Customer Reviews

Dawn of Discovery

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I apologize for any grammar mistakes. I tried to catch them all but it was late when I wrote this.

Dawn of Discovery is one of the latest offering in the Anno series (the true name of the series). This version was built from the ground up for the Wii and not a port from an established game or it's DS or PC sibling (also called Dawn of Discovery but it's original title is Anno 1401). As result its controls are completely natural. While everything can be selected with just the Wii remote I suggest plugging in your Wii nun-chuck however to make scrolling the screen a LOT easier and faster. The game even offers you the ability to quickly copy buildings you have placed to make for quick building of repeat structures.

The graphics are more artful if not a bit cartoony but it works very well. There is no slow down and there is a nice degree of detail once you've zoomed all the way in on the various buildings. The game isn't close to it's PC counterpart mind you which has taken a realistic approach but the Wii version is just as much fun I feel to look at but for different reasons. It's also up there as one of the better looking Wii games released so far.

The game also includes different voice tracks. English, German, and French I believe along with subtitles. I've only listened to the English track but it's very well down. No need to worry about cheesy or stiff dialogue as well. All accents sound accurate as well.

Which brings me to story. I haven't completed it yet but the story mode appears to be one massive tutorial where you are constantly learning and gaining accessible to more and more options. As far as the storyline it's simple enough. You are one of the King's two sons charged with finding new areas for your people to settle as the kingdom is facing a drought. During your missions you meet new and different cultures. It's not a epic storyline but it's a charming for the most part. Combat appears to be lessened in the Wii version compared to the PC version. In addition to the story mode (which by reports can last you at least around 10 hours (each mission has multiple objectives and you do have to wait until resources build, take time to make sure you keep your economy balanced, etc)) there is a free play mode where you discover new islands and can build up your cities. This should last players a long time as you use different methods, treasure hunt, etc.

The game does include three difficulty levels.

All in all you can't beat the price. If you enjoy city building games and are looking for a game with good value, good production values, not a cheap or half done port then Dawn of Discovery is your game.

I do recommend the Wii version over the PC version at this moment. There are issues over the Digital Rights Management used in the PC game that appears to limit how many times you can install the game after you've purchased it. It also requires an internet connection to initially activate the game after the actual install. There also seems to only be an overseas support number to help with the issues this causes. Most gamers that research PC version would know this (Many don't like it.) but for someone that might be interested it in it's something you should know. None of these issues exist with Wii version or DS version (which is also different from the Wii and PC versions) of the game.

Make sure you do not have anything to accomplish in the real world for quite a while before you start this game. You hear that double clang of the ship's bell to start the game and BANG . .there goes 4 hours! The pace is great, the advisors keep you focused on the action and yet can keep you off balance because of the reminders about what needs to be addressed. Islands to settle, tax rates to set, public building to construct and crops to manage. Just enough managing to be complex but not so much that it gets tedious.

Dawn of Discovery has two different modes. Playing story mode or continuous is your first option.

The story mode is GREAT. A long, fun, unfolding tutorial that gives you just enough information and leaves you with the question if you can go through it faster next time . .with different options . .which will give you a slightly different sequence of events. So many aspects to address or not. Visually entertaining, and the music is lighthearted and serves different actions well. (I love (hate) the earth quake and volcano music!) The vocabulary is not childish (which I always appreciate) and the little twist at the end of the story mode actually produced an audible gasp the first time.

Continuous mode gives you the reins of the world and you have to step up to the plate. I have just completed my second continuous mode and I have not doubt there will be at least a 5th . . the difficulties you can set can make this extremely challenging with very, very little wiggle room . .or you can set it up to be a fun romp in the park. It is the numerous options that make it so easy to replay this game over and over.

Dawn of Discovery is a versatile game that is well constructed and overall just a blast to play. City builders of the computer world . . clear your calendar, Dawn of Discovery may just lead you to discover the dawn of another day because you played all night!

First, I have to say I got this game for $19.82 on Walmart.com after a quick price check before purchasing it on Amazon. For a $20 game it is amazing. I have no prior experience with the series, but it has hooked me in and made me a fan. It is weird social/economic simulator with odd characters filling the various roles. The voice acting is pretty good (Patrick Stewart as the king?) and the graphics are sharp (I'm using a 480p cable) for a Wii game. The pointer system works well with this game. Initially, I had low expectations for Dawn of Discovery, but I have been really surprised. It is a fun, relaxing game that is easy to get lost in for hours. For $20 it is a must buy, but for $30 I would check some game sites to see if it tickles your fancy before purchasing. The Metacritic score is currently an 80, which is above average. (Don't be fooled by the poor ratings of the PC version. DRM included on the disc caused people to rate it low -- not a concern for Wii!)

