Cities Skylines

amazon Cities Skylines reviews

Introduction

“Cities: Skylines,” developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive, is a city-building and management simulation game that has garnered acclaim since its release in March 2015. The game is celebrated for its depth, flexibility, and comprehensive simulation mechanics, offering a rich and immersive experience for players who enjoy designing and managing their own cities. This review will provide a thorough analysis of “Cities: Skylines,” exploring its gameplay, features, graphics, and overall impact on the city-building genre.

Gameplay Mechanics

“Cities: Skylines” offers a robust and intricate city-building experience, combining detailed management systems with expansive customization options. Here’s an in-depth look at the game’s core mechanics:

1. City Planning and Design

The foundation of “Cities: Skylines” is its city planning system, which allows players to design their cities from scratch. Players start with a small plot of land and can expand their city by purchasing additional plots as they progress. The game’s grid-based system facilitates the layout of roads, zoning, and infrastructure.

• Road Construction: The road construction system is highly flexible, allowing players to create intricate road networks with various types of roads, intersections, and highways. Players can use different road sizes and types, including one-way streets, highways, and roundabouts, to design efficient traffic flow and optimize their city’s layout.
• Zoning: The zoning system divides the city into residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Players can designate zones for specific types of buildings, which will then develop based on demand and other factors. The zoning system includes options for high-density and low-density zones, offering a range of building types and sizes.
• Public Services and Utilities: Managing public services and utilities is crucial for maintaining a functional city. Players must provide essential services such as electricity, water, sewage, healthcare, and education. Proper placement of service buildings and infrastructure is necessary to ensure coverage and efficiency.

2. Economic Management

The economic management aspect of “Cities: Skylines” is integral to the success of the city. Players must balance the city’s budget, manage taxes, and allocate funds to various services and projects.

• Budget and Taxes: Players can adjust tax rates and budgets for different services, such as healthcare, education, and public transportation. Managing the budget effectively is essential for maintaining financial stability and funding city projects.
• Commerce and Industry: The game features a detailed economic system that includes various types of businesses and industries. Players must balance commercial and industrial development to meet the demands of the population and drive economic growth.
• Policies and Ordinances: “Cities: Skylines” offers a range of policies and ordinances that players can implement to influence the city’s development. These policies include things like traffic management, environmental regulations, and healthcare initiatives, allowing players to tailor their city’s development to their preferences.

3. Traffic and Transportation

The traffic and transportation systems in “Cities: Skylines” are central to the city-building experience. Managing traffic flow, public transportation, and infrastructure is critical for maintaining efficiency and preventing congestion.

• Traffic Flow: The game’s traffic simulation is detailed, with vehicles following realistic traffic rules and experiencing delays based on road conditions and congestion. Players must design efficient road networks and manage traffic flow to avoid bottlenecks and ensure smooth transportation.
• Public Transportation: Players can build and manage various forms of public transportation, including buses, trains, trams, and metros. The public transportation system is essential for reducing traffic congestion and providing residents with convenient travel options.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure: The game also includes options for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, allowing players to create walkable neighborhoods and promote eco-friendly transportation options.

4. Environmental and Social Considerations

“Cities: Skylines” incorporates environmental and social factors into its simulation, adding depth and complexity to the city-building experience.

• Environmental Impact: Players must consider the environmental impact of their city’s development. The game features pollution systems, including air, water, and noise pollution, which can affect the health and well-being of the population. Players must manage industrial activities and waste disposal to minimize environmental damage.
• Land Value and Happiness: The land value system in “Cities: Skylines” affects property development and the happiness of residents. High land value areas attract higher-quality buildings and businesses, while lower-value areas may experience issues with crime and pollution. Players must balance development to ensure overall happiness and satisfaction.

5. Modding and Community Content

One of the standout features of “Cities: Skylines” is its robust modding support and active community. The game has a vibrant modding community that has contributed a wealth of user-created content, enhancing the game’s replayability and customization options.

• Mods and Assets: Players can access a wide range of mods and assets through platforms like Steam Workshop. These mods include new building designs, road types, and gameplay mechanics, allowing players to customize their cities and add unique elements.
• Community and Updates: The developer, Colossal Order, has supported the game with regular updates and expansions, addressing player feedback and adding new features. The active community and ongoing support contribute to the game’s longevity and continued relevance.

Graphics and Art Design

“Cities: Skylines” features a detailed and visually appealing art design that enhances the city-building experience. The game’s graphics are designed to balance realism with performance, creating a visually immersive experience without sacrificing playability.

1. Cityscapes and Environments

The game’s cityscapes are highly detailed, with a variety of building types, landscapes, and environmental effects. The graphics engine renders the city in a realistic manner, with attention to detail in building designs, road networks, and natural features.

• Day-Night Cycle: The day-night cycle adds depth to the game’s visual experience, with changes in lighting, shadows, and ambiance. The cycle influences various aspects of the city, including traffic patterns and residential activity.
• Weather Effects: Weather effects, such as rain and snow, contribute to the game’s realism and atmosphere. These effects can impact traffic and the overall appearance of the city.

2. User Interface and Visual Design

The user interface in “Cities: Skylines” is intuitive and well-designed, providing players with easy access to the game’s various tools and menus. The interface is customizable, allowing players to organize their workspace and access information efficiently.

• Map View: The map view offers a comprehensive overview of the city, including zoning, infrastructure, and population data. Players can zoom in and out to manage specific areas or assess the city as a whole.
• Visual Customization: The game’s visual customization options allow players to adjust graphical settings, such as resolution, detail levels, and effects, to suit their preferences and system capabilities.

Soundtrack and Audio

The soundtrack and audio design in “Cities: Skylines” complement the gameplay experience, adding atmosphere and immersion to the city-building process.

