Earn your independence!
Game uses Civ 4 engine so people who are familiar with Civ4 will not be surprised.
Ups:
- Nice graphics, better that Civ 4
- Nice economic model, detailed labor and resource types
- Good trade system
- Addictive gameplay
Downs:
- No bandits or outlaws in the new world ?? That would be a realistic and an exciting addition to the game
- As the game covers a specific time and situation once you won the game you may not want to start a new game ( At least I didn't) Natives should be playable too.
- Some random events in the game would give it some more taste (such as disasters, population booms, accidents etc )
- Colonial population in the game are very loyal to you. There are no uprisings against the colonial leader in the game. The happiness factor is missing in the game. Once you convince 50 % of the population for independence everybody in the colonies can take up arms obediently and fight with the King's Army
- It is very easy to found a new settlement. It requires no resources and takes no time. That is not logical. ( Even building a simple warehose would take some turns and some amount of timber!)
- Natives trade only with gold. You can't offer them timber and ask for food.
Some Tips for the game
- After establishing your first colony scout the map, visit native tribes first as they offer you gifts, treasures and gold.
- Spend the gold quickly on something otherwise king may want some of it. (If you have less , he will demand less)
- Plan your growth, Build colonies for specific purposes
- Be flexible on production. (ex: ıf silver prices go down and tax go up, don't insist producing silver, switch to ore)
- Maintain good relations with natives, trade with them, sign pacts, arm them. They will help you in your war of independence
if you like turn-base strategy game you should try Colonization.