Plundered Hearts (1987)

by Nish
written by Nish 6 minutes read

Summary

Plundered Hearts (1987): A Swashbuckling Adventure

Plundered Hearts is a pirate-themed adventure game released in 1987 for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and MS-DOS. The game was developed and published by Lucasfilm Games, and it was one of the first adventure games to use a graphical user interface.

Plundered Hearts is set in the 17th century, and you play as a young woman named Katrina who is searching for her father. Katrina’s father has been kidnapped by pirates, and she must travel to the Caribbean to find him. Along the way, Katrina will encounter a variety of characters, including pirates, sailors, and natives. She will also have to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles in order to reach her father.

Plundered Hearts was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its graphics, sound, and gameplay. Plundered Hearts is considered to be one of the best adventure games of all time, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Gameplay

Plundered Hearts is a point-and-click adventure game. The player controls Katrina as she explores the game world, interacts with characters, and solves puzzles. The game world is divided into a number of different screens, and the player can move between screens by clicking on the edges of the screen.

Katrina can interact with characters by clicking on them. When she does this, a menu of options will appear. The player can choose to talk to the character, give them an item, or ask them for help.

Katrina can also pick up and use items. To do this, the player must first click on the item to pick it up. Then, the player can click on another object to use the item on it.

Katrina will often need to solve puzzles in order to progress through the game. These puzzles can be anything from finding a key to open a door to figuring out how to operate a machine.

Setting

Plundered Hearts is set in the 17th century Caribbean. The game world is full of lush jungles, sandy beaches, and sparkling blue waters. Katrina will travel to a variety of different locations, including a pirate ship, a Spanish fort, and a native village.

Characters

Katrina is the main character of Plundered Hearts. She is a strong and resourceful young woman who is determined to find her father. Along the way, she will meet a variety of characters, including:

  • Captain Jack: A pirate captain who is Katrina’s father’s kidnapper.
  • Maria: A native woman who helps Katrina on her journey.
  • Father Thomas: A priest who provides Katrina with guidance and support.
  • Blackbeard: A legendary pirate who is said to be searching for a hidden treasure.

Development

Plundered Hearts was developed by a team led by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick. Gilbert and Winnick had previously worked on the adventure game Maniac Mansion, and they brought their experience to Plundered Hearts.

Plundered Hearts was one of the first adventure games to use a graphical user interface. This made the game much more accessible to players, and it helped to popularize the adventure game genre.

Reception

Plundered Hearts was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its graphics, sound, and gameplay. Plundered Hearts was also a financial success, selling over 100,000 copies.

Plundered Hearts is considered to be one of the best adventure games of all time. The game is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is considered to be a classic of the genre.

Legacy

Plundered Hearts has had a lasting impact on the adventure game genre. The game’s use of a graphical user interface helped to make adventure games more accessible to players, and it inspired many other developers to create their own adventure games.

Plundered Hearts is also notable for its strong female protagonist. Katrina is a resourceful and determined young woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself. She is a positive role model for young gamers, and she has inspired many other female characters in video games.

Plundered Hearts is a classic adventure game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s beautiful graphics, catchy music, and challenging puzzles make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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