Additional Info
Alcohol Reference
Hard drive space
Full download: 0.71 GB
Initial download: 0.39 GB
Download time
| Kb/s | 20 MB | 8 MB | 512 KB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 1mn | 4mn | 1h 12mn |
System Requirements
- Operating System: 2000/XP,
currently Vista testing - Processor: 700MHz
- OS: Windows
- RAM: 128MB
Copyright
© 2004 Strategy First Inc. All rights reserved.
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Overview
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Instructions & Tips
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Screenshots & Video
Basics
In the tradition of Sid Meier's Pirates! and the Patrician series comes an hour-slurping game of economic and nautical dominance in Europe's Caribbean colonies. Starting as a mere cabin boy, your task is to raise an empire of your own: through trade, politicking or piracy. Chiefly an economic simulation, Port Royale 2 includes its share of behind-the-scenes wrangling and cutlass-swinging combat as well. Enrich yourself, reduce your enemies and become master of this tropical paradise.
Starter Missions
This real-time strategy game is all about buying low, selling high, and deciding when and how to attack your enemies. Newcomers should begin with the eight starter missions, which act as tutorials, introducing you to all aspects of Port Royale 2. The mouse-driven controls are incredibly intuitive, and onscreen prompts and information mean that most of what you need to know is always at your fingertips. Once you're comfortable with the interface, you can face your first true mission.
Economics
The heart of Port Royale 2 is the economic model. More than 50 towns and colonies are scattered throughout the Caribbean, each producing certain goods and demanding others. A glance at the map screen indicates what towns have and what they need; as a trader, your job is simply to provide it and watch your bank account swell. This isn't as easy as it sounds, though, since the laws of supply and demand ensure a fluctuating economy, and many hazards await your trade convoys on the high seas.
Combat
Inevitably, you will find yourself in a battle when pirates or representatives of an enemy faction attack your trade convoys. Played out in real time, ship-to-ship battles are simplified: you control one ship in your fleet at a time, maneuvering to fire cannons into the broad side of enemy vessels. You'll also control boarding parties and even small armies responsible for attacking settlements. Combat is not a huge part of Port Royale 2, but mastering it is important for ultimate victory.
Towns
Left-click towns on the map to bring up the town interface. Here you can invest in some towns by constructing new facilities, or visit important locations: the inn to hire convoy captains, the shipyards to purchase additional vessels, the governor's mansion to request special missions, and so forth. Depending on your allegiances, certain towns are sure to be more friendly to you than others. Eventually, you'll receive a parcel of land to start your own settlement!
Gameplay Modes
Port Royale 2 features scenarios in a campaign setting. Beyond the starter missions, you'll undertake increasingly complex challenges with specific victory conditions that, when met, allow you to progress to the next mission. If you like the structure of a campaign game, these scenarios are the way to go. However, if you want to roam free on the Caribbean and do as you please, choose the "free play" option from the game menu -- no objectives, no conditions, just a sandbox for you to dominate.
Tip: Wind in Your Sails
Though Port Royale 2 is a real-time game, you can speed up the passage of time by holding down the spacebar. This is especially useful when you're waiting for one of your trade convoys to finish a long journey.
Tip: Oh Captain, My Captain
Hire skilled captains at the inns in town. These fellows take a lot of the micromanagement off your hand, since they're able to command convoys in your stead. You can even automate captained convoys, so they sail the Main, trading for goods and at ports you specify.
Tip: Teach a Man to Fish¿
While there is some wisdom in trading "finished" goods (like, say, wine -- rather than grapes), the prices tend to be higher than the sum of their raw materials, and the profit margins lower. Once you have the money, try to set up some industries that can turn cheap raw materials like cotton or tobacco into pricey finished goods like cloth and cigars.
Tip: The Sea is a Fickle Friend
Even the safest convoy routes can fall victim to freak storms, disease among the sailors, rats in the cargo and other disasters. Always keep some money back so you can replace lost cargo or rebuild a sunken convoy.
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