I love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and adore Captain Jack Sparrow, so I couldn't wait to get the chance to jump into this world on the Wii. My first time through, I started with Story mode. Eventually, I got the option to start in Challenge mode or Dueling mode, but for starters, it's Story time. The game starts out promising enough. It's the music I like, and Jack happens to be in jail - so that's about par for him. A mysterious stranger gives him a sword and tells him to fight his way out - transportation is waiting and then the stranger leaves us to get on with it.

I want to say up front that I have extremely limited experience with console games. The Wii, in fact, is my first modern console system. (I had a Sega Genesis a few decades ago, but I'm not going to count that.) I don't have enough exposure to know what is considered state-of-the-art by more experienced gamers.

I felt a little dйjа vu as I began my adventures as Captain Jack Sparrow. I had not yet seen "World's End" when I started the game, and yet things were looking kind of familiar. It turns out that this is because the game actually begins in the midst of "Dead Man's Chest" instead of at the beginning "World's End." It's not that I mind playing in "Dead Man's Chest," but the title is a bit misleading. Note: You will see inside the manual (after you've purchased the game) that the game includes adventures from both movies, but I didn't see anything on the outside of the box to this effect.

Initially, I tried to jump in and hope for the best. In my case, that didn't turn out to be the best choice. It was worth the time spent reading through the small manual that came with the game to learn what to do with my controls. Swashbuckling is a pretty important part of the experience, so it behooved me to know what my right hand and left hand were supposed to be doing.

World's End is divided into chapters. The first chapter is breaking Captain Jack out of prison. There's at least one main task for each chapter, but there also can be a number of side quests you can do. If you are a perfectionist, consult the Inventory screen before you get started, and check your objectives. Even knowing my objectives and three times through chapter one, I will confess that I still didn't meet all of my objectives. Of course, I have the option to go back to any chapter previously completed, so I can always give it another go if I feel like it.

Since I'm new to this type of game, I liked that important spots were marked with either glowing circles or gold exclamation points. It helped me move along. It's possible a more advanced player might not want those kinds of hints, but it worked for me. As much of a noob as I am, it also took me a while to figure out how to get objects. Smashing things open with my sword worked well, and I walked on the object to pick it up. I'm such a PC gamer, I kept trying to click things - and that just doesn't fly in this scenario.

I have really enjoyed my sword battles. I'm certain the movements have no bearing on actual swordplay, but I'm still having fun. It's definitely a workout for my mostly sedentary self. (Which is the reason I got the Wii in the first place - to change the status quo.) If you also count yourself among the minimally active, you will probably want to take breaks between chapters. I tried going directly from the first to the second, and I just didn't have enough steam to pull it off.

Beyond the swordplay, there are other moves it's important to learn for progressing in World's End. There are special opportunities called "Jackanisms," which are only for Captain Jack. You'll see a sequence of moves for the Nunchuk or Remote flashed on the screen, and you have to match them exactly to complete the action. In one section, I was given only one chance to do it correctly (which didn't happen). In order to try again, I have to start that chapter over from the beginning. In yet another section, the game kept resetting to just before the Jackanism until I got it right. Look at the manual ahead of time, and read that section on Jackanisms so you know what to do when the moment arrives. It might save you a bit of a headache.

The other special move that has really challenged me is the Ole. You basically hold the Z button on the Nunchuk and maneuver the control stick with your thumb to sidestep attacks or perform special tricks, like knocking a hungry cannibal woman into a cauldron. My first time with Ole was just ghastly. My thumb was cramping, and I couldn't seem to get the move right. The next time I tried (a couple of hours later), it went perfectly every time. I have no idea why I failed my first several tries or why I succeeded after that.

I like the music and sound effects in World's End. It opens with my favorite pirate song, so it put me in the right mood straight off. I enjoy the graphics in the game. OK, so Captain Jack isn't 100 percent like himself, but I'm generally too busy fighting off those pesky guards, cannibals and pirates to worry about such things. I feel like it's the captain when I'm playing, from his looks to his silly Jackanisms (like stealing a drink from a guard's cup when he's not looking) to his funny running commentary while he and Will were racing down the river on a raft. Playing as Will, I repeatedly yelled at Captain Jack on the TV, "Shut up already! I'm working on it!"

I think I was more disappointed with my play time as Will Turner. Controlling him wasn't the issue, but his attitude was. He was so arrogant in his commentary during his battles. I remember him being serious and steadfast but not snotty. I like Will, and that didn't feel like Will to me.

There's a sequence in the first chapter where you need to activate controls in a certain order to lower a bridge over a river of lava. My first time through the chapter, I did it wrong. I couldn't find any way to reset the controls and start over. I had to abort the chapter and start over (playing through from the beginning) to get back to that point and try again. Luckily, I did get the order right the second time around.

You can save your game only at the end of each chapter. You can pause if you need to take a breather (which I did more than once), but you can't save the game and walk away.

I had a really hard time learning the Ole move and still have trouble with Jackanisms. I really wish there was more leeway in this area. Yes, some days I want the "Easy" button.

Overall, I'm having a good time playing World's End. I like the graphics. I like the music and sound. I like having the chance to play various characters. (And once you unlock Challenge mode, you can pick any unlocked character to play during your challenge). Yes, there are mini-games like Pirate Dice and Poker, but this game is all about the swashbuckling for my fun. I would say the difficulty level can be a bit uneven, but you can bet I'll be back for more pirate adventure.

World's End is chock full of piratey goodness, without such unpleasant side effects as seasickness or actual smelly pirates. Don't take it too seriously, and have a good time, matey.