What do you get if you combine the arcade games Scramble and Asteroids with 'Pirates of the Caribbean'? 'Return of Pirates', that's what. It's partly let down by the ponderous manoeuvrability of your ship, but then - wait a minute, ocean going vessels don't turn on dimes like spaceships  - so perhaps this extra realism is a plus point. See below for screenshots and comments.

Written in Java, the graphics throughout are somewhat variable - the cut scenes and menus are terrific, the dynamic game elements slightly clunky. But a good start here...

Plus points to the developer for linking out to Facebook and Twitter, a good way to get fans following future developments.

In the main game, you control your ship's direction/thrust with the on-screen arrow keys and fire cannon balls with the button on the right. The surf animations at the edges of the scrolling waterway get a bit annoying after a while, since they're quite garish.

Naturally, you advance through different levels of difficulty. Note that your ship can withstand multiple cannonball hits (thankfully), whereas you only have to land one ball to sink an enemy. Balancing the odds are shore-based batteries, also firing in multiple cannonballs at you, mind....

The difficulty curve is about right. Having to keep progressing through the waterway (to the end of the level), while avoiding cannonballs and steering towards enemies that you want to fire at, isn't trivial.

One point of note: I thought that cannons generally pointed out the side of a sailing ship? Not that I'm being picky.... Anyway, the cannon here always points forwards!

Return of Pirates is available in ad-supported version (typical ad screen shown above) or in commercial (£3) form here, both in the Nokia Store.