is a combination of City Life and an expansion edition. The expansion brings
new scenarios and maps to the game. As in City Life, the goal is to design
the ultimate city around the interesting concept of social classes. This
feature is still the same, and actually most of this expansion is exactly
the same as the original game. The only new additions are the new scenarios
and buildings. The editor has been upgraded to allow the addition of real
maps and the graphics have been tweaked a bit, but that’s really about all
that’s new.
There are
two main modes of play, campaign and sandbox. However, the campaign
scenarios aren’t very tightly goal-oriented. While there are certain
criteria to meet, these goals aren’t very clear at first. It’s almost like
playing in the free-play mode with just a few “suggestions” as goals. The
free-play mode is of course, free-play. Design away, live free!
There is
also a tutorial, but this is in name only. I have to say that this is the
worst tutorial I’ve ever seen, and I don’t know why they even bothered
adding it. It’s just a series of gameplay tips,
which should have been offered as tips during the
gameplay. In fact, there is a video component of this tutorial that
runs in the bottom right of the screen, where it is helpful during
gameplay as a tip pop-up sort of thing. For
players who want to know the real deal on the gameplay
mechanics, the online manual is a much better method of instruction. It is a
very good manual and offers a nicely detailed “first move” type of
description.
As
mentioned, City Life 2008 incorporates the interesting concept of social
classes into the general planning aspect of the game. There are six classes,
each of which reflects rigid and typed cultures of money and class. Wealth
and art, poverty and conservatism are some of the characteristics of these
classes. These classes can only comingle with certain other classes;
otherwise class tension arises and if not resolved, will soon erupt into
riots and street battles. This lends a considerable strategic element to the
game, as most businesses either require just one type of class, or a mixture
of classes. As these classes often have to live separately from each other,
the placement of these businesses can be a complex process.
While this
cultural feature does add strategic depth, it isn’t an avenue I personally
enjoy. I don’t like to have my citizens rioting and fighting each other
every few minutes. Others may have different opinions.
Building the
cities is fun and as the interface is easy to use and understand, there is
minimal frustration during the building process. There is also a good amount
of information displayed for each main menu item when the items are chosen.
Sometimes there is a lag or delay in the display and removal of these menus,
though, which can be a little annoying. Laying out the cities is very easy
and the roads are automatically appended around the structures. There is a
deletion icon, but no “undo” function that I ever found, a feature that
should be present.
Each map
offers a short description of the historical background of the location.
This is interesting reading, but really doesn’t have anything to do with the
city that is actually built. They all look the same, essentially, and the
historical background doesn’t really change the game’s strategy any that I
could tell.
Everything
looks good! Players can play from afar, or zoom in and see everyone walking
around. The neighborhoods are conveniently color-coded to reflect their
cultural makeup. The music is also nice, but there aren’t a whole lot of
sound effects. A city this size needs more noise!
City Life
2008 is an engaging simulation and will offer many hours of enjoyment to
city sim fans. City Life 2008 is the edition to get if players don’t own the
original, as it does offer gameplay tweaks and
new scenarios. The small amount of new content, though, precludes purchase
on the basis of adding to the original. City Life 2008 is just as good as
the original and a little better. It is a fine choice for players new to the
series. However, players considering this as just an expansion may want to
wait until the next expansion or new edition.
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Gameplay: 7
This
game is pretty much the same as the original. That was fun, this is fun,
too. Planning and building is easy and engaging.
Graphics: 7
The
city looks good and so do the characters on zoom. It’s fun to walk around at
street level.
Sound: 6
The
music is nice, but there aren’t many sound effects.
Difficulty: Medium
The
gameplay isn’t very difficult. There is a good
and informative manual available, but in the download version is only
available electronically. The interface is smooth and intuitive.
Concept: 6
There
isn’t anything really new in this edition besides new scenarios and new
buildings. It is well-presented, though.
Overall: 7
This
edition of City Life is a good city simulation and it compares well to the
Sim City series. The content is solid and the
gameplay fun, and the
inclusion of social strategy planning is innovative. However, for an
expansion, there isn’t a whole lot new or different.
Best for players who don’t already have the original.
