I’m usually one to decry Wii ports and stay clear like week old sashimi. For Sid Meier’s Pirates!, I’ll make an exception.

Regardless of the platform, quality, well designed games like Pirates! usually turn out to be fun and well worth it. Consdier that I have every version of Sid Meier’s Pirates! (from Apple IIc Pirates to Pirates! Gold) on every console worthy of mentioning, and you’ll know that I’m more than a little bias towards this game.

Pirates!, like the original Civilization, is nothing particularly pretty to look at, but it’s been there wherever it counted. Little details, even on the IIc, like the ship’s sail rising and falling have always been a signature quality of Sid Meier’s games.

You always get the detailed management and character progression that have been copied, yet still remain second to none.

I’m expecting all those qualities to be ported over on the Wii, especially considering that this Pirates! version is ported over from the PC, PS2, PSP, from a while ago.

There’s some Wii exclusive content along with all the Pirates! moments like courting the Governor’s daughter, fencing, ship-to-ship battles, treasure hunting, daring rescues, and a whole bunch more. Don’t forget customizable ships, 27 in all including my favorites the War Sloop and the fearsome Ship Of The Line.

Release date is announced for October 5, 2010, so line up for it now.

Pirates! is bound to be one those surprise titles that everyone wants, but sometimes not so widely available. Grab it while you can, or you’ll miss out on what I expect to be a time consuming, thoroughly re-playable title.

And don’t forget, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is September 19th.

(Editor’s Note: Images are from cut-scenes. If the PC and PSP versions are any indication, the cutscenes are pretty funny if not limited and overused. Don’t expect Crysis like graphics, but who cares, the fun isn’t in the graphics. It just is.)

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