Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End PS3

Despite most gamers’ enduring affection for all things piratical a breakdown in the usual laws of licensing (which decrees that any movie with an explosion in it must be turned into a video game) has conspired to make this the first serious attempt to actually adapt the whole of a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. To make up for lost time this actually tackles both Dead Man’s Chest and the new movie. In this sense the bloated narrative of the two Pirate sequels leaves just enough plot to stretch out for a single game.

Although you do get to control the other characters occasionally, most of the game is spent in the heavily swaying boots of Captain Jack Sparrow. This is a shame, not because the characters play exactly the same, but because their virtual likenesses are almost scarily realistic. In fact the game’s graphics as a whole are extraordinarily good, showing a level of effort and attention to detail that sadly isn’t really matched by the gameplay.

On a basic level this is exactly the sort of third-person action game you’d expect for a movie tie-in. As such there’s a smattering of very simple Prince of Persia style platforming and lots and lots of sword fighting. The latter actually seems a lot of fun at first, until you realise you’ve really only got one attack button that matters and jabbing that at random is enough to get you through most of the game. There is a separate fighting system for boss encounters, but this also seems to have a rather patronising opinion of the average player’s hand-to-eye co-ordination. Although, if not for the excellent graphics, that makes it no different than most other movie adaptations. 
Harrison Dent

Manufacturer's Description

Live and die by the sword! Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is inspired by the events, environments and characters surrounding the second and third installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Players must demonstrate their cunning, swashbuckling creativity and swordsmanship as they encounter all manner of crazed pirates and cursed creatures in treacherous, exotic locations. Play as the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann to prevent Jack’s dark past from catching up with him.

Enjoy sword-assisted acrobatics, adaptive combat and classical dueling in unique gameplay. Experience the Pirates of the Caribbean world in never-before-seen detail, going beyond the films’ events and storylines to introduce new locations, an extended story, legendary pirates and a unique ending.

Features:

Notoriety – Jack’s fame as a pirate increases as he strikes fear and admiration into the hearts of his pirate brethren
Control Captain Jack Sparrow – Take advantage of situations as Jack would, playing to his unique character, wit and guile
Intelligent swordplay – Adaptive swashbuckling with intense dueling and acrobatic interaction requiring flamboyant creativity
Multiple character controls – Simultaneous multiple character control for focused attacks
Interactive surroundings – Real physics and dynamics enliven both armed and unarmed combat
Unlockables – Special moves, secret characters, inventory items, weapons and secret locations