CaesarIII.wmv

(About the video: Fraps wouldn't screen capture it, so I had to use a webcam. Sorry about the quality. Also, the sound didn't record, so I just added the .wav file of the actual game music)

This review is for an old favorite of mine, Caesar III by Impression Games.
I am a huge fan of city builders. It's true that they all tend to have similar concepts and they tend to run about the same, but I love them anyway.

This game, as the title implies, takes place in Ancient Rome. I have soft spot for Antiquity, and I liked the look of this game the first time I saw it on a shelf in 1998. The player takes on the role as a governer climbing the career ladder. Each mission is a map with specific goals for the player to meet - for example the map is completed when the city reaches a population of 5000. These goals start very easy but get progressively more difficult.

When the map starts, it is an open playing field, and the player may build their city as they see fit. There are strategies to building a successful city, however. For example, all cities require food. Building your farms far away from the rest of your population means longer transit times between farms, markets, and granaries. It is important, also, to try to plan ahead. As cities grow, they will take up more space, and since the map is only so large, players must pay attention to infrastructure to ensure the success of the city.

The action part of this game is pretty limited to be honest. Battles aren't particularly in depth, nor a very important part of the game. I actually liked this about the game because building a functioning city is difficult enough without having hordes of barbarians ransacking it.

What I also liked about this game is how much you can control. You can set trade limits, listen to what advisors say, tax your people, hold festivals, and even conquer other cities. As a player, you have to think about everything in this city. Balancing a budget, controlling trade, feeding your people, keeping crime down, keeping the gods happy, making sure your little people have enough pottery...the list is endless. This game is a true balancing act that is not for the feint hearted. A small problem can decimate a city. If there are not enough workers, there might not be enough prefects to fight fires, the city catches on fire, houses burn, and now you're out even more workers, which just perpetuates a downward spiral.

I loved this game when I first played it. While I have since bought Caesar IV, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as this game. I have always loved the art, it's deceptive simplicity, and the fact that I can play it for hours without getting bored. Thank you for watching my review.

Category:

Gaming

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• CaesarIII