Gameplay Impressions
Gameplay ImpressionsJuggling the ever-changing needs of your population by utilising the vast array of options at your fingertips means that fans of the genre should glean some satisfaction out of the micro-management aspects of the gameplay. From health care to education there’s a lot to get involved in and giving your fussy population access to the right goods and services does provide an entertaining challenge. However, that challenge is somewhat short-lived and with no set objectives to aim for once you’ve built your first city and unlocked the more expensive structures there’s little worth going back for other than to create a different look. Indeed, one of the highlights of Cities Xl for us is that your creations look fantastic in glorious 3D, even if the lack of life on the street does strip away some its appeal.
Sadly, the single player campaign feels as though it was tacked onto its multiplayer component, which is where the main bulk of the content lies. From the outset you’re told that you have to sign-up online (for free) in order to access the single player cities and in-game adverts pimping the ‘Planet Offer’ crudely intrude the tutorial mode. Cities XL is going to end up being an entirely condensed version of the multiplayer offering once all of the promised features are implemented. The fact that you have to subscribe to ‘Planet Offer’ and pay a monthly fee of €7.99 just isn’t very tempting, especially when you’re accessing some features that arguably should have been available in single player mode.
With PC piracy at such a high level it's no wonder that publishers and developers are opting to change their business models, to give those who purchase the official game an incentive to buy it rather than download it illegally. We can't help but think though that micro-transactions would have been a better business model, rather than to charge people regularly for content that will then be taken away from them if they stop subscribing. The promise of new roads, buildings, resources and online competitions for all ‘Planet Offer’ subscribers isn’t a particularly tempting incentive.
Still, if you do subscribe you'll get access to five online cities and you’ll be able to do cool things like build the Eiffel tower with friends and take advantage of the chat and trade functions. It may lack the typical challenge of an online game, but you’ll be able to fast-track your city into something that will certainly look very impressive.
Cities XL provides a mildly entertaining, accessible city-building simulation that does have its highlights in the single player mode. However, unless a lot of decent content is churned out for the multiplayer components then it’s going to die a death sooner rather than later. The introduction of Gameplay Extension Modules (GEMS,) which will be available at a nominal fee, may re-invigorate the game when they arrive. GEMS will come in the form of mini-games that will add an extra level of micro-management and the good thing is that you won’t have to subscribe to the ‘Planet Offer’ to purchase them.
Final Score - 6/10
