"And the SimCity legacy continues..."

OK this is the latest SimCity installment; Sim City 4 Deluxe Edition. And it really gives you what you pay for and a lot more. However some of the problems that existed in the core game still exist in this version and as such will be addressed.

Graphics - Well first and foremost this is definitely where the game shined; the graphical improvements are just wonderful. Everything from the unspoiled landscape when you first start off, to your sprawling metropolitan city looks gorgeous, and the tiny details as you zoom down into your landscape look absolutely incredible, everything from the small neighborhoods to the traffic on the street look great. The rendering was done so well that you keep that same visual quality even as you zoom down into the smallest of levels to see things like people playing in a local park. Beyond that there are the amazing different types of disasters, everything from the typical alien invasion, to a volcano look just incredible. However the only downside to this is the fact that it requires a hefty computer to handle the game, especially during disasters, or when heavily zoomed. All the Rush Hour missions also look beautiful, considering the zoom required for a lot of the driving missions. The Driving animations are very fluid and it adds that last point to the graphics that give it the (10/10)

Gameplay - The gameplay is difficult the first couple of hours, if you have played “The Sims” then you will have a better idea of how to play this game rather than just basing your experience just on previous SimCity titles. The menu system is different, however not such a problem that it overshadows the fun of the game itself. The budgeting of your city is a lot more micro-managed, you can change the budget for each individual civic building, rather than just doing it the same across the board. Also the tax system is just as micro-managed now, you don’t actually increase the taxes by whole numbers, you increase it by the decimal (1.1, 1.2 etc.). Going through the tutorials is a must. The Rush Hour extras are a little weird at first, especially controlling the helicopter, but after the first couple hours of playing most of the Rush Hour missions are within your grasp. (6/10)

Sound - The sound in this game is superb, a great improvement over some previous Sim titles, sound effects of horns honking on the congested interstate and your angry teachers union picketing outside local schools all sound wonderful, however often get very repetitive and will have you turning your speakers off after extended play. The music is an interesting change, it is now a more adult contemporary and jazzy big band type stuff rather than the more convention SimCity 2000 style, which isn't necessarily a bad change it just all comes down to preference. (9/10)

Fun/Replay Factor - This game has a really steep learning curve, especially in regard to budgeting your money and the new style of sub-menus for construction, but aside from that it is nothing that is too difficult to get used to if you have played any previous SimCity titles. The game is also totally customizable; you build every city in the entire game therefore making for the most expansive SimCity title yet. The only problem lies in the fact that it will absorb a lot of your. To get the full enjoyment title you really need to be able to dedicate a lot of time to the game, because everything from making the cities, balancing your budget and keeping your city happy will end up taking much of your time. The fact that SimCity 4 Rush Hour is also included with this makes for more fun experiences as well as more to learn. Though the Rush Hour additions are really not that hard to figure out, this definitely adds another point to the fun factor. (8/10)

This is definitely a “Must Buy” title for any fan of Maxis and the “Sim” franchise, even considering its small flaws the game is still great and has a lot of new additions that makes the game worth while.

Overall Score (rounded down) - 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/16/03