I must admit I am sad to see this game being offered at such a low price. Obviously this is because the game is selling so poorly. I happened to purchase this a few months ago and paid thirty dollars, and after playing it for several days I realized it is one of the few Wii games I would pay $50 for.
Dawn of Discovery is a charming, yet challenging game. If you love SimCity or Civilization type games you will feel right at home. Two modes can be played in this game. Story mode is a 20 hour or more game which also acts as a tutorial(a very good one). While the story itself is average, this mode makes learning the game fun and easy to learn. Plus you can choose 3 difficulty levels even on the story mode to make it more interesting.
The other way to play the game is on the continuous mode. This offers endless hours of enjoyment because each game is so different and you must rely on what you learned in the story mode. Trying to keep your islands safe and your people happy is no easy task. A natural disaster or an attack on a weakly defended island can suddenly change your fate. Trying to keep the aristocrats in your colonies happy is no picnic, but the taxes you earn from them certainly help.
Endless trials and rewards await you in this mode.
With many horrible games out there for the Wii, it's a shame to see a quality game like this being overlooked. Now for the score breakdown.

Story: 7/10 An average story but enjoyable. It makes learning the game quite fun.
Music/Sound: 8/10 Light hearted music and good sound effects. Somewhat repetitive. Voice acting is very well done.
Graphics: 9/10 Very good graphics for a sim game. Cartoony, but works well.
Controls: 9/10 The Wiimote works well, although sometimes switching between the islands can be clunky.
Replay Value 10/10 Each continuous game will be different. Different difficulty levels as well to suit your needs.
Overall: 9/10 For the price you won't find many games better than this. I would have happily paid $40 or $50 for this game. Both my wife and I have enjoyed many hours with this. Unfortunately for me this is one of the few games she is better at. :)

This game won't be for everyone.

It's not the best graphically. The music is OK, but repetitious. The storyline is just passable.

However, it's still very fun if you like city-building type games, which I do.

The main storyline slowly teaches you how to build up your city from a tiny settlement to a large metropolis by utilizing different building materials, luxury items for your citizens and more involved technologies and buildings. The combat is simplistic (he who has the most soldiers pretty much always wins), but sufficient for this kind of game.

But what I liked the most about this game is that it doesn't rush you to complete your objectives. You are free to take your time building your city or finding treasures in the ocean, and when you feel ready, you can complete the required objective and allow the story to advance to the next stage.

That makes for a relaxing, but still engaging, type of gaming that is pretty lacking these days. And that's why I have found this game so enjoyable.

Sure, I bet you could plow through the main storyline in just a few hours if you wanted to, but WHY? There is lots to do, if you take the time to do it and make your cities into more than just "objective reachers", but something you can really be proud of creating.

So, if you want a fast-paced, exciting gaming experience, look elsewhere. But if you want a fun, relaxed and leisurely pace to your gaming, this is the game for you.

I stared at this title for months before finally deciding to purchase it. You may read other reviews for the details of gameplay, etc. I just want to list some pros and cons I have not seen others mention:

Pros
1. SENSE OF HISTORICAL SPACE. This game's not based on actual history, but there are certainly historical principles illustrated and the game is true to those principles. I also like that it is not futurized like most games. Your civilization stays historical, never reaching into a silly fantasy-future like some simulation games do.
2. NON-VIOLENT (mostly). As a parent of four young children, we've chosen to pass by the current trend of First Person Shooters to seek titles that resolve conflict without brutality or hate. While there is a military component to the game, it's very low-key and the plot introduces the military mechanics with an excellent lesson on the ethics of war. There's no blood. No dead bodies. Heck, you don't even view actual combat. A big negative for many; a huge positive for us.
3. SECOND PLAYER OPTION. So many reviews I've read on Amazon point out how children love to watch parents play games. They see it as interactive cartoons and love helping the grown-ups solve puzzles. Rare is the game that has a multiplayer option that allows children to interact without damaging the flow of the game for the playing adult. Many reviews here criticize the multi-player function, but the trick is not to think of it as cooperative but as subordinate. I can hand my kid a remote and she can have a real impact in the game by healing my villages of plague or fire and providing wind to make my ships faster and she can also build little miniature buildings all over the place that decorate the towns without draining resources needed to play the real game. It's an excellent balance for adults playing with very young children who cannot yet grasp such a game. My kids and I love it.
4. MODELS BASIC ECONOMICS AND LEADERSHIP. This is NOT an "eduware" title by any stretch, but it IS authentically educational. Most civilization-based games also provide this and may provide it better, but the complexity is kept at a very manageable level. I've played other historical simulations and felt overwhelmed by the micro-management they necessitate. Dawn of Discovery keeps that at bay sufficiently that my 10-year old can manage the game on his own.
5. WHIMSY. The game never completely takes itself seriously, adding subtle humorous touches here and there, like how your buildings wobble in response to motion before you actually place them or how the scary pirate has a grinning snake wrapped around his neck. Nice touches.
6. VOICE ACTING. SO few Wii games feature voice acting (much less good voice acting). This one does and it really adds to the depth. I especially appreciate the accurate accents.

