I'm not one of them. I like when I can actually learn HOW to play something. Either the game features a tutorial that provides an in-depth lesson on various aspects of a game (like the HoI series), or a robust in-game help system (like the Civilization series). This game has neither, it's like learning how to read braille by reading braille. Now, to say something nice, the interface is OK once you get used to it. Overall, this game is just a nightmare to try and learn, and I'm done trying. What a waste of money.
it's OK, if you just want to kill a couple hours. the ai here is all over the map. at introductory-level, they go after your minor partners, and invade minor nations wantonly. at higher levels, normal and above, you are quite literally *always* at war. unless you purchased a war-game, you should not always be at war. takes all the fun out of it.
There is ZERO documentation for the game, at all. There are some very useful wiki-style pages to help with the steep learning curve for designing a prison. The tutorial does a pretty good job of teaching you mechanics of gameplay and the various menus. I haven't seen a log-in page or anything to do with Paradox, and I just re-downloaded the game in May of 2020. Click on the game icon and the game starts, it is just the vanilla game with no DLC's, so that may have something to do with it. I only mention it as it's talked about in a couple of other reviews seen when typing this. That said, the game is equal parts fun and frustration trying to get started. Good way to kill time while the pandemic rages. Be prepared to spend a significant amount of time outside the game in one of the aforementioned wiki's learning how to layout your first prison. it does get easier as you build more though.
the graphics aren't much to look at, but mechanics seem pretty sound so far. graphic-wise, the aesthetic feels kind of like A-Train from back in the day. there are a lot of policy options, and it gives you enough information to make good choices to grow your city. there isn't much of a tutorial, per se, but the learning curve isn't quite as steep as some city-builders. it uses an in-game mail system to let you know of problems, with a button to see the problem the map. the game is also VERY small, and not demanding of system resources, a big plus for those of us with older computers that struggle with some games. it runs smoothly on my 10-year old laptop (i5 w/8Gb RAM). I like it.
Whoever designs this needs to actually study the history of battles, weapons used and their effects, and general tactics. For centuries, cavalry charges against entrenched infantry were seen as suicidal, because they are. Not in this game, cavalry can operate VERY effectively against entrenched infantry, tanks, artillery and anti-tank guns, they are also remarkably capable on defence against anything but artillery. Tankettes are grossly overpowered versus regular tanks, and don't suffer much when attacking deployed AT guns. Artillery appears to be an afterthought, but does reduce enemy cohesiveness. Artillery effects against exposed infantry, and especially cavalry, is pathetic, might as well be throwing rocks. The ranges of guns makes no sense either. The German k18 could fire to 30km, the 10.5cm gun to a make of about 12.5km... both have a range of 3 hexes in game. Paid $27 for the "grand campaign", and haven't gotten past 1939, the first couple of battles were pretty good, not great but not terrible either. They threw reality under a passing bus for Bzura River though. The battle started as a Polish offensive, and became a German counter-offensive in only 3 days. Seriously, don't waste money on it, I only gave it 2 stars because it has a scenario editor and is moddable. I haven't used either yet, so that extra star is subject to removal at a later date. Even possible to gain one, depends whether they impress me at all. Oh, and you can not buy Canadian, Aussie or Kiwi troops, because a Commonwealth force is so much less believable than a combined Anglo-American force... if you want realism, this isn't what you're looking for. Try Steel Panthers. if you want fun with a modest amount of reality, get Panzer General 2.
I love this game. It's simple enough that any novice can be successful, but can also provide challenges to experienced wargamers. I've even used it to teach combined-arms tactics to friends with no military experience at all. It's worth the money, on sale or not. A true classic...
and wish I hadn't wasted my money on it. As others have pointed out, the tutorial is garbage. I tried 5 times to build a metro, and like another user, never did figure it out. why can't I at least HIRE somebody in-game to advise me? It's what I'd do in real life if I was building a metro line. At this time, I've been unable to add any custom maps either, or other UCC. I tried creating a small map of my own, saved it, exited the game and re-started, and can't find the custom map in any location, I looked in New Game-Campaign, Sandbox and Scenario; and in Load Saved Game. It's not even accesible through the map editor I used to make it. It IS located in a folder in the Documents/Cities In Motion/Maps, but doesn't appear anywhere in-game. Custom maps placed in that folder don't show up anywhere either. I've tried adding some other UCC, placed in a folder in the game directory called "addons". That doesn't work either. I've tried at least 6 different spelling cmbinations for addons, with capitalization and hyphens. Nothing seems to work. The documentation that comes with the game is much like the game itself... it looks pretty. It won't actually help you learn anything useful about the game though. In short, if you just want something that looks pretty or you have a bunch of money you really hate, buy this "game". Good luck to you. P.S. there should be a way to edit a review...
