1701 A.D.

1701 AD is a very accessible game for anyone, whether they’ve played a sim game before or not. This is due to a streamlined, informative interface and a good, thorough tutorial system. There are four tutorials, and I would advise everyone to play all of them, as some important information can be missed if they are skipped.  There is an online manual with the game, but the information isn’t always easy to find if the player isn’t sure exactly what it is they need to know.

The tutorials demonstrate the basics of building and trade. Once these concepts are mastered, it’s off to the islands! Players can choose to play either a “Continuous” game or a Scenario in single play mode, or multiplayer online. The online community is rather sparse right now.  However, there is more than enough to do in the single-player mode to keep everyone busy for a long time. The Continuous game is the sandbox mode, but it is actually more similar to a campaign mode in the complexity and depth, even though it doesn’t feature a designated set of goals.  There are goals, though, which are set by the player. Players can choose the size of maps, the computer opponents, the victory conditions, and other factors when choosing the Continuous game. This is the where the meat of the game lies, rather than in the scenario mode, which isn’t nearly as engrossing or busy. The scenario mode almost feels like an afterthought.

In the continuous mode, players begin to build their settlements on a single island.  Things move very fast after the initial town center, homes and basic food and wood industries are built. The pioneers begin to demand luxuries like cloth and bricks, which require industries of weaving and brick making. Soon they will begin to need items like alcohol, tobacco and chocolate. Along with building a booming economy, players get to fulfill requests from the free trader, a gent who comes along now and then to buy and sell, and who needs help every so often. Computer opponents and other computer characters will also make requests during the game. Besides the automatic building and resources that become available when the pioneers advance to a higher status, there are also resources that become available after research, like an inexhaustible supply of a specific resource.  This element can be very important in the end game.

There is also a scenario mode that offers certain goals and conditions to win. However, these ten scenarios are stand-alone and are not tied in with a campaign theme. They are also fairly similar to each other, and just don’t offer the same depth of gameplay as the continuous mode. Normally, this would detract from the game as a whole, but the continuous mode is really a type of scenario mode that can be modified, and so the lack of a robust scenario mode isn’t felt as much as it might be.

There are three difficulty settings. The easiest has a warehouse already built on an island to start the game, but the other levels begin in the middle of the sea, with the players finding and choosing an island. The interface is easy to understand and manipulate, with all the main functions in a menu in the lower left corner of the screen. Money and resource statistics are available via small icons in the upper left of the screen, and message alerts are accessed by small icons along the left side of the screen, and also along the upper right of the screen.  These messages can be turned off in the options section. Building is fairly easy, but the game lacks the ability to build multiple buildings at once, a feature that is really needed for housing and roads. There is a demolition button that can be applied to specific buildings, but there is no  “clearing” function for large tracts of area. It is also lacking an “undo” button.

While complex, this isn’t a difficult game.  It is challenging, but not frustrating, even on the hardest level. It offers just the right mix of challenge and fun.  However, the speed with which the inhabitants can become extremely unhappy is a little annoying, as when they run out of a certain commodity.  They will immediately demand the head of the ruler on a plate, and begin rioting and burning in the streets in a few minutes. But, it’s not hard to keep the supplies coming in regularly, just make sure that there are more resource buildings at all times than are really needed.

The game really cranks up after the economy gets started. The pirates come calling, and the other rulers begin to make their presence known.  The competition is fierce for the static resources, and sooner or later it will be necessary to fight.  The military aspect is handled pretty much automatically, though, which is a good thing from my point of view.  I don’t like fighting in these types of games, and would really rather it not even be present unless as a choice versus diplomacy or other victory conditions. Others will bemoan the lack of a strong military component.

There’s always something happening in 1701. People are constantly dropping by the town center to give you all sorts of free things like tools, alcohol and even parades. In case the town becomes too happy, though, there are also plenty of natural disasters just to keep things interesting, like tornados and volcanic eruptions.

This is easily the best looking building simulation this year. This is what Caesar IV should have looked like. It’s fun to just sit and watch the town activities once everything is really built up, especially the above-mentioned events in the town center. The visiting people have their own little booths with their freebies displayed, and the party celebrations like the parade are a hoot to see. The buildings, people and backgrounds are drawn with great detail, and the effort put into the graphics is evident. The disasters are spectacular in their devastation. The result is a lush, beautiful environment that perfectly suits the setting of the Caribbean Islands.

The music, while pleasant, isn’t of a Caribbean beat.  Rather, it has more of a European flavor, suited to the settlers’ culture.  (Speaking of culture, I thought it odd that the game designers had the settlers pay homage to a statue in the town center, which is not what any of the settlers in that time period would have done in real life, whether practicing Christians or not. It was doubly odd, considering that chapel buildings were provided for religious needs.) The sound effects are good, and the voice acting is nice, but the comments from the people are limited and can become tiresome.  Their reactions to certain events seem overdone at times, as when it’s raining and the city inhabitants are screaming, “Run for your lives!”

This game is a whole lot of fun and is one of those obsessive games that will have players staying up hours into the night.  This is the hallmark of a good game. Not the most challenging of games due to the minimal micro-management aspects, nevertheless the extreme amount of in-game activity and events really keep everything interesting.  These are the elements that were missing from Caesar IV. If this game had been designed with a Campaign mode with stiff challenges, it would have been perfect.  As it is, it is still very good. If you are looking for a building sim for Christmas for the family, this game so far is the best bet of the choices lately, unless you have a railroad nut in the family.

Gameplay: 8.5
This is a fun building game that everyone will enjoy, which is what buying a computer game is all about. There are a few detractions like the lack of a strong campaign mode, but the strength of the continuous mode, which is always different each time played, makes up for them.

Graphics: 9
The graphics are beautiful.

Sound: 7
The sound and music are average, but fitting with the theme of the game.

Difficulty: Medium
While the game as a whole isn’t difficult, the effort needed to keep on top of things keeps players pretty busy. Time will melt away.

Concept: 8
Building sims are all mostly the same, which is to be expected, as they wouldn’t be building sims if they weren’t.  However, the addition of quests and events is a wonderful feature and is different from most games of this type.

Multiplayer: Available
The multiplayer option looks like it could be fun, but I didn’t test this option out.

Overall: 8.5
It is evident that the designers, Related Designs, put their heart into this game, along with a lot of money. The result is very satisfying and there is a lot of bang for your buck. A great Christmas present for families!