Sim City

[GrandMaster Smith]

So I recently installed Pharaoh on my computer, then saw the Caesar series is practically identical so I decided to give it a try. I looked around asking which was the best version and ended up with Caesar III. Been playing that for a few days but it's just too much like Pharaoh, even though I've loved that game for years I wanna give something new a try.

 

So it struck me to try out Sim City, any recommendations on which ones the best/least glitched out of the whole series? I enjoy city builders and strategy games. Or any other games alike that people would recommend? I remember playing Empire Earth and Age of Empires back years and years ago and I loved those games to death but reading up on it people say it's really bugged(EE) and not worth trying. Also heard alot about Civilization and how it's the best strategy game around but doesn't really seem to float my boat from what I've seen.

 

Any advice?

[Moth]

The only that I played was Sim City 4. It was kinda hard to get into, but i did have fun playing it. Plus there are quite a few mods for it as well now.

[mark-2007]

I was also thinking of buying Sim City recently. I used to have Sim City 4, only had it a few weeks before it got broken - I left it lying around and my mum or dad or someone sat a chair leg on it... ballicks! From what I recall, it was pretty good - very difficult for me to get into though, it had a steep learning curve. If you're more of a casual player then perhaps it's not the best - I owned Sim City 3000 for a bit a while back and that was a bit more basic than Sim City 4, if I remember correctly. I like the whole city-building theme for a game. I do, however, remember it used to crash once or twice (Sim City 4, that is), although I think I found a fix for this somewhere online. It ran a bit slowly on my laptop, nothing too bad. Got a new laptop more recently, so it should run smoother.

 

From what I recall reading of reviews the one after Sim City 4 - Sim City Societies I believe - was pretty poor. As for other, non-Sim City, city-building games, I'm stumped for suggestions. I vaguely recall a one called City Life (I think?), not sure how it was.

 

EDIT: Apparently the most recent version of City Life, Cities XL 2011, was released last October - you might wanna check reviews for that. I'm gonna have a scour around for a city-building/strategy game to play after my exams. Like you, I loved Empire Earth, it came free with my old family PC, God knows how many hours I wasted on the map creator and then playing in them - annoying how you could only have so many citizens, if I remember rightly not very many of them either.

Edited May 12, 2011 by mark-2007

[Reconite]

Sim City 4 Deluxe is the most complete game in the series, but it crashes a hell of a lot, so if you're going to get it just remember to save every 15 minutes or so (only takes one click of the save button).

 

I used to have Sim City 3000 but I haven't played that in ages, and I have Sim City on the SNES (nostalgic and quite primitive compared to SC4).

[TheBlackProject]

SimCity 4: DE was great and lasted me years until it got to a point where I got pissed off from all the traffic commute problems. Your civilians complain that driving 2 minutes to work is a pain in the ass, where in real life it'd be the best thing ever. Simtropolis has great mods you can download to put into the game though. I still have an account there but haven't logged on in ages.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

Funny you mention Pharaoh, I picked it in its Gold version which has the Cleopatra Expansion real cheap to play on my craptop while I am away from my main PC. Anyway if you want to get into Sim City then definetly grab Sim City 4 Deluxe as its still the best City Builder Sim around to date. The other games like Sim City Societies, City Life, Cities XL 2011 are only if you are desperate for more city building. Anyway with Sim City 4 it may have a bit of a steep learning curve but once you get over that its great.

[GrandMaster Smith]

Sounds like I might go with Sim City 4, I really enjoy Pharaoh but after not playing it for a few years I've realized how easy it actually is. Like I had a huge prosperous city within a couple hours and even more so with Caesar III, just feels too easy.

 

I just hope it doesn't require much gfx memory, I have a decent computer with a multicore processor, just my gfx chip is the standard cheapo. I've played the new AoE demos with so-so gfxical problems, I just really want to stay away from anything thats going to crash all the time, thats why I ended up dowloading Caesar 3 instead of 4 since I heard a bunch of crap about that.

 

Appreciate advice so far

[Raptomex]

Sim City 4 with the Rush Hour expansion. So just get Sim City 4 Deluxe. I mean I suck at it but if you know what you're doing it's an incredible game. Check out some sites to see what you can create. I'm always amazed.

 

http://www.simtropolis.com/

http://sc4devotion.com/

 

I really want it on a portable system too. I thought about getting Sim City DS but I haven't yet. I'm kind of waiting for Sim City 3DS. Also, I believe after Sim City 4, the original creator is no longer with the team so the more recent ones suck from what I've heard.

[stinomontana]

children of the nile is a pretty decent city builder to, you can buy it from steam.

as for simcity4, i think its the best citybuilding game out there.

used to play the sh*t out of it untill my disk got scratched and i coulnd install it anymore

[gta_king]

Going to have to echo what others have said about Sim City 4, especially if you get it all nice and modded up. Need to dig out the old Sim City 4 thread we had around here about a year or so ago, some awesome cities were being made in it.

[vertical limit]

I have Sim City Societies and I can tell you, it is a pretty good game.

[trip]

I have Sim City Societies and I can tell you, it is a pretty good game.

Ummm. I think you might be the only one who feels that. Societies pissed off an incredibly large, well rooted fan base.

 

As mentioned before SimCity4 with the Rush Hour pack is the best. Aside from the fun gaming elements Rush Hour adds, it also adds the feature of being able to drive a car around your city in full out, close up 3D.

[Chimpso]

Sim City 2000 is fun, easy, and incredibly addictive. I found Sim City 4 a little hard to get into, and I usually resort to money trees .

 

Although it's old and made for Windows 95, 2000 is a great game that I still play today (without cheats).

 

 

You won't be able to find it in shops these days, but I think there is an official (free) download for it somewhere (google it).

 

Failing that, try buying it online (an Ebay search netted me plenty of results).

 

It might not seem worth your time, but you cannot miss this game if your a fan of the Sim City series. It's just amazing! .

 

 

EDIT: Oh, and If you're looking for another city building game, try Zeus: Master of Olympus. It's made by the same guys who made Pharoh and is set in ancient greece. Been playing that game for years too, and enjoyed every second of it.

Edited May 12, 2011 by Chimpso