about a week, it's a good game to play when there's nothing much else, but the gameplay is VERY time consuming. It's the ultimate reason why I didn't continue playing past a week, the character battles take AWHILE. You will be sitting there, watching the character skill animations, and the movement animations throughout the duration of the battle which makes them take forever.

Kingsisle have made a good game I just wish they they modernized it abit more and made it faster, as it right now you can do alot more done in other free mmo's with 30 minuts of your time than in pirates101.   

I tested this game.

I dont like the linearity of quests and character progression.

I liked the way everyone can enter in combat every turn and I liked the minigames (but you can only play 10 times per day for rewards).

Game is fun at first and becomes boring quickly as all there really is to do in the game is quest endlessly since none of the extra features of Wizard 101 made it into the game like pet management, gardening, crafting, etc.  Yes most mmo's launch with not as many features as they end up with but this is a really barren game feature wise, more than most any I've played at launch.

Also, the cash shop really leaves a bad taste in your mouth when all the companions you unlock throughout the course of the game are only obtainable via cash shop purchases, plus the best ships, armor, weapons, pets, etc etc etc are all cash shop purchase only.  that wouldn't be so bad since a lot of games do that, but since they charge you a subscription fee ON TOP of all that it's too much for me.