'SimCity' is one of the all-time, definitive video game classics. The city-builder and urban simulator has always given players a unique and charming toolbox to make worlds and destroy them with hilarious disasters, and though the last game was released in 2003 it's still got a place in our hearts.
On Friday the all-new remake hits the UK. That's right, for the first time in 10 years you'll be able to make a beautiful little world and then crush it with Godzilla. And, as it turns out, zombies.
Controversially, however, the game is only playable with an internet connection. While that might make for a more complex game, and allows cooperative play with friends involving building multiple cities with different roles and specialisations, it also means we don't have a review yet since the UK servers aren't activated yet.
Lucky games reviewers in the United States have already had a chance to play the game in depth, however. Here's what they thought about the EA and Maxis' new title:
Polygon: 'Engineering Addiction' (9.5/10)
"SimCity is a near-perfect fusion of the classic simulation game with modern social and online play elements. It is in every way the fully realized evolution of the franchise and a much welcome iteration, perfectly engineered to dispense the maximum amount of fun in the most efficient way possible."
"SimCity is the kind of game that makes me wish it had a real-world clock displayed on the screen so I know when to stop to eat. When I get engrossed fine-tuning the inner workings of my public transportation system it devours time like nobody's business."
ShackNews: 'Return of a Classic'
"SimCity is still a gorgeous and often captivating strategy game. The ever-present tension between investing and saving is a constant presence as you play, and the numerous city specializations (oil drilling, ore collection, gambling, tourism, etc.) will help each city that you create feel different than the one before."
VentureBeat: 'A Joy To Play' (9/10)
"It’s a joy to see SimCity return in a better form than it has ever been. It is wonderfully complex, but very easy to play. The title is a massive undertaking and it has come together beautifully overall. Hopefully, EA will be able to improve the connected parts of the game, and the experience will become more fun with more players."