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Not Fun - just Frustrating!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 26 / 81
Date: November 26, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Before buying this game, I strongly recommend downloading the demo off their website first. As a fan of many of the "God Games" out there, I found this one very unintuitive. In short, all of the people are stupid and the game itself does some very dumb things.

For instance, there are points in the demo where the farmworkers just sit there and drown as the Nile River rises. The question isn't "what's causing this person to just sit there"... the question is "why is this even occurring?"

That's just one example, there are many, many, more. Another example? Ok, I got to a point in the game where half of the population would just leave. Then, six months later, they'd all return again just to repeat the same process again and again year after year. Does this make any sense?

I found all the micromanagement to be very tiring. The object of the game isn't to build an empire, it's to figure out all the stupid little workarounds it takes to make these people do what they should be doing without any thought.

This is just the demo, folks! I strongly suggest you see for yourself before you drop your cash on the real deal.

Derek

Thoroughly addicting. A rare gem.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

There are very, very few computer games that have ever hooked me like Pharaoh has during what's been nearly 20 years of playing them. This game is an absolute gem, and, for the ridiculously low price it sells for, it's also a steal. Pharaoh is very deep and engaging, and the fact that it's so chock full of history and was so thoroughly researched makes it shine even more. I should also say that time flies by while playing it like you wouldn't believe; I'll think a half hour has passed only to look at the clock and see it's been almost two. Which brings me to my warning: it's almost impossible to stop playing this game, though I'm quite happy to be hooked.

If you like city-building games and especially if you're into ancient Egypt, definitely buy yourself a copy of Pharaoh now!

Great historical strategy game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I don't know what made me love this game more -- my interest in ancient Egypt or my love for a great strategy/simulation game. Whichever it is, this game is great!

You play your way through various campaigns with various missions through ancient Egypt's history. Master the art of the trade, control huge industires (such as papyrus making, pottery making, beer brewing, and so much more), fight wars, and build huge, lasting monuments -- pyramids, mastabas, obilisks, and sphynxes. When you begin your "Family History" (the ongoing campaign), you get a message to help you get started; like how to build houses, feed your people, etc. If you don't know how to play, it tells you exactly what to do. If you've played before, you just click and start the game. Trading is great. There's nothing better than making tons of money exporting goods! The warfare portion of the game is somewhat lacking, though. You mine bronze, make weapons, train soldiers. But the battles aren't even close to as good as in Age of Empires or WarCraft. Right-clicking on your townspeople makes them give you their opinion of the city; this helps you know what to change. You can also choose to do non-campaign-connected missions, which you choose from the list.

So, if you liked Caeser, love ancient Egypt, or are just hungry for a good strategy game, get Pharaoh. Also get Cleopatra, the Pharaoh expansion with more missions and buildings, but I recommend the Great Empires II Collection, so you get many great city-building games in one inexpensive package.

Great city-building game, similar to Caesar 3

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Pharaoh is very similar to its predecessor, Caesar 3. While Caesar 3 is Roman style, Pharaoh is in Egypt. Just as Caesar 3, Pharaoh is the game for fans of any Simulation game. As the location of this game is mainly on desert, you have to deal with small "green" area where you can put well on it to distribute the water to your citizens. One source for the food is the ostriches that are located in certain area on your map. Therefore, building your city needs a good plan to make sure your citizens are not short of food and water. I really like this game, and you may too! I was playing this game for months a few years ago and now I miss this game and want to play another mission. :D

This game focuses on government. You are required to balance the prosperity, health, and some other things in your city. Make sure that your citizens are employed, healthy enough, well educated, have access to entertainment facilities to keep them happy. You can adjust taxes, hold festivals, open new trading route, and many more!

If you have played Caesar 3, you'll find that playing this game is very easy. All the controls, units, and gameplay is very similar to Caesar 3. Although Pharaoh is not a new game, yet it is fun to play. With a few bucks, you can get great simulation game that might get you obsessed on it!

