Tradewinds 2 is an adventure game wherein you get to sail to different ports and trade different commodities for money. Along the way you are bound to meet pirates who are out to get you. There are also ports which are inherently unfriendly so you need to capture them before you can dock. Your default ship can be loaded with a maximum number of canons and a variety of special ammunition. As the game progresses and you save up more money, you can opt to trade in your old ship for a newer, better one. There are several different ships available at different times. Each one has its own special abilities and it is up to you to decide if the trade is worth it.

Buying and selling goods is quite simple at first glance but as you go along, you will realize that you can get more out of the game. For business-minded people, you probably will like the virtual experience of living the swashbuckling life of a pirate while making a whole lot of money. Hard core players have been known to keep a notepad beside them to note when and where to go to sell a certain product for the greatest amount!

Well into the storyline, a trading complication is introduced into the game: contraband. Certain products will be considered illegal in certain ports and if you do not pay attention to such details, it might be your doing. You can also earn more money by doing special tasks for the governors. These tasks add to the flavor and complexity of the game.

The graphics are not really spectacular although they are enough to give you a very enjoyable game experience. The game play requires a lot of reading as exchanges between characters are written down on scrolls. You don’t really get to hear them speak. If it were not for the background music and the awesome canon explosions, I would have to say that the sound effects are a bit on the lame side.

The game’s system requirements are: 400 MHz processor; Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP; 64 MB of RAM, and DirectX 7.

All in all, I would say that how much you will enjoy the game depends on you. You can choose to play it shallowly, without paying attention to the details. Or, you can be meticulous and enjoy a much better overall experience. I suggest you try the second one.

By: Danny Wirken

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