The game is very visually appealing. The detail on the ships is very nice - when you zoom in closer you can actually see the crew manning the ship. Damage is also reflected accurately on the ships, you'll see torn rigging, hull damage, and whatever else may be ailing a ship.

Age of Sail II is both beautiful and frustrating.  The manual is very thin and does not come close to giving you the information that you need to really play the game.  What's more, there is no tutorial, so you feel like you're pretty much on your own when learning to play.  This unnecessary learning curve may prove to be too frustrating for some.

The game also has some strange quirks that are the results of gameplay bugs.  The formation control does not work consistently and more often than not your ships will do whatever they feel like when given fleet orders.  Forts sometimes will neglect to fire on passing ships.  These and other bugs which cropped up while I was playing made the game unnecessarily frustrating.  This is too bad since the game is otherwise quite enjoyable.

It should also be pointed out that the game does not seem to simulate the effect of wind on a sailing ship with entire accuracy.  When changing heading, ships often pass straight through the eye of the wind without much in the way of negative effects.  Sailing purists may find this too much to bear - others may like the fact that it makes the ships more maneuverable.  Just be aware of this factor so that you can decide how it affects you.

In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 62%. Much too thin of a manual and buggy play keep Age of Sail from reaching its otherwise promising potential. Check for updates on the Talonsoft site before committing to this one.

System Requirements:  200 MHz Pentium CPU; 32 MB RAM; 4 MB Video RAM; 4x CD-ROM; 50 MB Hard Drive Space; Mouse.

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