Cloud Pirates, the airship MMO from My.com, has been available in Early Access on Steam for PC since February. We played the game, which feels like a World of Warships with flying steampunk airships. Read here to find out if it’s worth it.
The world of Sarnaut shattered many years ago into its individual pieces, and since then the fragments float freely through the air. But these skies are not safe, as pirates lurk everywhere. In Cloud Pirates, they do not sail on water, but have built curious steampunk vessels. These race through the sky with energy sails and jet drives, blasting each other out of the air with cannons, torpedoes, and ray guns.
Cloud Pirates – Flying Ships and Wild Pirates
In Cloud Pirates, the air combat MMO from My.com (Skyforge, Revelation Online), we command such a steampunk pirate ship. You can choose between various ship types, each with different abilities as well as individual strengths and weaknesses.
There are light corvettes and clippers that act as torpedo boats, unleashing their full firepower in a devastating torpedo attack. Support ships can heal other ships, sniper galleons shoot from high distances, cruisers are great all-rounders, and battleships are rocks against enemy fire.
Cloud Pirates – Naval Battles in Vertical
Once you have chosen a ship, you join a battle and are assigned to a team of nine other players. Together with your comrades, you fight against an enemy team of equal size. The goal is to capture strategic points and hold them until you have enough victory points. To do this, you shoot down enemy players and capture their points. Alternatively, there is also a game mode where you have to intercept an NPC ship.
If a ship sinks, the victim is entitled to a respawn after a certain waiting time. The battles in Cloud Pirates are similar to those in World of Warships from Wargaming. However, the aerial battles with sailing ships are more dynamic, as you can not only sail straight but also brake and turn at any time. Since your ships fly, you can also adjust the altitude at any time.
Full Broadside!
With the light and fast maneuvering – even large battleships are surprisingly agile – there is plenty of speed in the game. The battles are no exception.
You have mounted your weapons for broadside and as bow armament. You can only fire one section at a time, and depending on where the enemy is, you have different weapons to choose from.
Most ships use their numerous cannons on the broadsides as their main armament, but certain ships – such as the torpedo clipper – only fire their powerful torpedoes forward. To always have the optimal firing solution, you need to constantly turn your ship and show the enemy your strongest side. By the way, every shot heats up your guns, and if they are too hot, they must painfully cool down for long seconds before you can fire again.
If you take damage yourself, it is first deducted from your shields. Only when they are gone does the damage affect the hull, and if that reaches zero, your ship will explode.
Since the shields recharge when not being fired at, it is essential to turn a damaged section away from the enemy and show them a less battered side. By constantly turning the ships to maximize firepower and reduce damage, the battles in Cloud Pirates resemble an elegant waltz of flying steampunk ships.
Cloud Pirates – Ship Building Kit
You can upgrade your ships after the battle using the experience points and gold pieces gained in it. For example, by installing different and better weapons or mounting other special abilities. Ships can – depending on the equipment – then also perform additional torpedo attacks, repair themselves, execute short dimensional jumps, or cloak.
If you have had enough of a ship and want a better one, you can also unlock entirely new vessels and thus rise higher in the tiers (so-called “tiers”: from the English “Tier” = level). Of course, the battles are more challenging in higher tiers, as both more experienced players and more complex ships are at play.
Currently, Cloud Pirates is still in Early Access on Steam. Access is only possible with Founder Packs, the cheapest of which costs only 8.99 euros.
We are raffling off 50 Navigator Founder Packs for Cloud Pirates until March 28th. Good luck participating!
Jürgen says: I already thought World of Warships was great, but Cloud Pirates fascinates me even more thanks to the unusual setting and fast gameplay. In Warships, I often have to take a long time to find the enemy and set my course early, here I can float freely through the skies and happily shoot!
However, Cloud Pirates is not lacking in depth and challenge. The game with the steampunk pirates is by no means a trivial arcade shooter. Rather, you have to use your ship’s abilities well and position it optimally. Together with teamwork, this is the key to success!
Also interesting: Cloud Pirates – Information about the ship classes.
