A few hours a day, let yourself float on the 15th century oceans with the scent of spice, fish and leather.
Just for clarification, I've played most of the SimCity series, Caesar, Tropico and many other city building games. You might say I like to indulge my self in hours of watching houses slowly progressing, and I do, but the breaking point is always repetitive actions and only one way to tackle each problem.
Dawn of Discovery promises both a colorful gameplay, an 'at your own pace' approach and a beautifully rendered world that when one does not play, he actually misses.
Any repetitive actions are left for the computer to tackle, like trading: you control the traded goods 100%, but you don't have to worry about the small details of stocking, transporting and unloading - just create a trade route (easily controlled and maintained). Not worrying about such mundane daily actions, leaves you time to focus on the important things in life - designing the Island of your dreams, including building the dock area of you liking (a new and blessed feature to Dawn of Discovery).
Up to know this basically sums up the Anno games, so whats new and special about Dawn of Discovery ?
Well, as magical as city building games are, they do tend to get rather dull eventually, Dawn of Discovery rather fixes that.
You can actually smell the sea salt as you play the game, the colors, the amazing attention to detail and the funny remarks by you Islands inhabitants (wait till you hear a peasant say he's named his son after you...).
Another addition to this game in the series is the added campaign and scenarios along side a system of accomplishments and goals, witch add a self-driving element to this amazing game.
Jakednb.
For players not used to city-building games, perhaps this is not the best game to start with on account of it's complex economical system, and just for that reason any one like me, in love with the genre and looking for that magical feeling along with a demanding game-play, this really is the game of the hour.
In conclusion, an amazing experience worth it's cost by any standard. Highly recommended for city-builders/strategists who are looking for more color and life in their games.