Whenever a game melds the real world with a fictional universe, one of two possible outcomes can typically be seen. The first scenario involves a disturbing juxtaposition of familiarity with unpleasant or alien events; this can be interesting when the disturbance is intended, but tricky when human history becomes mottled. The second outcome commonly seen allows new audiences to explore a historical setting, without the potentially prickly political implications of specific real-world events. Thankfully, Dawn of Discovery follows the latter course. The historical stage is filled with colonial and imperial facets, but the player’s personal experience is largely his own to create.

There are many who will claim the PC is the ultimate platform for strategically-minded players, so Dawn of Discovery’s versatility with gaming consoles might understandably quirk a few brows. However, Ubisoft’s latest venture into the real-time strategy market appears to be nothing short of triumphant. Utilizing an excellent balance of sturdy game mechanics richly adorned with rewarding depth, Dawn of Discovery is arguably the best RTS to hit the PC since Empire: Total War.

Probably the hardest thing for any strategy game to do is present a deeply entertaining world without boggling the minds of new players. You needn’t worry about the frustration and confusion of complicated menus and huge lists in Dawn of Discovery, however intimidating they may seem at first glance. A slick, streamlined interface ensures that most functions can be executed quickly and easily. Similarly, the game will not simply drop you into a scenario with a goal or two and wish you good luck. Helpful information is always on hand to guide you through a particular task or situation. Additionally, the game will notify you of a breakdown within your carefully-laid plans and vast cities. This allows you to remedy the problem before it can inflict great damage, giving players situational awareness rather than a simple knock on the noggin and “Surprise! Rome is burning!”

Once you’ve sated the masses with bread and circuses, you’ll want to focus on the same thing any secure entity would focus on: gaining more power! Dawn of Discovery has mission arrangements not unlike those of an RPG, with the odd search and rescue op or useful discovery scattered throughout the world. Obviously, managing the wealth of your nation becomes a bit trickier as it expands, but your mastery of the necessary skills will typically make things easier at this point. Probably the only significant gripe I could make is that the game wipes the geographic slate clean in between levels. In a game with such a heavy emphasis on city building, removing this fundamental aspect of personal achievement feels very strange and disappointing in an otherwise outstanding title. Hopefully, this will not happen in future iterations. Despite this problem, Dawn of Discovery presents itself as a terrific game for both RTS and simulation lovers, as well as the more casual players.

However great the accessibility might be, visual design is crucial in attracting players to the game. I am happy to report that Dawn of Discovery is one of the best-looking games in its genre – and with some of the titles that have been appearing recently, that’s saying a lot. While I don’t consider my PC to be super-powerful, I was able to run the game with virtually no visual hitches or stutters, and certainly nothing that broke the credibility of the experience. A tangible polish pervades the entire game, from the detailed character designs to the poetic flocks of birds. The developers clearly had a strong vision of what they wanted, and best of all, no gameplay sacrifices appear to have been made in favor of the graphical fidelity. Players with fragile egos can even swap game media with friends, though no head-to-head modes are actually included in the game. Such a mode would be interesting to see, given the game’s emphasis on financial management rather than bloody combat. Nevertheless, Dawn of Discovery is a beautiful game to experience, and one that you won’t mind repeating after completing your first campaign.

Gameplay: 9.0
Clear and precise for the casual strategy lovers, but never at the expense of depth.

Graphics: 9.0 
A lush palette and thoughtfully implemented animations make Dawn of Discovery a feast for the eyes.

Sound: 8.5
Gorgeous audio design, with credible voiceovers.

Difficulty: Medium
Tasks are generally well-paced, and none of the headache-inducing challenges of similar titles.

Concept: 8.0 
Not exactly a huge innovation, but distinctively presented and quite memorable.

Overall: 9.0
There’s little to complain about with Dawn of Discovery. Anyone with modicum of interest in strategy or city-building games should have a go at it; such an enjoyable experience should not be overlooked.