This is a game that has a lot of potential for itself. It’s a game that was able to pull me (someone who is picky with most things) in and keep my interest in it.
So, I’ve mentioned before that I don’t really have the best skills when it comes to ‘world-building’ games’ (see FrostPunk Review). However, I’m willing to always try again. I got my hands on a Beta for Port Royale 4. Keep in mind, this is my thoughts on a Beta and not a full and finished game.
You’re placed in the 16th Century and your goal is to trade and build a thriving economy for your area. You have the option to play as the Netherlands, England, France, and Spain for the full game. The beta allowed me to play as Spain, with your home base in Seville. The goal is to buy, sell, and trade resources to build up your town and grow the economy, as well as keeping civilians happy and healthy. Like I said earlier, I’ve never been the best at strategies and games similar to this. However, this one really hits a little different to me. Being in the Caribean in the 1500s is a really cool setting. I’ve always loved history and this time period. Having a world-building game that is pretty accurate to the times is really sweet. Nothing against other games, but I feel that similar games tend to have a bit of ‘fantasy’ to them, or are placed in an alternate reality. Having that semblance to reality and a real setting is nice to see.
Gameplay-wise it can become a bit overwhelming at times with the size of the map and places that you travel. So it can be hard at times to keep track of your fleet of ships. The HUD was a little confusing as it seemed like when a character told me something was say located in a menu or my journal, but it felt like the game never really led me the journal directly. I had to search around and find it. I know this is a small complaint, but it just felt like a small issue that could be fixed. Trading with other cities is also kinda funky for me. Using the sliders to get the number of supplies either on the ship is hard to control and I was never totally sure if I had gotten the amount I wanted. The game does offer great in-depth tutorials which are honestly a big help for some beginners like myself. Overall, the gameplay is solid and about what you would expect from this style of game. There is a lot on screen for users to take in, but once they get familiar with what is going on, navigating and making your way around isn’t too bad.
Graphically, the game is very pretty and the art style is really enjoyable. I will say that is where at times it can be a bit overbearing. Everything looks good and the screen is so full that it feels like it can be a lot to take in at times. Going back to the HUD, it felt like that it was pushed to the side a little to show off the game and the map. While I understand that move, I feel like the HUD could be bigger and a bit easier to understand. I know I risk sounding like the old man trying to read the ‘Courier-Journal’ with my glasses all the way down on the end of my nose while I try and figure out if someone I know died, but please make the HUD more predominate. Also, I do enjoy the intro to the game where you go through a super pretty animation, but please only make that happen once, or at least skippable. It’s really nice, but seeing it every time you launch the game can become a bit annoying and frustrating.
I know I nitpicked some things, but it’s still in Beta. Overall, this is a game that makes it more excited for the full release. Like I’ve stated, I’ve never really understood the appeal and interest for games similar to Port Royale 4, but I respect them and their crowd. That being said, PR4 really intrigues me. It feels inviting to a new player like myself to the genre and game. It gives you a hand to understand the basics as well as some of the major strategies for creating a successful economy. It’s a very pretty game and built well for being a beta and while there were some glitches and bugs like freezing on menus, there wasn’t anything that made me hate it. This is a game that has a lot of potential for itself. It’s a game that was able to pull me (someone who is picky with most things) in and keep my interest in it. Port Royale 4 is a game that was a quaint and intriguing surprise for me, and I’m quite OK with that. Port Royale 4 releases on September 25th, 2020.
