Gamers Universe writes: "If you've heard Will Wright deliver any of his academic speeches before, there's a strong chance you already consider the man to be a complete genius. Not only in terms of the technical quality of the software that he pioneers, but the ability to spot an opportunity in concepts that others would instantly dismiss as entirely too mundane.
Sim City is perhaps the most classic example of this principle at work. Suburban planning is widely considered to be a relatively dull subject after all, but seen through the eyes of someone with a passion for education - and an ability to convey information in an entertaining and addictive manner - it's suddenly transformed into something that even your mum can enjoy. There are those that flesh out the various gaming genres with fantastic technical displays and progress the medium in their own right, and then there are those that break boundaries to invent the new categories in the first place. Wright, is undoubtedly a pioneer."
Pros:
+Complex simulation
+Social dynamics
+Full 3D models
+Runs well
+Vast variety of building types
Cons:
-Poor tutorial
-A little too confusing
-Not particularly attractive
-Cluttered interface
Although this is the best version of City Life, if you own the original game the additions made here do not warrant a re-purchase. With that said, this is an accessible city sim for the uninitiated. But, for the initiated, be warned. While the gameplay mechanic is solid, the formula hasn't really changed since the early 90s, and things feel a little stale. However, if you have aspirations of going into city planning, or just like managing things in general, then City Life might be up your alley.
Presentation - 7.0
Graphics - 6.0
Sound - 7.0
Gameplay - 7.0
Lasting Appeal - 7.0
Overall -
Gamepyre writes: "My first encounters with PC gaming involved playing the original Sim City and the original Civilization. Soon after, I bugged my mom to the point that she got me a computer just to shut up.
Modern technology has created some awesome products when it comes to sound and graphics, but all this modern technology can't teach a programmer to program a fun game. This was the case with Sim City Societies. Visually, the game was a masterpiece, but the gameplay was terrible and there wasn't much fun-factor behind the product. Not even a year later, EA decided to re-release the game, this time bundled with the previous Sim City. Sure, Societies is patched up and has new buildings and stuff, but it is still the same game. Just leave it to EA to take more of people's hard-earned money."
2404 writes: "As far as city-building games go, City Life has been the best replacement for the SimCity series. After SimCity Societies shook up the series' core gameplay foundations (mostly for the worse), City Life stands as the only modern city-builder that lets you cultivate barren expanses into urban, populated cities or throw yourself into the middle of scenarios that require your hand in saving cities from dissolving away into rural wastelands. With Monte Cristo's latest entry, City Life 2008 Edition adds new buildings to build and new scenarios to take part in. It's the definitive version of City Life, but it's also devoid of features that change anything, which makes City Life 2008 Edition a purchase for newcomers only."
