Favorite CB this year

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[squid]

You can vote for more than one option if you must.

I guess I will get things started...

Best graphics:
tie - Caesar IV and Anno. 
I give Anno a slight advantage in this category.
Both have nice graphics but Anno is more colorful and Caesar IV a bit washed out.

Best music:
None of them really do it for me.  I ended up turing the music off after a while.

Best sounds:
tie - Caesar IV and Civcity.
I really like the sounds of like workers chipping away at stone and so on.

Best engine:
tie -  All except for Caesar IV.  That game is a resource hog.  The rest run smooth on my system.

Best gui:
Anno - nice clean gui.  All info easily accesible while using minimal real estate.
Glory of rome gets a close second.
Caesar IV and Civcity interfaces are pigs.

Best gameplay:
None of them.  And I am a fan of the genre.  It's just that none of them really shine.

Best value for the money:
Caesar IV has the longest campaigns.  Anno has the best open scenario mode.
Glory has no editor (what were they thinking?).

Additional positives by game...

Glory of the Roman Empire -
Nice graphics.  Has a good ant farm quality of just watching the city run.   I like how resources pile up next to the buildings.  Workers and dwellers are the same people.  The only game where building must be actually built instead of just appearing.

Civcity Rome -
Research is fun.  Workers and dwellers the same.  The only game where the people have an actual living schedule.  The only game with wonders.  Scenario goals are nicely varied, like gather this much wheat etc.

Caesar IV -
Probably the most challenging of the 4.  The most focused and true to its formula.  Provides the most data and statistics.  Most amusing animations and speech. 

Anno -
Best controls.  Only game with exploration and multiple colonies.  Only game where opponents also build on same map.  Research tree. 

Negatives by game:

Glory of the Roman Empire -
Nonexistant fanbase (where are they?). rioting and fires out of control. Limited zoom angle.   Not as easy as it pretends to be.  Limited data provided.

Civcity -
Economy not as complex as originally intended (people have money but for what?).  peoples schedules can be a hassle like in oblivion (waitning for the exact moment when the schoolteacher is teaching and the kid is free to learn...) Happy people leads to imigration leads to overcrowding leads to emigration cycle is annoying.  Will these designers ever make another game as good as Crusader or was that a fluke?

Caesar iv -
Chucky interface.  Road building and exact building placement a pain.  slow controls.  Limited variety in scenario goals (all same just with different values).  Playing on fast speed causes fires. Previous game by these designers (Children of the Nile) is legendary in my opinion.  Caesar IV does not (perhaps can not) live up to the consequential unrealistic expectations.

Anno -
No campaign mode a big minus. You can't actually see the individual resources.  Island wide magical warehouse sharing.

In conclusion, about a year ago when I found out that four city builder games are coming out this year I was so excited.  But in retrospect I am somewhat underwhelmed.  None of them truly shine.  None break really new ground.  None made the transition to 3d very gracefully (anno a possible exception) and none in my opinion have appeal outside of the fans of the city builder genre circle (again anno a possible exception but being a foreign game dooms them due to marketing or distribution or I don't know what).  None are creative in respect to breaking any new ground (even the much flaunted transition from push to pull system.  Been done years ago in Tropico and all 4 of these games use a hybrid system with some pull and some influence zones or push services).   

However, when you are a fan of a genre, even mediocre is good and you certainly take what you can get.  It's always funny how people feel the need to like this one 'thing' and mock everything else as being inferior so they can feel good about their choice.  All four of these games are playable and if you are a fan of city builders you should like them all.  But really, really like?  Maybe none.  Thats just my opinion anyway.  Whats yours?

[pad11]

A very thorough post my friend!

I voted Anno 1701.  It has a bit of everything, including, in my book, best graphics and best GUI...it just seems to be the most complete and seamless of the games this year.  If I had to rate them, I'd got Anno 1701, Caesar 4, CivCity Rome, and Glory of the Roman Empire.  However, while not a pure City Builder, I'd put The Guild 2 atop them all for depth, but it's a CB/Sim/RPG hybrid!

pat!

[MaxBeta]

Ditto what pat said squid!!

