Pirate Puzzles Review

Pirate Puzzles is a very nice universal application, great as an introduction to more involved jigsaw-style puzzles with a great use of visual style and terrific use of music.

This app will be a hit among pirate fans old and young. Two sections are included: a pirate ship theme as well as an area dedicated to hidden treasure complete with ghosts and other fun effects. Each section contains nine puzzles with a varied number of pieces and include animation and interactive elements when completed. A secret pirate song is also included per section that becomes unlocked when all the included puzzles have been worked on.

I really enjoy the period style that is incorporated into these puzzles, consisting of muted shades within each puzzle, as well as a distressed map element seen throughout this app. The animations included when each puzzle is complete are simple articulations, also adding a low-tech vibe consistent with a vintage feel, as is the soft focus look which this app possesses. Typically I would consider the lack of a high resolution to be a flaw, but here it works within the look this app has created.

I especially like the translucent ghosts and more zombie-inspired dead pirates found within the hidden gold section, as these pirates have an especially good look to them that kids will enjoy without them being overly creepy.

The varied pirate music heard is spot-on and enjoyable, as is the humor infused within, seen when tapping on the animated moments after each puzzle and during the secret songs found after solving the puzzles of each section.

It would be nice, however, if the player could choose to make individual puzzles a specific number of pieces, allowing children of all abilities to enjoy each of these puzzles fully, as some of the more difficult 20 piece puzzles may be too advanced for toddlers. Likewise, the six piece puzzles may be too easy for older children in pre-school or kindergarten.

Because no reference image is available, the background of each puzzle includes a subtle, grayed view of what will become the finished puzzle, allowing children to use this background as clues as to how to solve these jigsaws. This clue works well, giving kids what they need to be successful, but the image, lacking a lot of contrast and, by design, hard to see in full detail, does not overly simplify these puzzles. Another hint offered is that each empty section of this puzzle enlarges and quivers slightly when the corresponding piece is dragged near, giving kids who may be stuck some help in finding the correct area in which to place their pieces - nice for those who need it, but it would be helpful to be able to turn off this function as well for children who would like to complete these puzzles on their own.

All in all, a nice selection of jigsaw puzzles with a fun pirate style that can be enjoyed by many ages.