SimTower

"Addicting, fun, but flawed"

SimTower was released in 1998, and like many of the old classic Sim games released way back when, it was a great form of entertainment in those days. Recently, I picked up this classic from a friend and started playing it again. Comparing to today's standards, some people may call it crude, raw, and overly simple. However, the simple gameplay and amazingly addictive objective captivated me.

Graphics- 7.5
From a distance, the graphics look great. There are so many little things moving, from people to elevators, clouds, all kinds of variables. However, if you peer in closer, you will find that the graphics are nothing but individual frames looped over and over. Still, the initial graphics are great for the time. Attention to details is amazing, you can even see the veins in the plants of the offices.

Sound- 3
Sound effects are pretty minimal throughout, and there is NO MUSIC! How can there be a game with no music?? A simple slow beat to keep the rhythm of the tower would have worked great here, but alas, it was not to be. However, the sound effects match the tower very well. I love the opening of the tower at the crack of dawn, and hearing the chuh-ching of the money rolling in :)

Gameplay- 9.5
Incredibly addicting! Somehow, the many upgrades and additions that you can get to your tower add a great sense of duty when you play, and it's very entertaining to snoop through all your enterprises. Since there are many types of each restaurant and shop, it's a great pleasure to discover each and every new variation that comes your way. The personal touch of being able to name your offices and shops, even certain people, is something very fun to play with. (My Security Guards are a nice rip from the seven dwarfs...''Come on Dopey, find that bomb!'' BOOM!!!!!!...aww silly Dopey) However, the near perfect gameplay is ruined by one flaw, changing the rent price of structures. When you end up having 250, even up to and beyond 2500 offices, changing every one's rent price from the defulat is a true pain in the butt. (Maxis even mentions it in their Instruction Manual!)

Replay- 9
Getting to the final star rating will take you a good 20-80 hours of gameplay. 20-80 hours isn't bad for a game made in 1998! Also, finding all the different types of shops is a true pleasure that can take hours, depending on the random selection the game makes for you.

In conclusion, SimTower is a great game, even today, if you are truly bored and ready to play anything. Even if you're not that desperate, it's subtle hook and addicting gameplay will certainly keep you attracted for quite a while.

Final Score- 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/22/03