OK, so the character design (including the main pirate babe, Katarina) tends to fall into the pit of cliches, but the gameplay makes up for it. Whether you’re running around on foot searching for the game’s hidden treasures or engaging in heated naval battles on the salty brine, Pirates always entertains. How Westwood, the folks best known for the Command & Conquer series, could create a third-person adventure game that succeeds on nearly every level is beyond me. But after spending some time with this mysterious game I feel like I’ve stumbled upon an absolute gem. I would like to start this review by noting that until a month ago, I was completely unaware of Pirates’ existence.