Any reviews on this? I know it is a city builder, is it worth it? Saw it on Gamersgate, the Gold version for $4.

I'd be intrested in any thoughts/opinions. The price is right, but is the game any good.

Gamespot did not like the original:  http://www.gamespot.com/imperium-romanum/reviews/imperium-romanum-review-6187983/

Neither did IGN:  http://pc.ign.com/articles/861/861528p1.html

I've played Grand Ages: Rome, which I think is the sequel to IR. It is ok, but definitely not great. It was a while ago that I played. If I rememeber the camera was a little clunky. GamersGate has it for $8 with the expansion: http://www.gamersgate.com/DDB-GARGE/grand-ages-rome-gold-bundle

I did not like it either. The sequel Grand Ages Rome is better.

I liked Imperium Romanum better because you're not shoehorned into strict building paths so much.

While Grand Ages has some nice additions, they changed the building mechanics to a suckier version IMO.  So there's a trade-off in that GA has some extra campaign flash while it's actual building is a step back.

Note:  One problem I had with Imperium is that whomever did the sounds f'd many of them up.  On the end of about 60% of the sounds files, there's a quick *POP* noise that drives me nuts when multiple ones are firing.  It sounds like really bad static spikes. 

While I was able to find a program to unpack their sound files, and I spent the time to fix all those annoyingly screwy sound files, I couldn't get the game to recognize the re-packaged & modded version.  Some guy on the Steam forums said he had fixed them up and actually got them working fine, but his previous d/l link was down and a PM to him resulted in an appreciatedly honest reply that he was working on other things right now so probably wouldn't get around to putting it up again anytime soon. 

Considering this  last point - if you plan on turning the volume up much past a low whisper, this may drive you nuts like it did me so Grand Ages could be the way to go instead.

So it would seem that you all favour Grand Ages of Rome over IR.

Will check it out.

Originally Posted By thebull0425 (20 MAY 2012 1:27pm)

So it would seem that you all favour Grand Ages of Rome over IR.

 

Will check it out.

Not I.

Still prefer IR, myself.  The basic component of these games, putting up the buildings, was a step or two backwards IMO.  I couldn't even force myself past the first city in Grand Ages because the building mechanics were just so terribly uninspired.  I realized that in order to use the extra campaign options, I'd have to spend most of my time dealing with bland gameplay so shelved GA - probably permanently.

I'd much rather play Imperium, even with the background pops.  Then again, I'd rather play a few other builder type games than these, anyhow.  Tropico 3 (or 4) and Children of the Nile are just more fun.

I played them all and, while Grand Ages: Rome has the better visuals, both games are very different. Imperium Romanum Gold is an awesome game and always on my computer. I really recommend Imperium Romanum Gold for that price. If you like it, check out Grand Ages: Rome later on but the gameplay is very different.

PS: note that Tropico 3 and 4 are based on the same engine than Grand Ages: Rome and done by the same fantastic team...

Tropico 4 could have been a nice game but they made it too easy. Making money and keeping enough factions happy using the same basic strategy is just too easy to achieve in the campaign. I can see the sandbox bode being more interesting to some players who enjoy the open ended stuff, but that wasn't for me. 

Originally Posted By robc04 (21 MAY 2012 6:54am)

Tropico 4 could have been a nice game but they made it too easy. Making money and keeping enough factions happy using the same basic strategy is just too easy to achieve in the campaign. I can see the sandbox bode being more interesting to some players who enjoy the open ended stuff, but that wasn't for me. 

I haven't played Tropico 4, as Tropico 3 is enough to scratch my occasional city building itch (and looks to be about the same anyway).  It's not terribly complicated but the setting is fun and at least T3 seems to be a bit difficult in juggling all the faction happiness unlike it's newer version.

To sum up my complaints with GA:Rome as simply as possible, the buildings don't really produce any goods IIRC.  So in order to pump out that tier 3 building you're trying for, the requisites looks something like: "you need two of this exact building in order to run this second tier building.  Once that building is done you also need this other building to open the third."  There's no quantities management - it's just a simple build tree requirement which struck me as extremely dull.  Hell, I can do that in some grand strategy games.  With IR, your buildings produced goods (meat, wine, etc), that sometimes had to be processed, and various buildings had various upkeeps and costs that included all those goods in their costs.   So there was more depth in the basic gameplay of IR.

I never played IR so it very well may be better, especially since Grand Ages Rome is merely ok. I got tired of it partway through the campaign. For me, I think it is difficult to make these city builder games have lasting value since they seem to fall into the same patterns. You figure out what is a successful strategy and then repeat it. Sometimes the maps can shake things up a bit, or the goals.

Originally Posted By robc04 (21 MAY 2012 6:54am)

Tropico 4 could have been a nice game but they made it too easy. Making money and keeping enough factions happy using the same basic strategy is just too easy to achieve in the campaign. I can see the sandbox bode being more interesting to some players who enjoy the open ended stuff, but that wasn't for me. 

After a period of ten or so years, you can develop vast swaths of territory on your island. There are ZERO money issues, and to win the games is trivial. Too easy, and so easy, that I stopped playing it. I suck at strategy games, and if it is too easy for me, then it is probably too easy for everyone.

Did they ditch the mass of difficulty sliders that was in Tropico 3?! 

If so, that's sad to hear.