So, if you've been playing SimCity since the original (also known as "Fun with Squares"), then there may be a few features that you haven't seen in any of the beta videos on YouTube and a few that you've noticed that are different. I've tried to compile a list of changes for this version of SimCity and hopefully as I get to play the game I'll update this list.
Firstly, the size of the playing area is slightly different. While each individual city space is smaller than a traditional game of SimCity, because there are sixteen different maps to play with within each region, the overall size of the game is larger in scale. The result is a game that focuses more on the relationships between each map and less on the success or failure of any one location. With careful planning, you can hedge bets by using the strengths of one area to cover the weaknesses of another area.
Next up is the missing game mechanics. Terraforming, agriculture, subways (replaced by streetcars), water pipes, and power lines are all features that have appeared in previous versions of the game but now have been removed for various reasons. The overall consensus is that these changes were done to remove some of the more boring micromanagement in favor of more systemic options that color in localized areas of the map to denote "coverage".
In the new game, you can upgrade individual buildings with unique modules -- additions that boost the stats of the original lot. For instance, you can build a police station and then add a helicopter pad or a detective wing (if you have enough room) to expand the police coverage and effectiveness.
The most notable and exciting feature of the new game is the re-imagined version of roadways. Not only are there different flavors of road that can accommodate varying levels of traffic, but you can build curved road systems and traffic circles that add character to your little town. The curved roads are tricky because most of the buildings that can be erected are square, so wanton disregard for convention could leave you with a lot of unused land. But visually, it adds a lot of depth to the game.
Finally, one last thing I'd like to mention is the disaster system -- which is tricky to say the least. Unlike in previous versions where you could turn off disasters to save yourself the hassle of being wiped out by a dinosaur, this version offers you no such respite. And because the save games are cloud based, there's no way to revert back to a previous version of the city should a tsunami obliterate your beachfront. It remains to be seen how devastating or rage-quit-inducing this feature is going to be, but I for one am looking forward to the challenge.
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