User Reviews (1 - 11 of 26)

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I love it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 33 / 41
Date: April 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I am in love with this game!
As a woman I do not play very much. That's how it used to be anyway...
Times change - ever since I started playing 1503 A.D. it is hard to concentrate on anything else.

Here's why:
I started to explore the world of 1503 A.D. to find the perfect island to settle and start building my empire.
Once I found it and explored it to find out about the ressources I started to set my first little buildings. Next thing you know is that all these tiny people come out of their cabins and start working - sooo cute!
After a while - and after many more buildings - my little village started to grow.
If I keep my people happy my village will soon turn into nice little city with big houses, university ...

If you are looking for something to relax and have fun at the same time - this is the perfect entertainment!

Very worth buying!

Changed my mind: I LOVE IT

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 24 / 26
Date: May 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The initial version of this software AD 1602 was fun to play, a kind of post-Renaissance Sim City. After a long wait, the 1503 version was released.

At first I hated 1503, thinking it was overly complicated. Well, switched to ENGLISH version (yuh! not smart, I was playing a version in German, the original language of this game) and I broke down and played the tutorials. Wow! There's a lot here. Not only are the graphics stunning, but the economic play is complex and interesting to the end. The formula to success (many aristocrats) is not as it was in 1602. In this case, trade balance is all; if you dare an agressive and too early expansion, your economy can take an irreversible downward spiral, and the cathedral starts softly playing the Miserere from Mozart's Requiem (haha, an anachronism but damn funny, you guys!)

Lots to love here, a great computer game, indeed.

Delayed 3 times over 3 years. Now out and ADDICTING!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 18 / 19
Date: April 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The first few nights I spent 10 hours solid playing. This is not good for school. Incrediblly addicting. I like economic simulations that don't focus on war. This is a one of a kind game that gives you a choice to war or not because the AI follows your actions. It has a new twist on the economic scheme in that it is a less comunistic form of government. The funds you acquire are from the sale of items at the market square (Capitalistic). The game takes long in progressing from level to level moving from pioneer, setteler, citizen, merchant, aristocrat. The education system is expanded from the last game of the series (1602) to include research for warfare units as well as larger ships, wells, larger textile manufacturers etc...
You will like this if you like CaesarIII, 1602ad, Tropico.
But you will not like it if you like to just war and avoid the whole economic thing as in: Starcraft, AOE, C&C Generals.
Allthough if you like both CaesarIII and AOE then you'll love 1503a.d.

an engaging game well worth its modest price... great first simulation game to try...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 15
Date: July 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

1503 A.D. is a wonderful simulation game for several reasons. It is an engaging game, well worth its modest price. If you are NOT a "gamer", 1503 A.D. is a great first simulation game to try and see if you like this genre.

First, it's important to note that 1503 A.D. is not about slash and burn like Age of Empire. Nothing wrong with Age of Empire, but in that game your sole purpose in building an economy is to build a military to defeat the other guy. And when the other guy's defeated, the game stops. And if you don't attack him, he'll attack you, so it's a tense play.

In 1503 A.D. your goal is to build an economy and explore the new world. It is a simulation of that time when Spain, France, England, Holland etc. first sent ships to the Americas and the Caribbean Islands and discovered the fantastic lands and resources available there. You play at your own pace without time pressure.

I find it engaging on three levels: first, creating a working economy (it's literally a little MODEL of a world, with miniature ships, buildings, roads, trees, animals, crops, and people); second, extending that economy over multiple lands, using ships as the means of communication and trade (for example, you need a tropical island to grow dye plants for luxury clothing); third, the basics and luxuries correspond to the actual economy of that time (food crops, clothing crops, tobacco, dies, spices, whale oil, etc.)

As several reviewers state, 1503 A.D. is quite engaging to play over many hours. You can stop and resume anytime. There are indigenous tribes to discover and trade with. There are prebuilt tutorials and campaigns to try. And there is a "sandbox" mode where you just pick a map and build on your own, with nobody telling you what you have to do.

There are other computer players to trade with. And yes, if you wish, to fight with. You can build troops and warships and send them off to do battle with other settled cities or with the bad guys everyone loves to hate, pirates. The point is, you don't HAVE to do this if you don't want to. Or you can do it LATER, after you've gotten the other features under your belt.

At $9.99 the price is hard to beat, plus, the game plays on normal computers and does not need super graphics cards. I think this is an engaging game well worth its modest price. And it's a GREAT way to explore playing simulation games and see if you like them.

One other tip, in addition to the printed manual that comes with the game, there are many free ONLINE web sites and forums with lots of help, tips and walkthrus etc. from other players. So you can play on your own, or follow a detailed walkthru, or just look up stuff somewhere in between.

WHOEVER THOUGHT UP THIS GAME SHOULD WIN A MEDAL!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: April 11, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have only had the privelidge of playing the demo, and this game [is real fun]! The Graphics are superb, the music is
perfect for playing into the early mornings (which you will probably do), and the game design is a 10/10. I would reccomend this game to anyone who enjoyed the SimCity saga, and anyone who also likes conquering their neighbors, but not with large-scale battles. It is, without a dobt, one of the best empire-building RTS' that has ever been made.

Great Game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: April 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Wow, I've never been pulled into a game like this!
Once you started building your medieval village your inhabitants won't let you stop: "We need food, we need spices, more building materials, please..."
And this all looks incredibly detailed.
I have to go back and explore some more islands ;-)

!! Best Game !!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: April 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is the best game! I can hardly turn away from my PC and take care of my daily business. I am so caught in trying to make my kingdom the greatest of all.
Very exciting and relaxing at the same time ... time passes by so fast - next thing you know its 2 pm and it feels like you just started.
Get it - you'll love it!

I don't understand...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: April 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Everyone keeps griping about this game, but please. Those of you who are, here's an idea, try playing it. :)

The New World was not created overnight. Anyways, I can start a mission at 8pm, and by 11pm, I'm a Merchant.

Let's allllll relax, and actually try it out.

Grandma's Review

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: June 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

You get your money's worth with this one. It's challenge is to build a town without bankrupting and that means being an efficient civil engineer. It operates well (few if any bugs) and the graphics are top notch. There's several websites to get clues on how to approach all the scenarios. This game appears to be big in Europe.

Great Game!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 23
Date: March 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I dont have the game yet but i tried the demo and the game is awsome i cant wait for it to come out! You can build your own kingdom and wage war on everyone else. Its based a long time ago and its really fun!

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