SimCity 4

Review - The old favourite returns in one of the biggest releases of the year. Literally.

Having wasted a large and vital (to my development) part of my youth to this most addictive of games, I felt pretty certain that I could handle whatever insanely addictive freedoms it threw at me, whilst remaining sane and focussed upon the job in hand. Sadly, I overestimated my professionalism wildly, and soon found myself transported backward in time to my salad days, when the Playstation was but a glimmer in Sony’s (or was that Nintendo’s) eye.

This was of course the game that started the whole simulation, sand-pit style, free-form, Tycoon shebang, and it seems fitting that Maxis’ most original creation should still be standing many moons later, as one of the PC’s most impressive and accomplished games so far this year.

Fans of the game, and I’m aware that there are plenty, will be pleased to note that fundamentally very little has changed, Maxis have merely expanded the game in a few areas, made more detailed others, and generally given everything a good spit and polish. The God mode is perhaps the biggest addition, though it’s hardly key to the SimCity 4 experience, it does add yet another option at the players disposal.

Using this mode before your city construction begins in earnest, you can terraform the landscape, making hills, valleys and ravines. Add or destroy forests, and shape the coastline of your land until you’re satisfied by your ideal vision. This new found power is mainly enabled by the true 3D game engine, which whilst still only allowing the player to view from four fixed semi-isometric viewpoints, really does add to the detail and richness of the SimCity 4 world. This is one of the best-looking games ever.

The terrain and the new fangled 3D engine play a far bigger role than merely cosmetic too (not that they fall short on this vital front), as the nature of your city will be shaped heavily by the landscape it is built upon. Some areas of land may be too steep to build upon, whilst ravines may need bridges to pass. All in all the landscape, thanks to the new depths offered by the engine, brings a whole new factor to play in the game – and in planning and building your city.

The graphics are of course incredibly detailed too, which is apparently why you cannot navigate them in total freedom, the fixed viewpoints allowing for far more detail and animation than other wise possible. As your city expands its quite wonderful to watch it come to life as your Sims begin to move around the streets between the various commercial, residential and industrial zones that have remained a stalwart of the Sim City games down the years. SimCity in action has to be seen to be appreciated.