"Now a classic, but you might want to go with a later version.........."

This is the original SimCity for the PC, the one that's responsible for several other PC, SNES and Nintendo 64 sequels and remakes. You are the mayor of a town which you name, and your job is to mold it into a thriving megalopolis. You do this by using money wisely, smart construction and paying attention to the voice of your citizens. You are given a plot of land, and you must build your city on it. You can build residential, commercial or industrial areas, police and fire departments, stadiums, airports, coal or nuclear power plants, parks, roads ,rails and power lines. Each of these things costs money, and you have a limited amount, which you gain back mainly through taxes, which is another reason why attracting people is important. Problems will surface if you're not careful though: pollution if your industrial zones and power plants are too close to homes, crime due to a lack of police departments, traffic jams due to an inadequate road system, and plane crashes, to name a few. A disaster can also strike from time to time, and these include floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, a Godzilla attack and a nuclear meltdown. This game is for one player only.

Graphics: 5/10

The original PC game had simple graphics, but they served their purpose well. Each structure was easily identifiable, and there were some nice touches such as people on the streets.

Sound: 7/10

Not too bad. Some of the tunes were catchy, though the sound effects were lacking.

Gameplay: 9/10

If you like this type of game, you're in heaven, because SimCity is an incredibly realistic game. A wealth of graphs and charts are available to help you create your town: pollution and crime charts help you pinpoint those areas, and public polls let you know what the citizens like and don't like about the city. The variety of buildings is good, and the limited money forces you to use it wisely. The disasters are a good addition as well. Control is not a factor, and the menus are well organized and simple to use, especially considering there's a few of them. A word of warning on the other hand: this game is definitely not for everyone. It is a simulation, meaning it moves at a very slow pace, and there really is no "action", except when a monster tears through your town, and even then the only thing you do is clean up after him.

Replay: 9/10

Creating cities keeps you entertained for a while. A big part of the replay value comes from the fact that you can experiment with different designs and layouts to see which one is the most effective.

Overall: 7/10

This IS the game that started the whole SimCity craze, so it gets credit for that. However, newer versions have done better than this one. Even so, this one is worth a look, but for a purchase, more recent versions have more to offer.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99