This game and especially its expansion have endless possibilities and deep gameplay. Colonize; trade and warfare are a few of the tools the player has to conquer the world and build a wonderful city exactly to her or his liking. Personally, I think Anno 1404 shines at its brightest playing continuous or scenario. Basically, one starts out with a ship and some building materials, off to find and settle an island. Depending on the game's difficulty or the players' own liking, pirates; weather; disasters; fire and disease are a few of the problems that need to be resolved. Trade; diplomacy; espionage and military might are some of the tools at one's disposal. Trading partners provide trading goods and a variety of items that can be traded using honour: honour is given by trading, solving quests and/or organizing tournaments. Those items can prove invaluable as these are the tools to fine tune the economy and military. Diplomacy, loans and auxiliary fleets etc all use honour. The combination of long term planning and acquiring short term goals makes for exciting and addictive gameplay. Building cities and an empire does not happen overnight; it can easily swallow a few nights: 20/25 hours is no exception. Fortunately, the game keeps track of the time and after a few hours of gameplay will ask the player to take a break and a coffee - a saveguard which is much needed.
I write this review despite of the fact its last in line and with the new review system no one is going to read it. I just feel obliged towards the game, since it delivered such great fun. It seems some people feel disappointed for the lack of novelties or a smooth graphic engine: but this game, I feel, everything it does, it does it right. Music; atmosphere; gritty graphics, voice-acting; gameplay & storyline; sidequests - lots of interesting content! - kept me involved right to the end...and again. Two remarks: I like voice-acting all the way thru, and I believe the tactical elements could use a little improvement. Nevertheless five stars: too good to bother with minor issues...
Pro's have been summed up in other review(s). I'd add old but decent graphics and the chess-like gameplay... The pro's make it a game I nearly would buy for my phone if it 'd be cheaper-and available. To the *cons* I would like to add: voice-acting sounds like it is done by the speech function on a russian computer (words like *spread* are pronounced as *spreed*) and the *story* is best described as an incomplete, uninspired and stale version of 1984 by George Orwell. I hereby opt for an extra genre named *stalefi* and put all games with this storyline (Earth-series) or its likes in there. Playing this game mostly made me feel how much more it could have been with just a bit more effort. The *money* you earn and use to recruit troops (the amounts of it) is not taken seriously: LAV's (Light Armored Vehicle) cost $1 to purchase; a tank $2. Conquering earns you more (single) dollars...it's just a number, I know, nevertheless... And, you just buy your units and put them on the battlefield during a *recruitment phase*; no research or development; just a limited amount of units. I found that rather boring in the end; however that simplicity is exactly what is liked by others. Fun? Yes, decent fun to chew away some *in-between* moments. Not the *one more turn* urge some other titles do possess...
I don't get it. This indeed looks like it is a great game but the controls...really, really suck big time. Mac and PC version: a combo of mouse and arrow keys. Since I could only find 5 star reviews hailing this games praise ;-) , I thought I should just mention it.
Wonderful old-school strategy game; with flaws that come with its age. Resource management is tough and relentless. Turrets have no range. Some units one can do without. Plays wonderfully on a Mac using CrossOver.
I totally disagree with these 'glittering price' reviews found here. Just a bag full of original ideas emptied on a carpet does not make a good game. It does not even make a mediocre game. It makes a game that sucks. I don't even know where to start if I would have to sum up everything. Base vs warzone concept is poorly executed hampering gameplay; awful (AWFUL) graphics; story is terrible even when taken into consideration it is a only an "in-game-story". Earth 2140 is the only game in the series worth buying. Also flawed, but at least very charming.
I am glad to see this one here. A Good Old Game. A mac-as-well--version would be nice though. This is one of those games that should ride on any HD for ever or should come as an OS-included game; IMHO. Why? It is a personality, a friend; someone to love. True; my computer initially couldn't handle the requirements of the game back then, but with today's systems that's history. I think the game is the conclusion of a successfull series; a perfect mix of it's predecessors plus everything one could imagine playing them - without MP functionality, that is. Great city-building simulator; wonderfull game.
Simply irresistibly good! This game has set the standard for this type of games for years to come. Gorgeous graphics and wonderful music will trickle your mind into another dimension. Solving puzzles and riddles will satisfy and gratify. The story is that good and intriguing, you will find yourself thinking about it even when not playing... I have never been a fan of 'point & click'; but this one blew me over instantaneously!
This game has its mechanics drawn from both Sim City series as well as the Caesar (Zeus; Pharaoh) series. Its graphics are a bit like the first Warcraft games. It is a cool and enjoyable game, but it stays well within the borders established by the genre. I think the price tag is a bit steep.
