Rating:
When I saw that Lego was making a Pirates of the Caribbean Video Game, I had two immediate concerns. First, games based on movies frighten me – I’ve already seen the movie, and I don’t need to act it out again in video game fashion. And second, Legos to me are a tactile experience – I’ve never for the live of me understood why I’d want to play with Legos on a console.

Well, in this case I needn’t have worried on either account, and this fact is made clear right from the opening sequence. Yes, it starts with a Lego reenactment of the first scene from Curse of the Black Pearl. But then, just when the viewer thinks he knows what’s going to happen next, the Lego figures pull a fast one and do a little pirate dance – and it’s AWESOME. This is the key to this game – playing along with the audience’s expectations, and then suddenly shifting course for comedic effect. And as to the Lego thing? Well, it’s LEGOS!!! Everything is cuter/awesomer/more piratey when Legos are involved. I wouldn’t have believed it, but it’s true. 

First and foremost, Lego PotC is a puzzle game. The player controls the hero figures (who vary throughout the game to include pretty much all the favorite characters, major and minor, from throughout the movie franchise) to explore dungeons, rescue captives, demolish buildings, etc etc. As you travel throughout the pirate world, it’s remarkable to see how the movies have come to life, albeit in Lego block form. Strangely surreal, but very cool.

Players begin by tackling the Curse of the Black Pearl, and are free to complete a whole series of chapters to tell the entire story. However, they don’t need to complete this first segment to unlock the other movies, as each of the four has its own entire series within this game. As such, Lego PotC can keep you busy for a very, very long time. And if you’re truly a superstar, I understand you can even unlock secret puzzles that go beyond the movie, up to and including a Lego reenactment of the Disney ride that started it all (I’d LOVE to see this, but have a long ways to go before unlocking it.)

If you love Pirates of the Caribbean, then you’re bound to love this video game. If you DON’T love this video game, then you’re probably some kind of monster. Gameplay is easy to learn, but the puzzles are challenging no matter what your age. The humor is fun, the Legos are cute as buttons (especialy when they fight each other) and it’s all about PIRATES. Seriously, what’s not to love?