Yohoho! has unique, fun gameplay based on a combination of persistent MUD-style online games and fun puzzle games! While you can explore and interact with your character, when you accept a challenge, you launch a themed Puzzle game. For example, if you accept a Pirate's challenge to a swordfight, you'll both pop up the Swordfighting puzzle and go head to head! When your opponent clears blocks to strike a blow, pieces rain down on your board!
There are a large variety of Puzzles to enjoy, both competitive—such as Swordfighting—and more relaxing, for example Drinking. In addition, when you sail vessels in Yohoho!, each Pirate takes up a Duty station with an associated Puzzle—for example, Sailing, Navigation, or Bilge-pumping.
What you won't find in Yohoho! is repetitively hitting a key, having to kill the same poor beast over and over again to go up a 'level'. We don't have numbered levels, and we don't have 'experience points'. Although we will have some monsters in the future, they are the rare and dangerous guardians of exotic Treasure Islands. Of course, these monsters too will be defeated by skilled Puzzling by you and your fellow Crewmates.
Are there missions or quests?
Players can take jobs offer jobs to players on Navy ship voyages. These jobs provide good practice for a young player, and can pay a handsome wage of gold. Any major Port jobbing voyages available.
Of course such voyages have a little danger of their own, as ye might be boarded during the voyage by marauding Pirates. Chances are they might recognise a Pirate amongst men and offer you better wages to jump ship and join them.
As hinted at above, in the future we'll be adding Adventure Islands which will provide a bevvy of Quest-like activity for eager Pirates.
Will there be Grand Events and a Story?
Three Rings is committed to a good customer experience, and part of that is proper in-game support and facilitation of 'grand tale' events. That includes stirring things up occasionally by orchestrating major shifts in the world, particularly as we add new gameplay and expand the accessible Ocean by introducing maps to new Archipelagoes. Rather than trying to stuff the Puzzle Pirates' society into a pre-planned storyline, these events will happen in reaction to and in concert with the endeavours of the players on each distinct Ocean.
Do Pirates have experience or levels?
As you travel the world and improve your Puzzling abilities you will gain improved Standing and Experience Ratings for your Pirate. These Ratings are accrued for individual puzzles and 'Accounts' of your deeds. As your Pirate gains the respect of her fellows, she'll be offered greater Rank in her Crew, and perhaps even a title, such as 'Gunner'.
Standing is determined relative to the other Pirates, like a chess rating, both for your home Archipelago and for the entire Ocean. It can therefore go up and down relative to the distribution of player skill.
Experience is a more traditional measure of the player's endeavours, consistent with RPG experience, but specific to the particular Puzzle or Account. We do not have an overall 'level' or other generic experience rating.
Reviews
"A massively multiplayer anything-that-isn't-an-RPG is such a simple, perfect idea. In retrospect it's shocking how long it went without being realized. One would think that with the absolute glut of high profile MMOPRG's out there right now that more would have broken from the formula of killing things to make numbers get bigger laid down by World of Warcraft, EverQuest, and ultimately, the text based MUDs of the ancient world. As usual, it took a small developer to take the risk of doing something different. The result is a game that stands out in a sea of competitors not because of an enormous budget, years of hype or an expensive movie license, but because it's simply unique and fun." 8/10, 1up
"Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates, one of the weirdest and most original puzzle games we've come across in quite a while... No online game can survive without a solid and enthusiastic community. In the case of Puzzle Pirates, enthusiasm is one thing this community has no shortage of. After spending quite a bit of time playing, we've come to the conclusion that everyone playing Puzzle Pirates is completely insane, but in a totally endearing way. Essentially, people really seem to get into the whole pirate mentality here... As puzzle games go, Puzzle Pirates is a winner, and it's not just because of how good its puzzles are by themselves, but also because of how it ties all of its puzzles into the larger gameworld, creating a completely self-perpetuating economy and community purely out of puzzling. It's a bizarre concept that's done very well." 8.1/10, Gamespot
"Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates is every casual players dream online game... While lacking any sort of violence and mundane tasks pretty much don't exist, Puzzle Pirates is still an MMORPG. It's a very social game, although people often are so busy playing the puzzles, they can't talk that much. The general environment is very friendly and the games are a lot of fun. It's one of those game gems that there's almost nothing wrong with. It would be nice if there were more tradeskill puzzles, but they will come in time. Beyond that, it's a game that will keep even the most critical of gamers happy for a while. It's a great game whether you have 10 minutes or 10 hours to play." Killer Betties
