DESCRIPTION

Players can travel back to the Age of Sail and use exploration, naval warfare, and merchant fleets to turn small nations into vast trading empires in East India Company. Gamers lead the British, Dutch, French, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Italian, or Spanish fleets as they establish profitable trade routes, capture strategic ports, take over colonies, and keep rival nations at bay. There are a number of different boats from which to choose, each situated for a specific task, and players must ensure that all ship operations run smoothly by hiring and managing a crew, purchasing weapons and ammunition, and performing repairs and upgrades at ports. The competition for money and land inevitably leads to conflict, and gamers have the option of opening diplomatic relations or declaring war. Battles take place in real-time, and users can pepper an opponent's fleet with devastating broadside attacks or board the enemy ships to engage in violent hand-to-hand combat. Multiplayer fans can compete in head-to-head missions, or join up to seven friends for intense skirmishes via LAN or Internet connection. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide