Posted on: September 2, 2014
THERetroGamer
Games: 311 Reviews: 2
Reviews are describing a different game!
It's fairly obvious that all but a single reviewer on here have never actually purchased and played the game that GOG is offering here, and for a simple reason: They mention Dani Bunten and 'their dad played this in his childhood'. Dani Bunten had *zero* to do with this version. This game was designed by SEGA, and unless your dad is just now turning 21 then he most certainly did not play it in his childhood. This is a re-imagining of an old 8-bit Atari and Commodore 64 game of the same name, but the gameplay is significantly changed in this version - for the better in some cases, but for the worse in most others. Certainly the graphics and sound are improved, but outside of that ... The original game that Dani Bunten designed was rather lacking on any clear goals in the gameplay: You just sailed around, marched over the land, and explored the map. You could slaughter entire native tribes, plundering them of their gold and food, and basically have no penalty for doing so. After a while you retired from explorations. This version has a totally different gameplay dynamic: The Spanish crown gives you objectives, and if you fail to meet them within the allotted time, they basically consider your voyage a failure and withdraw support. You can't slaughter enemy tribes anymore without severe punishment. Exploring the map is tougher, and with less fanfare (in the original 8-bit a little ditty would play and announce thing such as "You have discovered the mouth of a major river!" In this version absolutely nothing happens: You're just mapping endlessly). I've yet to even discover a lost city of gold - whilst the original game always had 2 hidden-away on the map. The random world generator of the original game, which logically placed mountain ranges and rivers, is kinda not as good in this version. I've seen quite a few rivers running through the deserts! GOG should reset the reviews on this tedious, lackluster game. People are basically reviewing a whole other game!
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