1. Soundtrack

The game features an original soundtrack composed by Pietari Päärnen, which includes a variety of instrumental tracks that enhance the mood and atmosphere of the city. The music is designed to be relaxing and unobtrusive, allowing players to focus on the city-building process while enjoying a pleasant auditory experience.

2. Sound Effects

The sound effects in “Cities: Skylines” include realistic noises for different city elements, such as traffic, construction, and public services. These effects contribute to the game’s immersive experience, providing audio cues for various activities and interactions.

Cities: Skylines – The genre of city building simulation game so far must have been no stranger to the majority of gamers.

However, while it is interesting, the number of quality games in this genre can only be counted on the fingers.

Can be mentioned first is the famous SimCity series of Maxis, followed by a series of other names like Cities XL, Tropico …

However, if only for building and managing the city, SimCity always holds the position of “big brother” in the gaming industry.

But, the latest version of SimCity is not as expected.

After a series of problems from the release stage to the features in the game itself, SimCity is only a shadow compared to its former self.

Since then, players have been longing for a quality city-building game, and it seems that in response to that expectation, Cities: Skylines – a product from Colossal Order Ltd., “father” of Cities in Motion series – officially launched.

Through a turn, it can be seen that Cities: Skylines does not have many breakthrough improvements, but compared to current city simulation games, Cities: Skylines gives players sustainable gameplay, promoting very well the advantages of the previous games.

You will easily find the “must-have” elements of a city-building simulation game.

From the size of the map, the construction of bridges, the construction of roads, the planning of residential areas, industrial zones … Cities Skylines will surely satisfy you.

Options commonly found in city-building games such as transport systems, education, electricity – water, police, fire … are all present in Cities Skylines.

As a mayor, listening to people’s thoughts is a key factor in success.

Cities Skylines brings you closer to people through a social network system similar to Twitter.

Here, people in the city will update the status continuously with many different contents.

Of course, besides the “gossipy” statements that are often found abound on today’s social networks, most of them are states that express people’s emotions or wishes and complaints about the current city.

Through it, players will have to adjust their policies being issued so that it is reasonable.

Options commonly found in city-building games such as transport systems, education, electricity – water, police, fire … are all present in Cities Skylines.

As a mayor, listening to people’s thoughts is a key factor in success.

Cities Skylines brings you closer to people through a social network system similar to Twitter.

Here, people in the city will update the status continuously with much different content.

Of course, besides the “gossipy” statements that are often found abound on today’s social networks, most of them are states that express people’s emotions or wishes and complaints about the current city.

Through it, players will have to adjust their policies being issued so that it is reasonable…

One of the commendable points of Cities Skylines is the Colossal Order Ltd did a good job in the UI design.

Now, everything needed for the construction and management of your “dream” city is organized very conveniently and intuitively.

Statistics on the pollution level, universal education at all levels, noise pollution or city revenue and expenditure statistics, investment priority in specific fields … are designed very intuitively and can be easily referenced with just a few simple clicks.

Colosal Order Ltd created balanced Cities Skylines in almost every element.

A newcomer to this genre can also easily get used to the game, and Cities Skylines also has all the elements that make a “hard” player of the city building simulation genre headache handle.

The gameplay can be said to be the “soul” of a game, but how long the game lasts depends on the community, in which the “modder” community always plays an important role in any game period.

And Cities: Skylines is no exception.

Distributed via Steam, Cities: Skylines is fully compatible with Steam Workshop.

This means that players can easily download mods, new maps, or even pre-made cities by the Cities: Skylines ‘modder’ community.

Even the game experience will change with the fixes installed.

It can be a tool for monitoring the transport system, automatically destroying abandoned buildings, displaying the flow of goods, or simply… changing the appearance of buildings in Cities: Skylines.

All are easy and convenient, helping you to manage your “dream” city more effectively.

Cities: Skylines is a good game, however, there are still some minor flaws.

That is that the visual effects in Cities: Skylines are still very simple … boring, without the “day-night” system, the weather or the actions of the people are quite monotonous …

Besides, the movement of vehicles in the game many times still creates quite… funny and unrealistic situations!

However, the above issues are not that big and have little effect on the game experience.

where can you get a Cities Skylines online

Cities: Skylines [Online Game Code]; Buy it now

Cities Skylines – Xbox One Edition (Xbox One): Buy it now

Cities: Skylines (Nintendo Switch): Buy it now

Cities Skylines (PS4): Buy it now

Final Thoughts

“Cities: Skylines” stands as a landmark title in the city-building genre, offering a rich and immersive experience that combines deep simulation mechanics with extensive customization options. Its success can be attributed to several key factors:

• Depth and Flexibility: The game’s detailed simulation systems and flexible design options provide players with the tools to create complex and realistic cities. The ability to manage various aspects of city life, from traffic and public services to economic and environmental factors, ensures a dynamic and engaging experience.
• Community and Modding: The vibrant modding community and ongoing support from the developers have kept the game fresh and relevant. The availability of user-created content and regular updates have contributed to the game’s longevity and appeal.
• Innovative Features: “Cities: Skylines” introduced several innovative features and mechanics that set new standards for the genre. The game’s emphasis on realism, customization, and player choice has influenced the design of other city-building and simulation titles.
• Replayability: The game’s depth, combined with its modding support and expansions, offers high replayability. Players can continually explore new strategies, designs, and scenarios, ensuring a long-lasting and engaging experience.

In summary, “Cities: Skylines” is a must-play for fans of city-building and simulation games. Its combination of depth, flexibility, and community engagement has set it apart as a definitive entry in the genre. Whether you’re a seasoned city-builder or a newcomer to the genre, “Cities: Skylines” offers a compelling and immersive experience that invites creativity and strategic thinking.