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Welcome to BlueNexus An eComstation Website |
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eCS
Software |
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Game Review |
SimCity
2000 for OS/2 |
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Year:
1996 Homepage
Link: N/A Download: SimCity 2000 for OS/2 Additional Maps from the SimCity 2000 Special Edition: Cities & Scenarios |
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SimCity 2000 is primarily a "building" game, where you create and try to increase the size of your cities-- but you also have plenty of opportunities to destroy. From bulldozers to earthquakes to air crashes, the implements of destruction are only a mouse-click away. But remember, it's a lot more challenging to build than to destroy, and the lives, hopes and dreams of millions of Sims are in your hands. One of the toughest challenges of SimCity 2000 is to maintain a huge city without sacrificing your Sims' quality of life, without going broke trying to maintain the infrastructure, and without raising taxes so high that businesses relocate. SimCity 2000 lets you face the same dilemmas that mayors all over the world are facing. We've all said at one time or another that we could do a better job than our elected officials--here's your chance to prove it. When you play SimCity 2000 for OS/2, you become the planner, designer and Mayor of an unlimited number of cities. You can take over and run any of the included scenario cities, or build your own from the ground up. (2) Installation: There is the old installer for SimCity 2000 for OS/2, not the WarpIn version, but the IBM version. It's easy to use and does the job of putting the program where you want. Then latter, if you need to uninstall the program, it works as it should.
(3) Startup: Clicking on the SimCity 2000 icon will bring up the main window that will then give you six choices as shown in the picture. The OS/2 version of SimCity 2000 comes with 4 Scenarios and just a handful of made cities.
All the choices are pretty explanatory so lets just dive into the review and click on the “Start New City” button and get this party started! (4) The Program: In a feeling of de'ja vue I am back again doing a review on SimCity. Wait, I am but this one looks so much better then the one I remember doing! I have no idea when you read this review but I posted both SimCity for OS/2 and SimCity 2000 for OS/2 reviews on the same day. If you have not reviewed the SimCity for OS/2 yet, click here to read that first, though it's not required. The first time I clicked on the “Start New City” I nearly jumped out of my chair because there was a loud, quick sound of static. As fast as it came it went and a new screen came up:
SimCity 2000 will offer you the opportunity to name your city, decide the year you will commence your program from 1900 through to 2050 and your opening capital , which in effect is the difficulty setting. From there a newspaper article comes up on the screen giving you some general information, unfortunately that sharp sound of static also happens again.
Once you click off the newspaper you are ready for the real fun, building your city...
The start of the game is pretty much like SimCity for OS/2, you need to get the power plant up and running, then start off small with a small town, commercial center, and industrial park. Don't forget to tie them into the power plant and get some roads up. There are three big additions to SimCity 2000 from SimCity, 1.
You now have the ability to change your view by zooming in and
out. The controls are quite user friendly (and familiar if you played SimCity for OS/2) with the screen displaying a fast access menu for your immediate tools. Move the cursor with the directional buttons to highlight your selection of tool, then press the choose button to use the item. In the lower right of the menu is a demand indicator which lets you know what kind of zones the sims need. Top of the Main Window will keep you informed of your cash balance and the date. A little thoughtful planning is required before you begin laying roads and water pipes as a misplaced road to nowhere will cost a fortune to maintain with little or no benefit to the community, while a bridge across a river will be a wasted expense during your cities early growth. The demand indicator will display a request for a power station as your first investment, so choose wisely from the nine available power sources. An expensive nuclear power station will provide ample electricity but will use a large slice of your allowance much too early in your career (and be warned about the threat of a radioactive leak), while a cheap coal fired plant will save you money short term but the pollution brigade will soon be knocking at your door. There are three “speeds” to the game: Turtle, Llama, and Cheetah. There is also a pause button I always use right when the game starts. You can layout your plans while the game is paused so you can get the city right where you want it, then start time again. So if the power and water are installed, its time to allocate zones of land that will entice those little sims within your domain. The demand indicator will show that your city requires an input of industry. Heavy or light? It's your decision. Once you have allotted your building areas the next step is to take one of your roads to the boundaries of your city and connect it to a neighbors town. Now sit back, wait and watch.
