Metropolis simulator video games have fascinated me since my early days watching my dad play Simcity on his Commodore Amiga 2000. I puzzled what the attract was of constructing a metropolis the place there was no motion, no cash to gather, however you need to increase your metropolis right into a thriving, accessible metropolis. However then I noticed a twister blow via and realized it’s a fragile ecosystem, and I’ve been mystified ever since. That was additionally virtually 20 years in the past, and whereas some issues keep the identical, the world of metropolis simulators has grow to be extra subtle as proven in Cities: Skylines 2, and I’m completely happy to offer my overview.
Previous the Tutorial is an Oasis of Progress Potential
![Cities: Skylines 2 Review — Hooked on Urban Planning Cities-Skylines-2-Review-Tutorial](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cities-Skylines-2-Review-Tutorial.jpg?w=1200)
Once I began up the sport, I opted into the tutorial as a result of it’s been some time since I performed any metropolis simulator. Since I wished to check its really feel each on PC and on console, I attempted studying on the tutorial whereas getting conversant in the keyboard and mouse, in addition to the gamepad for the UI. However there’s no escaping it: the tutorial might be overwhelming for lots of gamers as a result of there’s quite a bit it must cowl.
Once you start your city-building journey, I nonetheless suggest this as you’ll be taught the intricacies of the sport. You’ll be capable to rapidly choose up the fundamentals of zoning for residence, commerce, and so forth., whereas additionally studying about electrical energy, water, waste administration, and the varied companies of the sport. However previous the tutorial is an oasis of progress potential, and when you full it, possibly beginning a contemporary metropolis, you’ll really feel rapidly at dwelling. I realized the mechanics inside one session, after which the finer factors set in organically as I performed extra periods, and one hour rapidly was ten.
Be taught to Reside With and Even Chuckle at Your Errors
![Cities: Skylines 2 Review — Hooked on Urban Planning Cities-Skylines-2-Mistakes](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cities-Skylines-2-Mistakes.jpg?w=1200)
Simulation video games can usually be a centered affair the place it’s important to be taught a sophisticated set of mechanics to succeed. However too usually, they’re too life like for his or her good, and messing up is usually extra irritating with out feeling like as a lot of a studying mistake. However with advisors at your disposal within the recreation, you’ll rapidly be taught what you probably did unsuitable and may repair it rapidly.
Cities: Skylines 2 has a Twitter analogue (Chirping, as a result of Elon can’t take it away fully) that allows you to see folks’s social media posts commenting on a disaster unfolding. Oftentimes it’s your fault, however typically it may be issues out of your palms; the essential factor to recollect is what you are able to do to repair it.
I realized this after I constructed an industrial district within the woods, after which put a groundwater pumping station within the center. Why do that? As a result of they wanted a water provide and my present one wasn’t ample. However then, all too abruptly, the close by residents had been getting sick from the tapwater; it was getting polluted by the close by industrial work, then distributed to the residents. I bulldozed the station and constructed one elsewhere that additionally had clear water.
However this wasn’t my solely mistake. I had constructed a coal energy plant, after which constructed a medium-volume residential district downwind of it, and shock, air air pollution! There was additionally an occasion the place I constructed a practice station, however had it fully boxed in by commerce and the sting of metropolis limits, so no tracks might go wherever. As soon as once more, we reside and be taught.
My most hilarious occasion was after I constructed a stretch of houses proper subsequent to a river, and to my shock, the close by houses flooded, so I desperately terraformed a hideous abomination protruding of the bottom to protect the close by homes from future floods. Whereas it was ugly upon a look, I rapidly embraced my newly-dubbed Devil’s Pincer, and guess what: it’s prime actual property. By means of this, you’ll be able to be taught to reside with and even snort at your errors.
The Voiceover is Humorous however Repetitive
![Cities: Skylines 2 Review — Hooked on Urban Planning Cities-Skylines-2-Review-Voiceover](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cities-Skylines-2-Review-Voiceover.jpg?w=1200)
Voiceover for technique and sim video games can usually be taken as a right, however in a bid to make the video games enjoyable, Cities: Skylines 2 has some amusing fictionalized radio personalities. They immerse you into the sport extra absolutely by offering an natural commentary on what’s happening. Your metropolis is perhaps present process rolling blackouts as a consequence of a changeup in your energy grid, otherwise you may need a water scarcity, and so they’ll remark.
Don’t get me unsuitable, I get pleasure from this characteristic, however when you’ve got particularly lengthy periods, you understand that you simply acknowledge the identical strains coming from completely different voices. The entire “save water, bathe with a buddy” joke is enjoyable however will get previous even after listening to it twice in a single session. The voiceover is humorous however repetitive, but this situation is fairly forgivable within the grand scheme of issues; at the very least it’s not spamming about establishing further pylons.
The Largest Subject is Simply Efficiency
I’ll fortunately play a recreation with efficiency points if its mechanics are nonetheless enjoyable. I’ll begrudgingly proceed taking part in if these points are sluggish to repair however there are nonetheless issues to find. I’ll quietly abandon a recreation if there’s no signal of a repair. Within the case of Cities: Skylines 2, the builders at Colossal Order have already made gamers conscious that the PC model wasn’t delayed, however will roll out updates past the preliminary launch interval.
For me, whereas taking part in the sport and getting previous issues like studying how one can snap pipes and electrical energy strains onto one another, the largest situation is well efficiency. As you develop your metropolis, it makes the sport extra taxing in your rig, with the sport slowing significantly. At Nighttime I’d really feel the sting, and regardless that it’s nonetheless a reasonable framerate drop (not the extent of Korok Forest, for example) you’ll really feel it as you construct your metropolis, at the very least for now. With the console launch not coming till 2024, this situation can hopefully be resolved quickly, as it could possibly take the enjoyable out of constructing your metropolis to higher heights.
The Verdict
![Cities: Skylines 2 Review — Hooked on Urban Planning Cities-Skylines-2-Review-Verdict](https://attackofthefanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cities-Skylines-2-Review-Verdict.jpg?w=1200)
Cities: Skylines 2 is entertaining and clever, with loads of varieties within the environments you’ll be able to construct upon to create several types of communities. You possibly can channel the pure wind energy of your area or construct hydroelectric grids. You possibly can construct a thriving transportation system, battle fires, look after the sick, and bury the useless whereas welcoming new residents.
In some ways, Cities: Skylines 2 is addictive, however the phrase ‘addictive’ ought to be taken subjectively. The sport has good addictive potential, just like the runner’s excessive after intense train or a scrumptious cup of espresso. However it additionally has dangerous addictive potential, like a narcotic, as you grind via the efficiency points as a result of you realize it’ll get good once more quickly, and you realize your rig can completely deal with it, as you promise to your mates.