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Break out your wooden leg, stuffed parrot, eye patch, timbers (preferably shivered) and pieces of eight 'cause it's time to take to the high seas of the 17th century for a spot of plunderin', ahaaarrr, Jim lad (you try writing about pirates without using their vernacular!).

With mainbrace fully spliced, it's your task in Pirates to eventually become adviser to the king, find yourself a wife (?) and get rich enough to retire early and in comfort. How you achieve these ends - whether by stealing, trading, treasure hunting, questing or a combination of all four - is up to you.

Before you weigh anchor, however, you're required to construct a character from options such as nationality, skill level, special skill (fencing, navigation etc), historical period, special expeditions and so on. MicroProse recommend that new players ignore the last two options and go straight into the main game where you're more or less free to cruise the Caribbean of the 1660s in search of fame and fortune.

Beginning in the harbour of a friendly town, you may visit the Governor for a bit of gossip, a mission or promotion (which can be bought if you haven't done anything to earn it), pop in to the local tavern for more gossip, information and/or treasure maps (at a price) and to recruit a crew. You may also visit merchants to trade food, sugar, goods, ships and cannon or check out information gleaned from whatever source. Once you have won some treasure it's a good idea to head for a friendly town and divide it up among your crew. This makes happy sailors and good fighters, although desertion is a higher risk once the swabs have been paid.

When at sea you have the freedom of the Caribbean - although information gathered in towns should give you some idea of where to go. A map is provided with the game and this, coupled with the ability to take sun readings, prevents you from getting lost. Weather conditions are fairly stable and you should only really be troubled by the wind (that's Caribbean cuisine for you).

Vessels encountered at sea may be investigated, hailed for news, ignored or engaged in battle; cannons only fire broadside, so confrontations consist of manoeuvring your ship to aim at the enemy, firing and getting out of the way before you get blasted. Each hit depletes the number of men and/or cannon onboard or damages the vessel. Should you decide you've bitten of more than you can chew you may (if not too badly damaged) run away, although this action risks the loss of a ship, should you have more than one vessel under your command.

Ports are friendly, neutral or hostile. Their attitude forward you determines how best to enter post; attack, sneak into town or simply sail into harbour.

Dropping anchor near land, where no port exists puts your crew in marching mode, enabling them to explore islands for treasure and so on. Should you come across town whilst on the march you are again given a choice of entry. Choosing to attack takes you into battle using muskets and fists. Often, attacks on enemies (whether at sea or on land) results in your having to duel with an opponent using rapier, cutlass or longsword.

Sailing, marching and battles are shown from a sea gull's eye view with your ship or men controlled via mouse, joystick or keys. One-to-one duels are displayed from third-person perspective with adequately drawn/animated characters battling it out horizontally across the screen. All other elements such as trading, visiting governors or talking in taverns are menu-controlled, enhanced by very nice, animated graphics of appropriate persons, places or objects.

Although Pirates runs the risk of becoming repetitive, the few hours of play I experienced on the Spanish Main were very enjoyable. All graphics border on excellent, sound is good and gameplay exciting. The many options available both before and during play provide a vast (or should that be avast) arena in which to experience the life of a hero with at least three ears (explanations next month, if required) and all his buckles swashed to perfection.

Way back in Zzap! 29, the C64 game only scored 68% - it obviously wasn't eye patch on this version.