This game could have been so much more

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 11
Date: November 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game was a fun game, but it could have been made so much better. It had many fun points to it, with a lot of variety, although theirs so much variety, and since everything can be made in the form of something else, it can take a very long time to get to "point A to point B". The game also has a very boring "custom land" game, where you are given a type of land, and you just build, as their are no more than 12, and only like 3 or 4 are any good. The campaign is VERY confusing, as i was in the 4th level, i accidently chose "continue playing level" after i beat the level, and now it wont let me advance, wont let me replay the level, wont let me rebeat the last level, etc... So I had to restart the entire campaign, which is very annoying. Also, the game is extremely easy. My friend, who had never played Pharaoh, or any game like it, played for about 15 minutes, and had already made a city that could rival the greatest city ever built in Egypt. Also, this game seems just to be Caeser 3 in disguise. i have Caeser 3, and this game bears amazing resemblance to it. i know their both made from the same company, but many aspects of the game are almost identical, and the only difference is the picture. Which is why I gave this game 3 stars, it's a fun game, but if your even mildly good at any "city-builder" you'll beat this game in about one coffee break. Or if you've played Caeser 3 and you didn't like it, expect the same reaction from this game.

Highly Addictive! A Must Have

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 15
Date: January 02, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I've played Caesar for sometime so was a litle doubtful when I first considered buying Pharaoh. But..! Although it may seem to be a Caesar with new graphics, there are enough differences and challanges to make a serious difference. One major difference which makes it worth it - the missions to build the various monuments.

Very addictive and a must have!

An excellent citybuilding game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Pharaoh is an excellent citybuilding game, much like Caesar III, but better because it is ancient Egypt and not Rome. Made by the same company, Sierra, the game is complex and challenging as well. You must juggle many aspects of a city: from Healthcare and Education, to Food Production and and Religion. Add to that some Egyptian monuments, a few plauges and armies, a dash of city life, and you have Pharaoh. I highly recommend this game to all who are tired of gathering resources, producing armies, and conquering the world through military might; those who could use a little citybuilding. This game is the best.

Pharaoh rules!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is beyond cool! It was made for history buffs like me. The help files don't show up every 5 seconds like on other games, and you can review them without having to play the game over. they're really helpful too. The buildings tell you if they have enough workers or not with one glance. there are only two small drawbacks: 1. You can't control your army. 2. It gets a little annoying to have to worry about your citizens' water,entertainment, food, Etc. but then again, all games have drawbacks, right?...to all you strategy fans, history buffs, sim city peoples, or strategy newbies just getting your feet wet, This game is for you!

Obsessed Oldster

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: September 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I'm a 46-year-old who doesn't play computer games. Well, not until now. I have always been fascinated with ancient Egypt and bought this game on a whim. Now I can't stop thinking about it. I LOVE it! (Who wouldn't like a game where, if you're doing well, you're told: "People love you" and "People idolize you as a god." I sure don't get that in my "regular" life!)

Pharaoh is one of the city-building games and has many scenarios, from very simple, pre-dynastic villages with crude huts to huge pharaonic cities with temples, pyramids and myriad industries, for you to play. You will build housing for the incoming immigrants and provide them with food, water and work. You'll have to deal with fire, disease, foreign invaders, and poor Nile inundations. Keeping the gods appeased and frequently checking with your overseers can alleviate some of these disasters.

While I'm playing, I forget about eating and sleeping and work and chores. When I'm not playing, I'm humming the little songs and envisioning the cities and thinking about how I can improve my game. Wow!

(I do have one concern, however. I have read that the game comes with a big manual but mine didn't have one. I want a manual! But I still love the game even without it....)

Deserves more than a five

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: March 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is the most incredable city building game of all time. Not only is the re-play-ability great(due to the fact that there are over 50 missions) It is easier to control. It has great interfaace control, letting you keep tabs on you city as it grows to become a necroplolis of egypt. Making money is challenging but thats what makes it extroidenarely satifing when you have made a great city. I have many cities that are flourishing, so it isnt difficult , just challenging, which puts it over games like zeus, and ceaser III. Food ditribution andmonument building also put it in the top tier of games. I havent stopped playing any of my cities beacause there are always promblems to be solved, battles to be fought, blocks to be built.I would purchase this game as quickly as possible. Pharaoh is one of the greatest overall games of all time, so hurry up and buy a copie, 6.99 is a great cost for how mant hours and years this game will get you

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