Cons
1. SLIDE SHOW CUT SCENES. With so much detail for the voice-acting, why oh why did they not animate the cut scenes? While the hand-painted artwork for the cut scenes is well done, I feel like I'm watching a film strip projector back in 3rd grade. This took a lot of getting used to, and I've learned to not hate it, but it was a major disappointment (but does not detract at all from game-play; the game is itself is beautifully detailed and animated).
2. CAMERA CONTROL. The controls work fine for the most part. The zoom feature is especially crucial and fun. But so many times I wish I could view my buildings from the North or East or something! Without any pan function whatsoever in the game, we are stuck permanently viewing all the structures from the South facade. A rotate function alleviates this somewhat when you build, but a 360 degree panoramic control is sorely needed.
3. LOTS OF DO-OVERS. In the story version of the game, with every new chapter you must start your civilization from scratch. That's a total of seven complete do-overs, which, granted helps teach the mechanics of the game extremely well, but gets a bit frustrating after chapter six where you build up an enormous city that gets wiped out forever after one transitional cut-scene. <Sigh>
4. SAVE GLITCHES. On at least one occasion, I met the objective for a mission and the game failed to move forward. After being stuck for half an hour (with the game ceaselessly telling me to collect the treasure chest I'd already collected), I had to re-do the entire chapter. I recommend saving rather frequently, using a different save slot each time in case such glitches are common in other game-disks.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: For some inexplicable reason, Amazon is combining the Wii game and the PC game into one review site, giving this game WAY lower scores than if it were on its own. The two games share the same title but are quite different. Nearly ALL the negative reviews are for the PC version (which apparently has some flaw that only PC gamers understand). If you see a review complaining about DRM or limited installations, note that you ARE NOT reading a review for the Wii game.

I just picked this up at best buy for 30$. I heard of the PC version and how the DRM was a big downer so I decided to get the wii version instead. I was seeking gameplay over graphics going into this purchase.

Pros: Wii version is cheap(under 30$). Gameplay is fresh, fun and it keeps you busy(which keeps me interested). Its a good break away from all the overly violent/competitive FPS games out there. Good voice acting. Many build options. Customizable gameplay.

Cons: Cartoony(not necessarily a con for me, adds to fun factor), Graphics on PC version are apparently better, Mostly a sim type game from what I've observed(havent found much use for military...yet).

If you're in the mood for a fun game on a budget then check this one out. If you like games like sim city then you'll absolutely love dawn of discovery. I've had the most fun playing this wii game than any other I've played or purchased over the years(many popular titles).

Dawn of Discovery is a very addictive game because of the pace, but I feel that it is lacking in depth. On the surface there are plenty of things to keep you busy and alert for all of those hours playing it, but a well organized user interface would have streamlined the gameplay instead of having to hop back and forth from island to island. I also feel that the technology tree is lacking in depth and the military mode is so childish that it is laughable.

It is a fun and addictive game, but I got bored quickly when I came to the conclusion that it was not enough for me. I need more game... an additional seven levels maybe. But for $20... you get what you pay for.

I loved these games on the pc and decided to give it a try on the Wii. Because the price was so low, I was expecting a much lower quality of game. It is simplified from the pc, but while it lacked some features I liked, it also eliminated some I didn't. I wish there were a two player competitive mode, but it is great entertainment for a single player.

If you like the kind of age of empires PC games, you will love this title!!! I love this game!!!