Sim City! There
– it’s been said. While City Life, from CDV and Monte Cristo, bears a strong
resemblance to the EA/Maxis franchise, this PC title forges its own place in the
city simulation genre with some interesting elements that are tied to the
population that inhabits the city you build.
Essentially,
City Life allows players to build cities that thrive on social classes and the
differential between them.
There are a
couple of ways to play the game. In addition to the tutorial, that does a fine
job of walking players through the nuances of the game, there is a scenario mode
and a free mode. In the scenario mode, there are five regions (temperate,
tropical, sunny, canyon and mountainous) and each region has several possible
scenarios. However, only the temperate and tropical regions have maps and
scenarios that can be jumped into and played immediately. The others have to be
unlocked.
During each
scenario, you will need to fulfill the conditions, which include employment,
housing, needs such as medical, and of course having the right services to cater
to your expanding populace. Perform well enough and you will get a key, which
can allow you to unlock other scenarios.
Of course, the
free mode is sandbox in design. You can get a plot of land and then begin
creating your own dream city.
The game is
heavy in social classes. In that regard, players will have to be mindful of
catering to the various classes. There are, from bottom to the upper end, the
Have Nots, Fringe, Blue Collars, Radical Chic, Suits and Elite. As you begin a
city, you will have to cater to the lower end of the spectrum (class wise), and
as you fill in your population, see to the needs (such as having the work
opportunities as well as advancement opportunities) of the population, you will
unlock better services and city accoutrements. Do not expect to be able to
terraform land, or to add things like trees and such.
The game is big
on the sociocultural front and thus distinguishes itself from titles like Sim
City.
The game
begins, as previously stated, by purchasing a land parcel and dropping in your
city hall. From there you can begin placing roads and zoning out areas for
residential or business development. City services are vital, but unsightly, so
you won’t want a waste water plant in the middle of a zone set aside for elites.
Players will
also have to keep an eye on the cash flow. There are reports that will give you
a good overview of the needs and desires of your populace.
Now, there are
other elements that creep into the game plan, including the need for a fire
department and you may even need to have a SWAT team available if crime starts
to get out of control (and the point can be made – when is crime ever under
control).
The control
scheme is intuitive and the graphics are solid. The sounds are mostly musical
driven, with a few environment sounds underscoring the gameplay.
City Life has a
few elements missing that could have made this a much more vibrant experience,
but still, the game provides both challenge and entertainment. There is a nice
backdrops of environments, the controls work well and the graphics provide a
nice visual experience.
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Gameplay:
8.2
There is a bit of a
learning curve, but once you understand the concepts, there are aspects you can
employ in all the scenarios. The controls are also easy to understand and use.
Graphics:
7.5
The graphics are
serviceable, but there are some anomalies that will suspend the belief of a
vibrant thriving city. Zoom in and you may see people phase onto a street from
out of a concrete wall. Still, the game does provide a nice city environment.
Sound: 7.0
Average, with solid
music and decent environmental sounds.
Difficulty:
Medium
Expect a bit of a
learning curve.
Concept: 8.2
The way the game
defines the social structure is very nicely done. The interface is easy to use
and the dev team did a solid job in bringing the city to life.
Overall: 7.9
There are a few
things missing, and long-term gameplay in the scenario mode may be a little
repetitious but City Life does a nice job of creating a city management sim that
has its challenges, but is entertaining and enjoyable.
