Pirates of Dark Water for SNES

Review #421

Pirates of Dark Water

The SNES's most obscure licensed title

SNES 1994 Sunsoft Action Action › Beat Em Up
Pirates of Dark Water screenshot for SNES
Screenshot used for review/reference purposes.
4 / 5

Gameplay

Three attacks (punch, slash, spinning kick) plus grabs, and throws. Nice collection of offensive options.
Several room-clearing moves are always welcome. Very fun and strategic to use the fast and slow attacks plus throws.
Movement is fast and accurate. Run by double tapping.
Gameplay is forgiving and fair. No cheap hits or unavoidable damage.
Lots of enemy models. I counted at least 10 in the first level.

4 / 5

Level Design

First level has lots of platforms, uneven ground, endless pits ala Double Dragon.
Looks like 8 rather long levels.
Tons of environmental hazards like spikes, flames, falling rocks. Enemies are stupid so you can steer them toward the hazards which is great fun.
Levels have a distinct look and personality. There's a pirate ship, a cave, and an Agrobah-like port city.

3 / 5

Theme

Based on a cartoon I guess. Never heard of it. Seems like a generic good vs evil storyline. I wouldn't have given it much notice given the license.

4 / 5

Art Style

I love the graphics. Big sprites, great animation, no slowdown. What not to like?
Interesting details in the backgrounds and foregrounds.

2 / 5

Audio

The music is absolutely horrid. You get used to it but it's just a repeating series of three notes. The sounds are ok but the music is far too loud to hear much else.

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