The lights are on
What new ideas the game brings to the table and how well old ideas are presented.
How good a game looks, taking into account any flaws such as bad collision or pop-up.
Does the game’s music and sound effects get you involved or do they make you resolve to always play with the volume down?
Basically, the controller to human interface. The less you think about the hunk of plastic in your hands, the better the playability.
Flat out, just how fun the game is to play. The most important factor in rating a game.
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The LEGO version of Captain Jack Sparrow is every bit as charming and weird as his silver screen counterpart. His drunken prance is beautifully captured, and his magical compass brings enjoyable treasure hunting gameplay to Traveller’s Tales’ established LEGO formula. The remainder of the content – while drenched in Pirates of the Caribbean tones – could easily be in any other LEGO game. Hardly any of the gameplay takes advantage of the license. Yes, there are sequences aboard pirate ships, but they are only used as backdrops; you never get to control them outright. When stacked up against Traveller’s Tales’ other LEGO games, Pirates isn’t nearly as ambitious as Harry Potter or the latest Star Wars; its design falls more into the realm of Batman and the early Star Wars titles. Regardless of the somewhat dated design, Pirates is another enjoyable brick building venture.