Time for a history lesson, kids. Are you ready? In 1997, Toby Gard and Paul Dougas were part of Core Studios, an overseas developing company known for a handful of quirky titles, including the Chuck Rock games. Then, the company hit a masterstroke with the next-generation adventure game Tomb Raider, introducing the world to Lara Croft and making her an overnight sensation. The game was a huge success, both for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, and Sony immediately jumped on an exclusive deal with Eidos Interactive and Core on the game's sequels. However, following the first game, Gard and Douglas didn't really feel like working that way, so they jumped ship and decided to form their own company, Confounding Factor. The Tomb Raider games continued to release over the years, but Core soon found themselves the victims of bad programming upon the release of the PS2 failure Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. Since that time, Core's main gem was taken away, handed now to Crystal Dynamics.

So what of Confounding Factor? Well, Toby and Paul began work on a new game, a pirate adventure game titled Galleon: Islands of Mystery. The title began development shortly after Factor was opened, and it remained there... for several years. Finally, after so much time sitting on the backburner with quirks being made here and there, Atlus, a company known for such game releases as the Persona series and the Ogre Battle games, stepped up to get the release rights to the game, and it has finally arrived. Along the way, Gard and Douglas closed down Confounding Factor and have joined Crystal Dynamics to once again grace the house of Croft.

So, the question is, after so long a time in development and so much effort put into the game, is Confounding Factor's solo effort worth its weight in gold, or has the game joined the likes of such pirate duds as Cutthroat Island and Skull and Crossbones? Well, batten down the hatches, because ye have a good pirate game here. It's no classic like the first Tomb Raider was, but it's an enthralling time regardless.

In the game, you take control of a mighty pirate by the name of Rhama, sailing the high seas with his crew and preparing for a new adventure. He's been summoned by some sort of faith healer, Areliano, to take a look at a mysterious ship that's in a cave underneath his house. So Rhama makes his way to the island, runs into some ruffians (that's part of the game's training, which is extensive and helpful), and runs into the healer's assistant, a nervous yet slick man by the name of Jabez. Jabez leads him back to the ship, where the plot begins to unfold. Betrayal, power, and chaos all await Rhama on his adventure, and he'll run into new folks all over; from a pesky shopkeeper to some nasty enemies to a couple of helpful females who assist Rhama on his journey.

Like Tomb Raider before it, Galleon contains some pretty good gameplay, allowing Rhama to perform a unique number of moves. The most interesting aspect has to be the fighting, where Rhama can perform a number of moves like throwing, combo attacks (with a timing meter), a swing attack that knocks out several foes at once, and a power move that leaves a devastating wake on all the enemies surrounding him. Rhama can also throw enemies into objects for helpful results, like throwing them in a campfire or over a cliff. This adds to a combo meter that allows Rhama to earn new features as his adventure unfolds.

There are some quirks, to be sure, like rock climbing. It can be a little confusing going from climbing the side of a rock wall to the ceiling, as the perspective and the controls differ slightly, but it still works. The running/walking also requires a delicate touch, and having to look at items to interact with and walk up to them does get old after awhile. Still, it's good work for what it is, and it doesn't get sloppy like some other games.

Galleon also contains some excellent sound quality, featuring some fine voice acting from a number of proficient actors and some very good music fitting to the pirate atmosphere. It changes on the fly, just in case you run into any dangerous situations, and it seldom drags. There's a slight technical pause now and then, but nothing annoying. Sound effects are also in good shape.

As for the graphics... well, for a game that's been several years in development, you're going to find that not everything is as spectacular looking as other efforts. The game features models that are simply designed, meaning that they look the part but there's no stunning realism to their appearance. There are also some slight jags here and there and some fuzziness throughout. However, the level design is sharp and there are some wondrous, large terrains to explore, especially in the later parts of the game. Loading is quick and the interface is good, although there are some parts that you wish you could skip, but just can't for some reason.

As unremarkable as it may be in particular parts, the sum of the parts is what matters and Galleon: Islands of Mystery still offers a very hearty sum of adventure and thrills. If you can put up with the fact it's not the smoothest looking game around, you'll be rewarded aplenty.