The VR market is flooded with interactive puzzle adventures, and The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend adds to the ever growing list of games in the genre. Not only are players seeing more escape room style gameplay every day in the virtual space, there appears to be a trend towards pirate-based stories. The most memorable of these titles being the recent release of Skull and Bones, which has seen a somewhat mediocre reception.
The Pirate Queen, taking aspects from the two aforementioned genres, puts it in a situation where the bar is set fairly high. While not every pirate story or puzzle game is successful, there are so many titles in the space that it becomes very difficult to create something unique and refreshing.
While there were definitely parts of the game I have experienced before, this is not like other pirate puzzlers you will come across. I was pleasantly surprised by the title’s fresh, yet brief narrative, which captures a point in history to which I was mostly unfamiliar.
The Pirate Queen Uses a Strength of VR, Which is History and Education
Although there may be some who disagree with the assertion that education is a pillar of VR, you have to consider the use of the platform beyond just gaming. There are a plethora of VR owners who primarily enjoy using their devices to watch videos or learn new skills. One of the great qualities of this medium is being able to do something like take a virtual tour of a city, or witness an activity you’ve yet to try.
The Singer Studios debut title, The Pirate Queen, is the exact kind of immersive history that makes VR so special. The game is set in the South China Sea, and tells the story of Cheng Shih, a 19th century pirate whose world is turned upside down by the death of her husband, Cheng Yat.
The two pirates in matrimony led the Red Flag fleet, and maintained control of occationally turbulent waters. However, after Yat’s death, a rival leader from the Black Flag group named Kwok Po Dai, attempted to claim the power for himself. The Pirate Queen takes place on the night Cheng Shih moves against Kwok Po Dai, and showcases her rise to power.
In many ways, The Pirate Queen capitalizes on its history asset by developing a story that pulls the player in, and leaves them wanting to know more. When I finished my playthough of the game, I realized this is a segment of history I had never really learned about previously, which made me want to read up on the title’s protagonist.
Cheng Shih seems to be buried by the dominance of Black Beard in history, despite the fact she had greater power, and at one point captained a fleet of around 70,000 people. It’s a forgotten legend as the subtitle suggests, but one I was glad to learn about.
The Talent Behind The Pirate Queen and the Message It Leaves Make the Game Stand Out
The Pirate Queen is a breath of fresh air with a historically accurate narrative, but that is not the end of its appeal. The massively talented voice actress behind Cheng Shih is none other than Lucy Liu, best known for her roles in Kill Bill and Charlie’s Angels. Liu delivers a great performance as the leading lady, and also provides her own creative insight to the game as an executive producer.
The director of The Pirate Queen and founder of the studio, Eloise Singer, is an award-winning filmmaker who does an exceptional job in her direction. Her pacing of the narrative is well done, especially in instances where the player goes from a rapid escape, to slow and comfortable problem solving.
The title has already received commendations for its immersive story telling, notably winning the Storyscapes Immersive Award at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. It also earned the Raindance Discovery Award in 2021.
The message that the game leaves is one of empowerment, bravery, and women’s rights. Although our world has progressed a great deal since pirates roamed the seas in such large numbers, terrorizing those who stood in their way, one could consider these small imprints like a chain of dominos that has led to the development of our modern society.
I will refrain from saying more to avoid spoilers, but this story of a female pirate who went from poverty to the height of leadership, is certainly inspiring despite taking place in a dark part of history.
The Bottom Line for the Singer Studios Debut Title
Based on the fact that this is the first title from Singer Studios, and it’s essentially a poster child for indie development, it performs rather well. This game has the essentials for a quality title, including talented developers and a refreshing story.
That said, there are some factors to consider for the typical VR user. The title is fairly short, as I clocked myself completing the entire game in about 3-4 hours, so that may be something to consider. The price is $16.99 USD, which I believe is fair if maybe a little high, which means it might not be cost affordable for all players. There were occasions where the rooms felt somewhat barren, however, there were instances I believe this was intended for historical accuracy.
As far as gameplay is concerned, if you’re looking for high octane action, this is not it. The Pirate Queen is more of a comfortable, move at your own pace game, where you’re going to spend a little bit of time in each room. Quite a few of the mechanics will be familiar to most VR players, such as climbing ropes, teleporting to travel, paddling a boat, use of an inventory wheel, which are not new by any means.
Ultimately, the narrative is the reason to pick up The Pirate Queen. If you’re hoping to play something incredibly innovative in terms of gameplay, an indie title like this will probably disappoint. However, for those who want to step into the shoes of a historical figure, even for a short time, and learn something new about the pirate, this is one to check out. It will likely pique your interest and send you down a rabbit hole of the history of piracy in the South China Sea.
7/10
Update: Since the writing of this review, The Pirate Queen has received a technical patch, which can be found on Steam.
