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Review
The Settlers 7: Paths To a Kingdom

A long time ago I used to play a game called Serf City by Blue Byte Software; it was a charming little RTS with great depth and charming gameplay that was (in my opinion) ahead of its time. The game had tiny, cleverly animated characters (up to 64,000 could function simultaneously and autonomously) that went about their business, helping you build and shape your empire. I played it endlessly in University.

When the workload got more demanding, I stopped playing it (and subsequently have no idea where my original copy went); I did not pick up anything in the series until The Settlers 7: Paths To a Kingdom for the PC was placed on my desk. A quick scan of the case had me wondering why I had not played any of the previous games since the first!

The intro is fantastic; a slow pan of the countryside reveals a kingdom while a haunting vocal melody plays in the background (the score for the whole game is fabulous, incidentally); from here you choose how you wish to proceed: single or multiplayer, campaign or skirmish; nothing really out of the ordinary so far.

From the first taste of the introduction mission, though, you will be hooked; whether you are a lover of this type of game or not, the well-thought-out tutorials are great, performing as a good guide should. Soon after, you will be in the game on your own, with fewer and fewer pointers along the way. My memories of the first game were filled with joy at the seamless blending of RTS and city building that was the original, and it is no different now.

There are three ways to win: military victory, economic conquest, scientific advancement; each of these paths is achieved by gaining victory points, which are awarded based on how well you are doing. Regardless of which path you choose, the backbone of your game is all about establishing and maintaining supply lines; getting the right materials to the right place at the right time is (and frankly, has always been) the key to success in this game. While Settlers 7 is not the most intricate and complex game out there, it certainly requires a healthy amount of strategy, so you had best put on your thinking crown.

Graphics are stunning; I zoomed in too quickly in one instance and found myself looking at individual leaves on a tree; each of your loyal subjects works hard, and are animated very well. You can literally zoom out and get lost in the hustle and bustle of your kingdom. Couple that with a wonderful score and great sound design and you have yourself a very enjoyable way to watch as your kingdom kicks some posterior.

Controls are very easy to pick up; the tutorials do a great job helping you figure out what to do, so if you’re not an old hand when you start, you certainly will be when the tutorials are finished. This sort of ease of control, even within a genre that has well-established controls, really goes a long way to help everyone enjoy the game. Easy-to-use menus round out the experience, allowing you to save almost any time and pick up where you left off without difficulty. Load times are not usually a problem if you have a decently-powered computer.

Multiplayer is well done, and proceeds at an even pace; whether playing co-operatively or competitively, it is an enjoyable experience. Something that I found neat was that Ubisoft encourages you to have an online presence for the game; this really helps if you are stuck and need assistance, as you can request a mentor. It’s a great way for people who are new (or perhaps not so good at the game) learn some new tricks in a way that is much more social than relying on the manual and forums; the direct personal touch is so much better.

My only beef with the game is the weird DRM that Ubisoft has implimented. You have to be online at all times, even if you are playing the single player campaign. I have heard many nightmarish stories of people not being able to play for hours when this game first came out, but I have to say that I have not had such problems. Everyone has an internet connection these days, so I wouldn’t call it a show-stopper.

I heartily recommend this title. It is currently out on the shelves and is thoroughly enjoyable.

Posted in PC, Reviews |