Anno 1404: Gold Edition

I play in English, this game isn't 100% localized to English and defaults back to Geman for lots of text. It's still playable and I get there is an unoffical patch; but this would be so easy for Ubisoft to fix I only give the game 2 stars.

"Everything is so much clearer and obvious in hindsight. An illusion, as God moves in mysterious ways. Who would have thought that of all games I have played, the one ... Anno 1404 ... which long ago took possession of much of my time, would soon be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest games I ever had."

There is enough about the game itself in the other reviews, so let me get to the biggest issue that is not mentioned enough here: The multiplayer is dysfunctional. Your online profile will corrupt randomly within hours of playing the game, making it impossible to continue a play session with a friend. Ubisoft support *in general* is able to restore that profile, BUT it will take them 2-4 weeks to do so. And the profile will get corrupted again within hours. Also Ubisoft will ask you for things like your account password and your cd key, which is ridiculous in itself. Unfortunately another great game ruined by a company that just does not care.

ANNO 1701 was an inferior game compared to its predecessors, and ANNO 1404 is pure spite doused in ketchup. Fetch quests in an economic simulator? Progression and strategy chained to cheerful NPCs and their bland exposition? Asking an NPC for permission to settle an island-type? Gag. This is not the interesting and open-ended gameplay of previous titles, it should be a cutthroat sandbox of supply, demand, and colonial war like 1602, and 1503. Now they all play like 1404 with change of costume. :( A very popular, but inferior game compared to its roots - you'll probably like it. I've "demoed" them all, but I can't enjoy this, or any title after 1503.

In general meaning I love this game. It's beautiful, nice sounds and music, gameplay, etc. I played this game years ago, now I wanted to back, especially when the price in last Winter Sale was REALLY GOOD (with big, nice discount). But I have a lot o problems with different buttons in game (here, with GOG version). When I pleyed this years ago with original CD I've nerer met problem with this. In this version in different time of playing I can't press random button. Once it is a buttons of buildings. Another time it's the button of marketplace which allows all population to level up. It's so annoying. Anyone have problems like this? Anyone may know solution for that? Anyway, this is still good game and I can recommend this :) Bast regards, fellas.