"Puzzle games, like Tetris, are addictive right up until the point where it dawns on you that there's no point to getting any better. Once you've satisfied the learning curve, without any reason to keep pushing that boulder uphill, the desire to do it fades. Puzzle Pirates attempts to put several reasons why you should continue -- fame, fortunate, and the excuse to say 'Arrr, me buckos!' when swordfighting against other players." Fourhman
"... this world should appeal to a variety of ages and is one of those rare worlds that is amenable to both short-term casual play and long-term marathon sessions. For those willing to give themselves over to the way of the pirate, Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates offers an upbeat, creative, and fun virtual world experience." Virtual Worlds Review
"There are many fantastic points to this game - it's fun, it's clean (arguably g-rated). But I think its greatest feature is that the pirate crews have to work (get this) AS A CREW. Some folks work sails as others pump the bilge or navigate. Somebody's got to load the cannons while the captain barks his orders so you can all collect some booty. And isn't that what its all about - cooperation and booty? I'd review the game in more detail, but I'm not sure I can. Puzzle Pirates is an entire world of piratey goodness, and your options are endless. I could tell you about my experiences in the game, but they won't be your experiences. All you can do is take my word that this is a fantastic game and go learn about it for yourself. It's like a game of Monkey Island that never ends - and I can think of no higher praise. Go there, subscribe - I promise your real life will crumble from neglect." Bilgemunky
"As someone who has never played MMORPGs before, studiously avoiding what I see as the truly life-sucking nature of them, this was a new experience in meshing gameplaying with socializing and true multi-player over-the-net interaction (not just blasting away at a random Quake character). I was pleased I didn't have to compromise on anything because I was running under Linux. The system just plain worked, and worked well." Planet Geek
"Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates is a collection of addicting and fun puzzles within a living world. It can be played solo, but the true experience lies online where you and many other pirates meet and explore the sea as well as the many islands that inhabit it. So grab your sword and bandana and get ready to drink and pillage in puzzle form!" 8.6/10, GameZone
"The end conclusion is final: if you love to play puzzle games, you really need to check out Puzzle Pirates. Choose the trial version or the totally free version with some restrictions. Don't expect top graphics, it' s more cartoon-like. The characters look like playmobil dolls which makes the game cute. So guess, what I'm doing in about five minutes, after publishing this review? Exactly, playing Puzzle Pirates to get another 1000 "pieces of Eight" to buy that lovely red dress." Thumb Bandits
"To be honest, this all started as a bit of a joke review really, but soon suprised me by being a well-rounded, complete and functioning MMO, albeit a simple one. The basic preimise is that you are a pirate, and to get on in the world, you take on various jobs, all of which are presented in the form of small, throwaway Tetris-like puzzles. The game has an economy, trade skills, exploration, a significant social aspect, and even PvP of a fashion - everything you'd expect from a more 'serious' contender like WoW or EQ2." Van Hemlock
"In many ways, Puzzle Pirates puts the oooh's and ahhh's back into MMOs... The major points in Puzzle Pirates far outweigh the trivial downsides, and in my personal opinion, Puzzle Pirates is an example of innovation working at it's finest." onRPG.com
"In this industry, it seems you have to have a small team of start-up developers to shake things up and deliver something completely different. Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates, the debut MMO title from Three-Rings, is exactly that." 8.5/10, WarCry
"And if ye still think the pirate's life is the one, remember this 'fore ye go on the account: buccaneers enjoy plenty o' drinkin' an' sword-fightin', and ye'll need to do both in Puzzle Pirates. Aye, they be puzzles too, but they require ye to think smartly an' keep a finger on yer mouse button." Apple
"Three Rings Software, however, not only breaks the mold, but smashes it to pieces. Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates takes puzzle games and puts them smack dab in the middle of a persistent state world with a player driven economy. iNot only that, but you get to be a pirate, complete with cleaver and hat (if you so choose). How could you not love that?" 8.5, Editor's Choice, IGN
Awards
Editor's Choice Award, IGN
Best Puzzle/Rhythm game of 2005, Metacritic
Technical Excellence and Audience Choice Awards, Independent Games Festival 2004
Player Reviews
Voice of the Masses
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