Caravan

Fun at first (the relaxing kind), but get's old quite fast. In fact it get's so dull by the 2nd hour that you start looking forward to the sole mini-game that stands in for combat.

Don't waste your time on this even if it's on sale. It would have been a fun little game if they only implemented a save game system. Instead you rely on checkpoints when entering each town. However the game spawns too many random events that can really mess up your play. So you end up replaying your actions much of the time, fighting the game instead of enjoying it.

I've loved the mystical experience that is Caravan. The goals are reasonable, and just require some time and good choices. Always make sure to have more water than you'll think you'll need! Having enough water is the #1 priority in this game. Once you start to figure out the pattern in chance encounters that you have, you'll start being able to avoid needless difficulties, build a large caravan, and make a lot of money. Be sure to add a soldier to your party as early as possible! It would be nice to have the prices of various commodities captured in some kind of in-game table. Tracking all of that by hand takes some time that I'd rather spend playing.

I paid a dollar for this and I am genuinely upset. This is alarmingly bad. Avoid fighting at all costs. Some early reviews said combat was far too easy. Well, that must have bothered some developer, 'cause today I'm getting one and two shot by a single jackal. Even the weird assassin lady I picked up was just fodder for the wildlife. I've taken to bringing random 'heroes' with me and letting them die so I can escape. Caravan cargo capacity fluctuates constantly due to quest additions and subtractions. Get used to trashing stuff. For whatever reason, the auxiliary slaves I got won't carry things. That's right, the slaves won't carry their own water. Who's the slave here again? Sometimes the little arrow you need to click on to talk to someone is so high up, it's blocked by the UI, specifically the big ol' map-book-thing. They couldn't have just lowered the arrow a little? Nope, gotta move the camera around... again. And there's more little annoyances. Lots and lots of them. I think somebody had a good idea and gave up halfway through the execution.

Great game and value. It isn't as linear as some have suggested. Yes there is a main quest and story line, but many side quests and opportunity to go where you want and trade or fight, Even if you play it once, it is so much fun. The music is awesome, the graphics are good, the mechanics are well designed; Everyone should own this game.