Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat

Electronic Arts for Xbox
Ages Teens and Up

What It Is

“Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat” is a swashbuckling adventure game set against the beautiful world of the Five Seas and its enchanted isles, where you are Katarina de Leon, the captain of the pirate ship Wind Dancer. Katarina is the daughter of Mara Rousseau, the retired leader of The Pirates of Skull Cove and Marcus de Leon, governor of the Pirate Isles. Mara, a female Robin Hood of the seas, disappeared many years ago and Marcus vowed to keep Mara’s past a secret from their daughter, Katarina, who would lead a normal, law-abiding life. Katarina, however, had other plans.

The game action takes place in two modes, ship and captain. While in “Ship” mode, you control the Wind Dancer on the seas, battling the evil Crimson Guard’s vessels. In “Captain” mode, you control the movements of Katarina while she is on shore to explore, gather treasures and fight pirates.

Why It’s Fun

The opening introduction and between levels story is told through some fantastic animation similar to a big-screen movie. Although the game is mainly for one player, there is an additional two-player “Sea Battle” mode for practicing sailing skills. This is the type of game that many people can enjoy at once working together to figure out where to take Katarina and her pirate ship.

Who’s Going To Love It

Anyone who enjoys role-play adventure games should enjoy Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat. The main character, Katarina, is very similar to Lara Croft so Pirates will undoubtedly have a similar appeal to fans of Tomb Raider.

What To Be Aware Of

Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat requires some patience to play. Figuring out the controls and objects of the game takes some time but is worth it. Reading the instruction book is a great idea before playing. Parents are advised with this as with other video games to check the ratings and the games themselves to make sure they are appropriate for their kids.