Pharaoh + Cleopatra

Released in 1999, Pharao is a strategy game developed by Impressions Games, transporting players back to the intriguing world of Ancient Egypt. Despite its age, the game has managed to withstand the test of time, captivating gamers even in the year 2023. Pharao's historical significance lies in its unique ability to transport players to a bygone era. The game painstakingly reconstructs the dynastic periods of ancient Egyptian civilization, allowing players to experience the challenges and triumphs of ruling as a Pharaoh. The attention to detail in historical accuracy is commendable, immersing players in a rich and authentic environment. One aspect that stands out about Pharao is its graphics, which have aged exceptionally well. By today's standards, the visuals might be considered relatively simple, yet they possess a charming and enchanting quality. The game's art style, with its bright and colorful pixel art, maintains a unique appeal that is both timeless and captivating. The game's setting in Ancient Egypt undeniably contributes to its allure. Ancient Egyptian mythology, culture, and architecture have always been a source of fascination for many, and Pharao capitalizes on this intrigue. The game allows players to build and manage thriving cities, construct monumental structures such as pyramids and temples, and engage in trade and warfare. Its combination of historical accuracy and inventive gameplay mechanics makes it a truly enjoyable experience. For Linux users, Pharao's compatibility with the Wine emulator is an added advantage. Players can easily run the game on Linux without any major issues, opening up a world of ancient Egyptian civilization to a wider audience.

I am a 36 year old with a PhD in Philosophy. I am $450k in debt and currently working two minimum wage jobs in order to stay alive. I work alongside 18 year olds and whenever they ask about my background I just tell them I've been in prison for a long time, which is less embarrassing than admitting the truth. I am probably the most well-informed Husserl scholar on the North American continent, perhaps in the world. My 1,500 page biography of his life has been rejected several dozen times. No college will take me on since they don't think Husserl is relevant, and that other applicants are therefore pushed to the head of the line. I have had 6 Husserl-related papers published in different journals and philosophical quarterlies, but have earned no money or recognition for having done so. I just moved to Abbeville, Louisiana since there is a job opening at the university in Lafayette and I decided to go all out in order to get it. But I've just found out that my application was rejected and now I'm stuck working at a Wendy's three shifts a week and a Barnes & Noble the rest of the time. I have no wife, no children, and at this point no friends I'm willing to talk to due to the shameful nature of my existence. I only play Pharaoh (1999)

I bought this when it was originally released and I cannot tell you how many hours I spent playing through Egypt's history (building temples, the sphinx, pyramids, etc.). I would bet that I have spent at least as long in Skyrim as I had playing this game. It's just hard enough to keep a person interested, but easy enough so that you don't get frustrated (I cannot say the same for the Caesar III game (road blocks would have been useful here). All in all Pharaoh & Cleopatra are both excellent games and the transition between the two is seamless. If you are looking for a city builder with nice hand-drawn graphics and an Egypt basis then this is the game for you. Just don't plan on doing anything else except working and playing this game for a few months.

Augustus said once: "I found Rome a city of bricks, and I left it a city of marble". Pharaoh found it a city of marble, and turned it into a city of diamond... I still have the original CD somewhere, but bought it again at bargain price to have the Cleopatra add-on I never had back in the day. Pharaoh is the successor of Caesar III, and to me the best of the series, even compared to the games who came after (like Zeus) It took everything that was grand about C3 and made it even better. It is a game easy to pick up (if you never played a city builder before) and really challenging to finish, promising countless hours of play, either in story mode or sandbox. Now go build your own bronze age megalopolis and may Osiris be with you (and help you keep your granaries full)

You're here, in your living room on this afternoon. Winter is striking, rain hitting the roof as you sit down with your laptop in a comfortable chair besides the fireplace. You welcome some wandering immigrants, you only have your hospitality to offer. The harsh climate of Egypt will challenge you as you embark on this great adventure, months pass and your city is already home of a thousand souls, exporting goods, albeit an important debt in your treasury. But, wait, your Overseer of the Military has been informed of incoming enemies, ready to burn your city down. Luckily you're already prepared for this attack and you deploy your infantry and your warships on the war front. Peace has returned in your prosperous city as you return to your farms to grow some barley. It is that time of the year again, heavy rains are sweeping throughout Nubia, beyond the borders of Upper Egypt, water is flowing into the Nile. The Great Inundation soaks and fertilizes the farming grounds along the river, you honour Osiris for providing food for the coming year. All the festivities come to a sudden stop as Bast has sent her wrath on your population and a plague is killing all your dreams, you neglected her, you build her a temple hoping to never defy her again. It is Pharaoh's will to build a mastaba, another burial place in Nubt, your city, the city of our ancestors. The task is immense and you need to train workers to lay the bricks that you have imported at a high cost. As you stabilize you economy and start producing more Deben that you spend, you'll find yourself walking like an Egyptian on the road back from the Senet's house to your apartment, on the way you encouter your bazaar man, the local brewer and an Osiris' priest, you've sucessfully provided shelter for thousands of lifes in the warm heat of Egypt, but you're never safe here, a house in burning in the distance. The doorbell rings, it's already dark outside time flew by, the rain has stopped, and the fire still burns.