There is stacking and tortuga is an integral part of building up good scores. I love the game, the skill shot is tough, the superskill shot is impossible, and the theme is a winner. Big/easy toy for the newbies to figure out (the ship) and plenty of depth for a better player. There are a lot of repeated shots, but it doesn't make it less fun to play. If you don't like stop and go games, this one has quite a bit of it, so keep that in mind.