The gaming community is faced with a deluge of high-profile AAA titles, Winter Games 07-08 is right around the corner, and as usual my backlog of games runs dozens deep. So how do I cope? I play casual puzzles on the high seas in search of fame and fortune with a character straight out of Playskool. I fell into this trap once before and my triumphant return has resulted in this:

Money’s runnin’ tight on the high seas, yo

My old character was deleted and so I’ve started again. Check out my dope-ass crib, complete with blood-stained curtains, a phat wooden crate, and lice-infested bedroll. I’ve even got a pet Rat called Ratso to keep me company until I need him for food. Though it is a free-to-play MMO, Puzzle Pirates continues to exhibit game mechanics still only wished for on a larger scale. Imagine teaming up with your chums to man a monstrous frigate in EVE Online, each crewman with a specialty and a direct impact on the outcome of battles. Imagine a sensible guild structure where rank means something other than being able to add new people to the guild. Imagine a community where ‘OMFG, STFU n00b, LOL’ is replaced with ‘Taste cold steel, ya maggot!’

I challenge our editors and readers to give this game a fair chance. You’ll likely be surprised. And even if you don’t stay in it for the long haul, it will give a nice glimpse of what an MMO should be.