Educational, Expansive, Entertaining
This game has three modes of play with each containing a variety of tools and functions for it's central purpose. They include God, Mayor, and Sim Mode.
God Mode allows for you to design the terrain to your own liking with tools such as valleys, mountains, canyons, etc. It also allows you to create disasters if you feel the urge. Mayor Mode includes several city features of which fall into one of the seven basic categories for building and maintaining a city. The seven categories include landscaping, zoning, transportation, utilities, civilities, landmarks, and parks. Within each of these categories are several structures to strategically place around the area based on it's function and/or value. The only drawback I can protest to in this mode is the inability to rotate structures when placing around other objects or spaces. Really limits the control of the game, and putting it lightly, makes you want to blow your brains out. This mode also has a panel for analyzing your city's supply and demand. This is a lot more useful than one would think. Sim mode is the simplest of the three modes, but a pretty unexpected addition to the game's focus for creating a city atmosphere. It does, however, have a unique quality with lots of potential for future Sims. Basically, it allows a player to create their own individual person. They can tell you how well they're maintaining their job status, so you can have a more specific idea where to take your city. This mode also allows for the operation of certain vehicles, and exploring various missions for that type of vehicle. I, personally, like the helicopters, but they all get old fast.
Overall, a pretty in-depth game that will keep you entertained for hours-on-end with its vast array of tools that allow for a nearly endless manipulation of city design. The limitations on structure placement and blurred graphics when zoomed in make it a less than vivid experience, but well worth the $20.