Caesar III

"Another great game from Sierra"

I liked this game very much more then some of the other games I have played recently. First off, I would like to mention it has a great replay factor. This is not a game that I just started playing a little while ago and then finished with it. This is a game I have been playing for two years, and I have never gotten bored with it!

The idea is that you are a Governor in Caesar's Rome, you are to build up a great Roman city from the ground, and then make sure it stays a success. It has a great interface, where everything is easy to access and use. It has a governmental system, including your advisers, who organize information you need (the god's mood towards you, vacant job positions, etc.) so that you can handle problems in your city quickly without freaking out because you cant find the option you need.

I really liked that you were given full control, not told by the computer what you could and could not do. While there were basic goals and requirements, this was mainly true. I also like that every screen had music (I like background noise while I am playing), unlike some games where if you went to a certain screen there was no music, just sound effects. I also liked that this game had a minimal of sound effects (I feel that sound effects clutter up game-play, and make the game lag). This pleased me because it meant I did not have to listen to the repetitive (and often very annoying) sounds that game makers think are a good idea at first, then realize they have made a mistake.

There are a few things I disliked in this game. First, while the game has music for every screen, the music often gets a little repetitive. Also, some levels do have a few bugs, and in-game cheats often do not work properly and/or mess with game-play. Finally, there is no screen shot system, a feature I like to have in any city builder sim. One more thing I did not like was the inability to make requests to Caesar of other cities, but they can make requests of you.

Overall, I suggest this game to anyone looking for a good strategy/city builder sim. I hope it is a turning point in the current streak of bad games I have played recently.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/04/06