The latest CB games graphically are a marvel to behold..especially when you crank up the resolution to where pad11 likes them.  I tend to get wrapped up in the game strategy and micromanagement portion that I spent little visual time..just checking the logs and data scripts..amounts in and out..whose got what..and so on.

Numero uno) My favorite to date is 1701..face it, it delivers  period.  As soon as an Editor is released..this will be a complete title, and very hard to best.  Just think of the longevity of play..we enjoy the LAN option here at home and look forward to filling many long winter weekends as annoholics.

Second..CBer...? Well I'd say it's a toss up between Caesar IV and Guild 2..though Guild I've redone to my taste.  Caesar IV, will be played again, just because it is the series that got me hooked on City builders.  Plus I spent so many years supporting all the devs games both online and in retail.

GoRE..?  Is a very pretty game, but I missed some of freedoms lacking that other pure CB games employed.  Being a micromanager I suppose this is a tad unfair to those who aren't..so as a player it comes down to personal taste.

Civ City Rome... I played through and enjoy learning the games ropes.  Besides a few hiccups I enjoyed the games richness and style..beautiful buildings.  But after a while found myself in the editor for the most part..making maps that would house my desire for beautiful cities..and not much player challenge involved.

Just a note for pad11's  indulgence..for the record, I've no doubt played more hours of Patrician and other Ascaron games..just because they are not easy games..but intriguing enough to keep you coming back for more..heck I still play Patrician III..just because it's such a immersive game.  The 2D..well if they upgraded this game to Guild 2 level of 3D I'd do cartwheels...MMm? well at my age maybe a lot of high fives would be more reasonable.

Thanks for the thread pat...and your great comments squid!!



 

[pad11]

Max..I agree completely on the Ascaron games...hell, it was Patrician 2 that got me hooked on PC games at all.  If they were to take the P3 economic engine and game play model, upgrade it with 3D graphics and add a bit more depth to the new world/medit. sea exploration, it would be, perhaps, the greatest PC game of all time for the thinking person....period!

pat!

[MaxBeta]

hehe Ah pat!! ...somehow I just knew you would see the massively wonderful possibilities.

Just think.. a Anno(styled)-Patrician(format) Mega-game all wrapped into one DVD package..makes me drool just imagining it..heh? 

It would be good as gold all the way to the bank..every CBer on the planet..as a matter of fact..every RTS to Sim player also would want a game of this magnitude.  Too bad E3 is so far off..usually in May..well phooey

Great idea pat!!  Let's keep the dream alive..somehow.  OK?

Thanks again

[pad11]

I frequent the Ascaron board on occasion and there is a living thread on P4...so who know?  Some of those folks are amazingly hard core on that board, too, as far as being detailed CBers/Eco civ experts....

pat!

[MaxBeta]

I occassionally pop in on the Ascaron boards too..lots of old buddies still there.  True they are some very serious players..and very good players.  For games with the degree of difficulty you and I are well aware of..that's pretty admirable.

I no longer have a personal site or support/work actively any fan sites..other than post like here on CB's site.  It's nice to have CB boards like this one voice our opinions..and as the thread topic "Favorite CB this year" ..as I'm sure 1701 will remain tops (in my book) ..Mmm?? ..well it's awfully close to Jan already..so really a no brainer hehe

That said..I might click over and see if Diablo is awake..

[pad11]

Max:  I pretty much frequent a few boards in some manner, but mostly this one here as I am very fond of 1) the games talked about obviously! and 2) the general demeanor...so far, we're lucky...no trolls.....

And I think that is in large part thanks to the manner in which CB carries himself as mod!

pat!

[MaxBeta]

  pat!! Totally agree.  I could write a book on my experiences moderating forums.  It's really a blessing that CB is attracting an appreciative membership.

I suppose we should start another thread so I can keep all your progress updates on Gothic 3 in one place    I may give it go this weekend..so I can participate in exchanging views about this title

We are in a freeze..barely 20 degrees F ..so will be indoors,  might as well play my heart out..   **ohh the pain**  hehe

Thanks for your generous replys pat!!..I'm enjoying CB's site very much.

[pad11]

stay warm max!  It's springlike here in Penna.!

pat!