Visuals and Style
Captain Blood was originally planned for release over a decade ago, and it definitely looks the part. The visuals feel like something from the PS2 or early PS3 era, with stiff animations and dated character models. Still, there is a certain charm to the art style. The environments carry that old-school flair, and if you have a soft spot for retro visuals, it might even grow on you.
Gameplay
Gameplay is very straightforward and feels like a classic hack-and-slash brawler. You move from fight to fight, with a heavy focus on basic combos and a lot of QTEs. The upgrade system is clunky and unclear. Some combos can be used before you even purchase them, and it is never explained whether you are unlocking something new or upgrading something you already have. After a couple of purchases, medals appear next to the combos in the menu, but what they actually change is not clear. One combo even lists the wrong button inputs. On the positive side, you can pick up enemy weapons through executions or random drops. These weapons spice up the combat briefly, but it never feels like the system reaches its full potential.
The boss fights are easily the best part of the gameplay. They actually demand that you dodge and block properly instead of just button mashing your way through. Sea battles are also fun. You have to fire cannons at attacking ships while dealing with enemies boarding your vessel. It is one of the few times where the game puts real pressure on the player and gives your pirate crew something useful to do.
Story and Presentation
The story is based on Rafael Sabatini’s novel Captain Blood, but it fails to deliver any real excitement. The plot is forgettable and never builds momentum. Some cutscenes are amusing purely because of how bad they are, and the voice acting is hilariously poor. Sound mixing is also a problem. Background noises like crackling fire or people eating often drown out the dialogue, making it difficult to follow what is being said.
Bugs and Issues
I didn’t run into many problems while playing, apart from one upgrade that I couldn’t purchase despite having enough money. The game didn’t explain why, it just wouldn’t let me buy it. A few levels later, I managed to unlock two upgrades, but the third one still didn’t work. That said, this was the only real issue I came across.
Verdict
6 out of 10
It is rough, unpolished, and clearly outdated, but it still delivers a weird kind of fun if you know what you’re getting into. The combat is repetitive, the story is weak, and the technical issues are easy to notice, but the game’s simplicity and occasional highlights like boss fights and sea battles still give it some value. It took me a little over five hours to finish, and for 25€, it might be worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a mindless, old-school action game.
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