Games Database
GBA
Strategy: Management
| Also for: | PC, PlayStation, Saturn, SNES, Amiga | ||
| Viewed: | 2D Isometric, Scrolling | Genre: | Strategy: Management |
| Arcade origin: | No | ||
| Developer: | Zoo Digital | Soft. Co.: | DSI |
| Publishers: | Zoo Digital
(GB) |
Released: | 21 Nov 2003
(GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 3+ | ||
| No Accessories: | No Accessories | ||
Summary
When Maxis took on development of Sim City, the company knew it was on to a good thing. It was originally released way back in 1989 on more than ten platforms, and became one of the greatest management games of all time. Its sequel however, released several years later, was bigger and better, adopting isometric landscapes as a foundation for tycoons to build their cities upon. And despite the release of two further sequels, Sim City 2000 is still perhaps the most popular game in the series Maxis has produced. So much so, in fact, that Zoo Digital has brought it to the GBA handheld some ten years later.
As with the original release, players begin their role as city rulers with nothing more than an empty landscape and a few thousand dollars in the bank. Your first objective is to build, choosing from three types of construction zones - residential, commercial and industrial - which work in synergy to create a functional city. Residents need commercial and industrial zones for jobs, and commercial zones need industrial areas for goods and merchandise. Then you have to consider power plants for electricity, and a transport infrastructure to give your inhabitants mobility. Police stations, fire stations, entertainment venues, parks, schools and prisons need to be considered too.
But without funds, your city will grind to a quick halt, and that’s where the management aspect comes into play. Charging residents for your services, players must find any means they can of raising cash, though the best way to do this is through taxes. The more inhabitants you attract, the more taxes you earn, and the more funds you have to expand your city. Raise taxes too high, however, and the reverse can happen.
The game’s interface is remarkably simple, and there are hints and tips on hand to tell you where you’re going wrong with your city venture. All in all, Sim City 2000 for GBA serves as a brilliant reminder of what makes a solid strategy game.
As with the original release, players begin their role as city rulers with nothing more than an empty landscape and a few thousand dollars in the bank. Your first objective is to build, choosing from three types of construction zones - residential, commercial and industrial - which work in synergy to create a functional city. Residents need commercial and industrial zones for jobs, and commercial zones need industrial areas for goods and merchandise. Then you have to consider power plants for electricity, and a transport infrastructure to give your inhabitants mobility. Police stations, fire stations, entertainment venues, parks, schools and prisons need to be considered too.
But without funds, your city will grind to a quick halt, and that’s where the management aspect comes into play. Charging residents for your services, players must find any means they can of raising cash, though the best way to do this is through taxes. The more inhabitants you attract, the more taxes you earn, and the more funds you have to expand your city. Raise taxes too high, however, and the reverse can happen.
The game’s interface is remarkably simple, and there are hints and tips on hand to tell you where you’re going wrong with your city venture. All in all, Sim City 2000 for GBA serves as a brilliant reminder of what makes a solid strategy game.