Little cars will appear on your roads as the sims enter your region. If they like what they see they will begin to build their factories and businesses on your allocated zones. If you pamper their needs they will even settle in your city. Hey, this is a great feeling, it's like becoming a parent. Those little sims are your children (well not mine, mine won't listen to me). Ah, isn't that nice, they are now building a pretty house with a garden at the front. What's this, you need more water to sprinkle your lawns, no problem my little sims, here have a water pump, in fact why not have two. Money in the bank and the sims are doing all the work, easy life. My sims are requesting more building land for their little friends, isn't that nice, they must like my town. Okay, have some more land, after all I have plenty to spare. "Water shortage!" Have another pump. "Police station!" "Fire Brigade!" Fair enough, I'll place it quite near your homes to protect you all, my little sims. "Water shortage!" In a minute, I'm in the middle of a budget with my council who are advising me to cut back on public services so I will have to trim the police and fire service's funding. "Water shortage!" All right, but it's your last. "Hospital!" "Schools!" Bloody hell, the coffers are bare so I had better take out a bond at 4% interest. My adviser recommends that I increase property taxes to pay back the deficit, fair enough and while I'm at it I'll install parking meters and implement a 1% sales tax. Hang on, my sims are booing me and some are even leaving town. Ungrateful little gits, after all I have done for them. "Water shortage!"
My sims are requesting a debate on the pollution in the atmosphere, I wish I had installed an electric power station instead of that smelly coal fired plant. "Water shortage!" Get stuffed. "We want a park!" Up yours, in fact UP taxes. My adviser recommends cut backs on public services, so I reduced the road maintenance allowance. "You'll regret that" claims my chancellor. I did, the roads began to crumble before my eyes and the sims could not get to work, unemployment rose, offices were vacated, stores were closed. Water shortage! Piss off! "Your town requires a new power plant to meet demands!" is the message that hit the screen. I know, I'll just take out another $10,000 bond against the cities assets, it was only 4% the last time. How much? 8%, daylight robbery. Well I'm not paying that, we will just have to make do. "The residents are demanding a Zoo". Fat chance. The power plant is breaking down and there are areas of my city without electricity. "We need more firemen". "We need more hospitals". "The residents are demanding a marina". Right, that's it. I promptly borrowed $20,000 against the cities assets, built a small airport, climbed aboard the first long distance flight and skipped town.
Like SimCity for OS/2, you much keep watch of everything because once you start that slide downwards it's almost impossible to get back up. I used to play the Windows version of this game and honestly they are the same. Even when the game drives you crazy it is fun. Actually I would have to say SimCity for OS/2 is at the top 10 of all the games I have ever played...and yes...I'm including my PS3 games. One last thing, you are able to download cities and scenarios that are used for Windows, Dos, and Mac and run them with no problem giving you pretty much limitless time. (5) Final Thoughts: I never had any issues with crashes. Just that static sound, what made it worse was that I could not shut it off even when I unchecked the sound and music in the game. As I said before, it would only happen at the beginning of the game and then for the rest of the play it was the normal music and sounds. I think it might be the Uniaud drivers so hopefully that can be fixed in the future. You can adjust the windows to full screen or anywhere in-between, so if you have something else running and you do not want to run a virtual screen can do that. Personally I jut have it take a whole screen on one of them and do work on another, when I need a break I just come on back. SimCity 2000 for OS/2, in my opinion, is the greatest sim city game ever created, why do I say that? Because I used to play it over a decade ago and it's just as fun! Download the full version at the top of this page and don't blame me if you lose your weekend! (6) Updates after the review: 02-03-11 – Added new City Maps and scenarios from the SimCity 2000 Special Edition. |
