Constructor Classic 1997

The game offers several difficulties and all maps except the first one require picking a higher difficulty and at least one CPU opponent (out of a maximum of three). Truth be told, I've never had a go at the higher difficulties and even a single CPU opponent can make winning impossible. It's trivial to keep him in check early on by exploiting a peculiarity of the AI, but once the leash comes off, its only aim is to harass you to no end with an unlimited supply of resources. Even without any CPU opponents around to ruin your day, you'll quickly succumb to the ever-growing micromanagement of your own buildings. When you're not busy fulfilling your tenants' every will, you have to check on your spawn rates and income, make sure to have enough gadgets in stock not to run dry while keeping your tenants in check and remember to quickly fill vacant lots with the right kind of tenants before they are overrun by cockroaches. Oh, and because the game pre-dates all the nice features you've come to expect from strategy games, you have to do this all without any notifications, pop-ups or indicators beyond the crackling of fires, the bangs of explosions and the sirens of new construction sites -- if they are in view. Even the micromap isn't visible at all times. What's worse? There is no active pause and the lowest speed setting is still fast enough to fail some objectives within less than a minute. Oh, and your workforce has to be well-rested or it will slow down to a crawl. Still, this game is addictive. Even today it still manages to suck me in, chew me into a pulp and spit me out, and still make me come back for more. It's a drug. I'm not sure whether I'm enjoying it, but I can't resist its leer. If you would ask me for a comparison, I would say it most closely resembles Sim City. Except you're constantly being sabotaged and the game speed is stuck at maximum.

I literally got shivers down my spine when I saw this game was available on GOG.com. It's the one I've been looking for the most (along with Death Rally). This game is a very unique town sim, where you have to manage everything from buying land right down to the bathroom of the first shed you've built. You simply don't stop clicking. When you have a deadline, seconds count and you can't hesitate. And that's playing all by yourself, no AI involved. Like another reviewer said, adding a single AI opponent in the easiest scenario turns Constructor into a different game. To be able to beat the scenario with AI, the management of spawn rate, income and resources have to be absolutely automatic, because you need time to think up a strategy to beat the challenges that come with adding AI enemies. It's an incredible game, a must-have for anyone who likes town sims. Truly unique.

I fist played it with the age of 9. I did not come a long way but it was very very cool. One Month ago I had my hands on it the second time with 24 and it still beats every other strategy game. It's like 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' - lots of fun for every age. How deep it will go into the rabbit hole is up on you. With each step you raise the complexity of this game. You will have stress, action and fun - switches your watch into a time machine. Even in multiplayer extremely enjoyable and challenging, if everyone is in shape and plays the appropriate (the right, the best) style (and knows what is to do). On each instance of complexity there is always a way to counter your opponents. But everything is building up on another. So always keep an eye on the sediment. Hands on if you like a challenging game, understand causal correlations, are able to multi-tasking operations and staying power. It will reward you with a lot of fun.

I was too young for this when it appeared on the PS1. I enjoyed it in a sort of clueless way. Now that I'm a lot older I'm enjoying the challenge. And what a challenge! This has to be one of the most complex games out there. There is so much to keep track off. Your repairmen are on the wrong estate and three houses are blazing. An AI hippy is terrorising one of your residents, you're out of concrete, amongst all this Mr Dung at Number 21 Moss Side has decided he wants two trees within 200 days or else! Be warned Constructor is not Transport Tycoon. There'll be no sitting back with a cup of tea waiting for something to happen. A special mention has to go out to the humour of the game. It's uniquely British. Ideal for those of who just don't find Americans funny!

I loved the aesthetic of this game, but the systems were so complex I had to keep consulting the manual. I don't have a physical copy of that so continually canceling the game to look at it was a pain. Now though there's been a DosBox update and I can play the game windowed, with the PDF of the manual right near by. I can finally learn this game and play it as it was meant to be! Thanks Gog :D