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By
James Overly
Cyber Exchange
Zeus,
yet another build-an-empire rule the known world type of
game. Been there, done that, and still I like it. Zeus brings
very little new to the "city-building" genre of games, but
it is built on a solid game engine, looks great, and provides
good game play.
Remember Caesar III and Pharaoh? Impressions Games created
both and now expands the series with Greek mythology as
the flavor of the day.
Impression has created a very well done city building game
engine, which has been improved upon with each new game.
If you have played either Caesar III or Pharaoh you will
have a good understanding of Zeus. However, neither of the
previous games needs to be played in order to enjoy Zeus.
At first glance, the packaging of Zeus would seem to indicated
a "god" game - a game in which you play a god with ultimate
control over the world and its inhabitants. This is not
the case. Although there is direct control in building a
city you cannot control individual citizens. In order to
accomplish each scenario's goals, citizens must be enticed
by building different types of structures.
These structures are unique and plentiful, including food
producing, manufacturing, entertainment, military, public
safety and temples which are much more important in Zeus
than in previous games.
Although you do not play a god, they often visit you. If
you have been nice to them, and built a few temples to honor
them, they may bestow favors upon you. If they become angry
with you, maybe you should have not ignored their last request;
they can send calamities to wreak havoc in the city.
Impressions has improved the AI, trade is handled better,
and there are more military options. The game is the best
yet.
So if it is that good everyone should run out and buy one,
right?
Wrong. I enjoy city building games and in its heart Zeus
is that type of game. Zeus does it well, but it also has
the drawbacks of this type of game. Some of the scenarios
are tedious at best and although they each have unique goals
in the end you are just building one city after another.
If this is your first venture into this type of game then
this is a great one to start with. If on the other hand,
been there-done that sounds all too familiar, Zeus will
only offer up more of the same.
Zeus is a rock-solid, good graphics, involved game play,
city building title. Gaming Goodness: Thumbs up..
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