City Life Edition 2008 review

There is a smattering of new buildings, and some tweaks, but it’s hard to shake the feeling this is a two-year-old game being sold as new. A sequel would have been nice by now, and certainly the last couple of years should have been time to create an interactive tutorial, explaining the confusing class structure.

SimCity 4 is still a superior, if more complex, city management sim. But at less than full price, CL offers a vast amount of detail, a hefty editor and a unique approach to social design. The 32 different landscape styles feel generous, and while the graphics are now dating, zooming all the way into your city to watch the crowds pootling about in their vans remains cute. It’s starting to age, but there’s still plenty to recommend in this tycoon-’em-up.

Feb 12, 2008