Mikey - 27 Jun 2007 08:02
Sim City Review DS on GameSpot
Hmmm, I was expecting this to do a lot better than 7.0!
The Good
- It captures the essence of the original
- You might actually learn something
- The music takes just the right tone
- New data screens make managing a city easier than before.
The Bad
- Demolition has never been less fun
- You can't fire your advisor
- Extreme lack of detail in the visuals
- Needs more than one save slot
Except, that is, for demolition. It's important to know that once you demolish something, it's gone. That sounds obvious, but the game will let you undo certain actions. Unfortunately, demolition is not one of them, so you want to be very careful. But there are two issues: First, this is a DS game, so you might be playing it on the go. If you're trying to demolish a small area and the car you're in hits a bump, you're liable to wipe out half your town. Second, you can't seem to demolish just one unit of land--the game insists on removing at least four--so even if your hand doesn't slip, you'll trash more than you would have liked.
But the game isn't all bad advisors and random acts of destruction. Indeed, figuring out how to manage a happy, thriving community is very rewarding, especially because it gives you a new perspective on something you've probably only experienced from within. Your god's-eye view of the city is enhanced by several informational screens you can access, which range from budget breakdowns and quality of life indices to crime maps. For example, you can quickly switch to a "fire risk" screen and spot any fire-prone areas. From there, you can plunk down a water tower or fire station, extinguishing the blaze before it even starts.
