Typical of this studios quality and fun first ethos.
Urban Empire has a different approach to city building. In fact, it should not be referred to as a city builder as it is really more of an urban planning simulator. Sort of a cross between Democracy 3, Civilization and Sim City. While you are the "mayor", you are not a dictator with the final decision. You have to get a vote from the town council for each major step implemented in your city. For example, you can choose where the district will go and (once unlocked by research), the percentage of RCI within it, but you are at the council's mercy as to whether the district will be built. Let's face it, if Sim City were run like a real city, you would be facing constant council meetings to persuade the council into letting you plop down police stations, schools, etc. Urban Empire adds that extra layer, but at this point it is not implemented in the best manner. The game does not do the best job of showing outcomes of decisions and some of the tooltips are very awkwardly worded. I still do not know what they are trying to convey by demand for sales, for instance, and whether I want that to be a positive or negative thing. The interface overall could use some work, and I think some of the language issues may be from playing the game translated into English. I think with some further polish and patches, this game could get very interesting. I am also curious to see what DLC might add in the future (if the game makes it that far). I really like the concept behind this game. I have spent quite some time with it trying to figure out the best way to play it, and I have had one successful playthrough. The game also has some story-telling potential (one of my mayors came out as gay and had an affair with a spy, which was unexpected). In other words, I think there are various elements here to make a very good game, but at this point it is just good. Hopefully some improvements by the developers will help it realize its potential.
I got into the Anno games within the past year or two. I started with 1404, then did 2070, and then 2205. I picked up 1701 in a GOG sale a while back and it sat there a bit. I think I assumed it would be a step down as it was released before the other Anno games I had tried. I finally started up 1701 recently, and I was quite surprised by how much I have enjoyed it. I am enjoying working through each of the missions while coming back to a continuous game I have going separately. Compared to the later Anno games (which I played first), I actually like that some of the resource chain process in 1701 is a little less complex. Of course, this is still an Anno game, so it is not simple by any means, but I have found 1701 a bit more relaxing to play. I enjoy the research tree element, which seems a bit more straightforward than iterations in the later Anno games. I also appreciate not having to manage the additional layer of occident / orient from 1404. I was not expecting much from the graphics given that this game is over 10 years old now, but with everything turned up to the max settings it is actually quite lovely. Final note: if you manage your GOG library through Galaxy without shortcuts on your desktop for each game (like I do), make sure you check the pulldown menu for Anno 1701 for the included expansion, "Sunken Dragon". I have not started the expansion yet, but it launches as a separate game and includes further missions and a campaign I am looking forward to trying.
I...just...can't...stop... SEND HELP!!!
I've been wanting to try an isometric RPG as I discovered I might actually like RPGs relatively late in my life (36) after falling for the Witcher 3. I'm over 100 hours into that one (and the expansions) and still going, but I digress. So, I also bought Baldur's Gate II here and quickly realized I was rather lost. Undeterred, I thought, "maybe a modern isometric RPG would actually show me how to play it". I poked around the interwebs and agonized between Pillars and Divinity then decided to try Pillars. I did not regret it. I am only a short way into Pillars but I was able to catch on pretty quickly, and I am enjoying the gameplay and story so far. I feel like it has shown me how to play the classic isometric RPGs, and I look forward to sampling those later on. My only criticism so far is that the Watcher stuff is a bit emo and overwrought. Like, simmer down dude. Peace out.
