THE NEW SIMCITY
THE SEARCH FOR AN ALTERNATIVE
Why I think this game is great: Graphics. There’s no other simulation game that focuses THIS MUCH on animation quality, and they have done it this time round. I’m deeply impressed.
Why this game can improve: Focus of the game. I’m not bothered to talk about the technical difficulties, even thought I did say that
“Haha well it wasn't easy. I spent 40% of the time getting this game running, 30% of the time puzzled some of the game mechanics are not working, 29% of the time waiting to recover after I maxed out my loans to build everything and that 1% to take these pictures for my wallpapers... xD” –Kaineng, on Facebook
Okay, let’s get back. Problem here is I wanted a game which focuses on a wonderful transport system and I could be part of it, much like in Grand Theft Auto, where one can take metro and taxi around town. So, I went on to find whether such a game exists. Which brings us to the main point of me writing this post, and why I’m playing some other games which include:
CITIES IN MOTION 2 & CITIES IN MOTION
I tried the latest game first before its predecessor, but that’s not the point. Generally I landed myself in the category of business management, where one has to take care of everything of creating an efficient transport system. Which makes you like a Transport Minister, so to speak. Meaning you have to deal with the congestions on the road with citizens and tourists complaining about the long waiting time
and high transport fares in the long run of the game, trying to make a profitable business. Saying it like this, this game also is not as good as SimCity. Given that I’ve seen SimCity as my benchmark of the graphics I’ve remembered, Cities in Motion 2 (running Unity engine) would not make this a better game. Besides, it’s as irritating as the SimCity game in terms of transport. Really.
A-TRAIN 9 (TRAIN GIANT in English versions)
Developed by a Japanese company, this game also is business related, whereas this has some focus of being IN the transport system, being on buses and trains etc. However it consists a heavy content of resource management and city development in a manner that would not be easy without a tutorial. Really, it DOES NOT have a tutorial. I see trucks in my vehicle list and I ask myself “What the heck is happening?” in the game. That’s the problem. Great, but falling short.
In conclusion, NOTHING I played can compare to SimCity, even though can easily compensate for what SimCity lacks. So if:
- SimCity keeps its awesome graphics and game engine;
- Cities in Motion’s big maps and monopoly-themed gameplay, and;
- Train Giant’s focus on being inside the transport system.
