WOW... What a let down indeed!
I feel ripped off! So much buildup to find nothing gratifying at the end. The game is barely OK... frankly just a face-lift to an already proven formula. Nothing new, just better graphics... In fact a lot of the content found in games like "Port Royal 2", and "Patrician III" are missing. Not enough variety in trade goods, it has an interesting battle system - it can't get any simpler (or dumber!).
I'm more into trading and generating revenue, trade routes etc ... than I am into broadside cannon battles. Trading in this game is a joke! In Port Royal you could influence towns and settlements to a much greater extent than you can in "East India Company."
In fact, you can't really do anything worthwhile or worth the effort in the towns.
It's an OK game, but not one I would buy before it hits the bargain bins.