Customer Reviews

Sierra Emperor: Rise Of The Middle Kingdom

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

 

 

I love this game! This is one of the best that Sierra has produced. It eliminates most of the bugs of early games without losing any of the inherent whimsy.

It is a great strategic game that allows for fast paced thought as well as long term planning. Admittedly, while many of the boards do take a while to work through (building the Great Wall or constructing Canals)there is seldom 'nothing to do' while your people work. And unlike earlier games (Pharoah and Cleopatra) it is easier to manage the finances of the civilization. The only mechanism which I wish they had kept from the aforementioned Egyptian games is the ability to donate money from one's personal finances to the city itself. However, it is a greatly improved version of its predecessors and one only wishes that Sierra would re-release their early games with an updated mechanism.

I found this game by chance in a bargain bin a few years ago, and have played it over and over since. It has endless replay value and is just one of the best computer games I've ever played. And it's worked flawlessly on my Windows Vista.

The game is a classic Impressions city building game in the style of Pharaoh, Cleopatra and Caesar, with a few twists. While the other games are fun and very addictive, this game departs from the setting of Western Europe/ North Africa and welcomes you to a new and unexplored place, Eastern Asia. If you love playing Impressions city building games then you will be enthralled by the new location, amazing resources at your disposal and the grand monuments of Chinese history that will be built under your command. Do you have what it takes to rule the burgeoning empire with might and skill, and to keep those barbaric nomads out?

I brought "Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom" for $11 several years ago, and I'm still playing it. This game is obsessive, definitely hard to put down. From the deepest rice paddy to the highest watchtower, there's a lot going on in this game, which is part of its appeal.

To run a successful city, you must balance such things as food supply/consumption, industry, the maintenance of the city's buildings, a steady supply of herbs to maintain a good level of health, your people's religion (and access to the proper shrines/temples), and the availablility of entertainment, not to mention making sure you grow and/or produce enough ceramic pots, hemp (to weave into clothing, the game is rated "E"), clean water, as well as silks and bronze or lacquer pots for the nobility. All this while having enough industry to turn a profit, and maintaining good relationships with the cities around you -- and keeping a strong military, of course, just in case things don't work out. And making sure the occasional errant tiger or giant salamander doesn't take out too many citizens. But don't worry -- most of those tasks are a breeze with Emperor's well-laid-out and easy to learn interface, where everything is sorted into categories: Housing, Industry, Religion, Government, etc.

But what really impresses me is the amazing detail put into the game itself. Don't misunderstand, especially in today's world of impressive 3D graphics, the visual aspect of this game is a bit dated. However, if you don't mind 2D graphics, even those won't bother you. The whole thing, although realistic, is vibrant with color, especially so if you use the gardens, pavilions, parks, and statues to liven up your city. And everyone, literally EVERYONE, has something unique to say when you click on them. The majority of types of "walkers" even have two phrases. It's always fun to see new walkers, and hear what they have to say.

You can choose to play a "freeform" game, a sandbox mode where you build your city with no restrictions. However, if you want something a little more goal-orienated, there are literally dozens of campaigns, all broken down into China's different major dynasties, and all as historically correct as you could ever want.

Really, whether you'd like to experience a small piece of Chinese history, or just treat yourself to an engaging game, "Emperor" is an excellent choice.

excellant game for those who have older systems or haven't gotten used to newer styles and still can be quite satisfieing but needs a modern release, allot of gamers I speak with loved this one and wish the same.

I've been playing this game for years and it still is interesting to me. If you like city building games, this is a very good one. That is if you like a classical, ancient China approach. I also like games like AOE III and SimCity :) but all in all, this is a very good game ... especially with the cheats! *wink*

Well, first of all, I decided to buy this game after enjoying Pharaoh and Caesar III for years. I wanted to give the new one a chance.

The similarity of the colors of the ground and colors of the objects ( houses, buildings, mills etc. ) in the Emperor, makes everything hard to recognize. The buildings and stuff are like " Chameleons ". Plus, they are much bigger in this game, so, you don't have the " Pharaoh-ish " or " The God " feeling when you are playing.

When it comes to the game itself, its kind of boring and complicated. The World Map is nothing like the one in Pharaoh or Caesar III. However, you have more options this time ; " Invade that city ", " Have diplomatic relations " or " Send a spy " :)) Its more than a city building game. I think it is more " realistic " than Pharaoh and Caesar III, and that's the thing I don't like about this game. Because, I'm playing these to prevent reality :))

So, let me tell you, if you are interested in this product because you liked Pharaoh or Caesar III, don't buy it. You probably won't enjoy it. I mean, I didn't :)