The most obvious new thing about Space Pirates is the setting. Gone are the wild west locales seen in the Mad Dog Series (and later in The Last Bounty Hunter) And there are no more gritty modern day scenes to be found either (see Crime Patrol and Drug Wars) Space Pirates transports the player (or two) deep in to the future. This new setting actually makes the game weaker in a few areas, but overall it allows for much more good than bad.
One step back, two steps forward ...
One look at the sets and costumes found in Space Pirates will tell you which aspect of the title was hurt the most. Quite frankly, these two things reveal much more about the games low budget than ALG would like us to know.
While it may be fairly easy to mimic a period piece game (ex- 'Who Shot Johnny Rock') it is much more challenging to produce a game set in the far future. The sets of Space Pirates simply don't look very futuristic. This does not make them bad mind you (in fact it adds a great deal of 'camp' value) but overall, I found myself hoping for more. The costumes likewise may be good for a laugh, but little more (okay, maybe two laughs 
)
These things are outweighed however by some of the new elements that ALG incorporated. For instance, the graphics and sound effects were able to be given futuristic tweaks. These include things like laser blasts from weapons, (with the occasional added effect when they connect with an enemy) backdrops featuring planets and stars, the warp effect when you travel to different systems, and a few other things to keep your eyes open for. One of main graphical difference in this game though, is that it is not all Full Motion Video. This is primarily noticeable in the loading of the special weapon star crystals, and the assault on the games nemesis, Captain Talon (both unique things in themselves) While this is only done in a limited capacity, it does add up to make the game differ from ALG's earlier releases and makes it feel new, not just rehashed.
So, is there anything else besides the new coat of paint? Yes! Can you say puzzle elements?
You heard me right, Space Pirates has several puzzle elements scattered throughout. Each world that you visit has a character (or two) who could be considered as bosses. But they don't challenge your shooting skills, no, they challenge your wits. These "mutants ... tricksters" as your guide likes to call them, try to trip you up with rhymes, riddles, or puzzles. Admittedly, these are really not challenging (especially since you are given hints prior to your encounter) but they are just so interesting and bizzare! Check out 'Madame Pots' and her sidekick 'Pan' to see an example for yourself. When you add all this to the pretty good full motion video, fine sound effects, decent voice acting, challenging missions, and accurate control, you have another solid excuse to dust off the old Gamegun. The camp value alone is reason enough to own this title ... thankfully it has some fun gameplay to back it up. Space Pirates didn't re-invent the genre, but I think it might have helped to evolve it a bit. Worth owning.
-Trev
