There's nothing wrong with mindless video games. They're a way to let off some stress, relax, and still be entertained in the process. However, there's that fine line where mindless and entertainment meet. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow doesn't quite make it to that line.
There are countless core problems with this licensed title, taking players through the first film in Jack's own terms. It's standard beat-em-up fare as pirates and other types of people who disagree with Jack's various adventures stand around waiting to be hacked up.
During the majority of the game, Will Turner accompanies Sparrow. Only Johnny Depp provides his voice talents for the movie (and at time it doesn't sound like him either). Close voice matches— who come off like they were in different parts of the world during the recording sessions —play the rest of the actors.
Fighting side by side through various locales, Pirates has trouble with combat. There are a multitude of issues, beginning with basic combos that lack impact or force. Sparrow's wild flailing is detrimental to the gameplay, making it harder to line up shots. If it weren't for the small spark that occurs, there would be little way to tell a blow had landed.
Most of the game forces the player to bash on the X button. That's all there is here. Technique is a lost art, and even after powering up each of the characters with new moves, there's no incentive to use them. Leveling up is also an oddity, done so with gold found in various places around the stages. That in and of itself is fine, but both characters get the same funds. In other words, if Jack has 10 gold pieces, so does Will, even if he wasn't near the gold to begin with.
A few segments of the game allow for new characters to take part in the fray. Elizabeth Swann shares the same style of flailing around manically until she hits someone. Brief mini-game excursions are simple "press this button at the right moment" types of challenges. Actually, it's almost impossible to screw these up, so challenge isn't the proper word.
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