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Engrossing Gameplay

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 83 / 84
Date: November 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Having enjoyed the previous two games in the series, I was surprised and pleased to find a third just released. I immediately scooped it up. What a shame it hasn't been better promoted, at least in North America. Like the first two, it's another classic in the making.

The graphics are high quality and enchanting. A large brilliant color palette was used in everything from the buildings to the stunning landscaping.

There is a large variety of buildings available with some carry-over in style from the previous games. Meticulous detail has always been the hallmark of Sunflower games. They absolutely lived up to that here. Also there is much more emphasis on production than providing services. The amount of goods available for production or purchase is staggering.

The interface is relatively minimal and quite intuitive. I found the setting of trade routes easy to organize. There was some "green/red" confusion as to which goods were indicated as in demand or for sale, or to be loaded or unloaded. With some help on the forums that was clarified and the rest was fairly simple.

The construction menu was well-organized and easy to access. I would have liked to see road construction be a separate option. There was no undo button, although you could set the option for demolish to return the entire construction cost.

I found the Free Trader and his VERY lucrative assignments a bit unbalancing, but he would be very helpful in getting past the learning curve without having to restart your city or cheating. This option can be turned off or ignored later.

The research trees were quite comprehensive, with separate trees for the school and university. It was not always clear how to apply research benefits and upgrades to your mines or production facilities. Thankfully there was not too much micromanagement required as the game itself can move at quite a fast pace.

Combat can be largely avoided in the continous play mode, although not the scenarios. Although be prepared, there's nothing like coming home to riots because everyone ran out of booze. Or chocolates. But, if you want to build up huge fortifications and take everyone on, by all means. You have the option at the beginning to choose which opponents, if any, you will be sharing the map with. You may request a specific map, or let the game randomly generate.

There is a 40-page manual included in the box, as well as some very good in-game tutorials that will help you master the basics. This is a somewhat exacting economic simulation. While thoroughly enjoyable, it can get complicated quickly. Some experience with these types of games would be very helpful, but there is enough provided to get anyone started building their very own medieval empire. The core gameplay is solid with consistent logic applied throughout. With the mouth-watering graphics, attention to detail, and depth of the customizable gameplay this is a game you will want to play again and again.

This game (U.K. version) installed and ran (25+ hrs) on a midline gaming system, meeting system requirements, with no crashes to desktop, graphical errors or other technical difficulties noted.

Fantastic!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 24 / 26
Date: November 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Without getting too long winded, let me say that this game is very well done and offers some truely addictive gameplay not often seen in most PC games. Anyone not familiar with the ANNO series should seriously consider this their first chance to experience one.

Presentation, execution, and style are through the roof on this game. It performs very well, even on low end machinery, and doesn't have any bugs to slow things down.

Overall, this is a must-have for City-Building or Sim fans, you can't go wrong with this title!

Best new city builder this year!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 42 / 43
Date: November 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I loved the previous incarnation of "Anno", called 1503 AD, The New World. I also loved Simcity 4. In my mind, these are both very similar games, especially when you play in continous mode. I found 1503 had a very steep learning curve (that is, it was hard to figure out how to avoid running out of funds). It was very...persnickety, I suppose. 1701 is much less so, and a lot more fun as a result. Just building roads correctly in 1503 was maddening! (That road is CLOSE to the farm, but it's not touching the right part of it---grrr.) None of that silliness here. And boy howdy is it GORGEOUS! I'm running it on a system that barely meets the minimum requirements, and it is smooth as silk, with the best 3D graphics I have yet seen in any PC game. I tried the demo of the much-anticipated Casesar IV, and found the interface very clunky; the graphics sub-par. Quite a disappointment, after waiting all these years. 1701 is the best "Anno" so far, by far. Try the demo, and see for yourself. This is the city builder you were looking for. Have a ball!

Absolutely wonderful game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: December 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I haven't played the previous Anno series but this one is superb. The graphics and game play are awesome to experience. 1701 A. D. is fully 3D and fun to play as well as a real challenge. If you like 'city builder' type games this is the top of the line, IMHO, and all set in the year of 1701.
Object is to inhabit an island and start a civilization. Not all resources are available on this island, (food, cloth, wood, bricks, etc.), so you have to set up trade ships and trade with the other islands all while maintaining a budget. You may also find another island of your own and set up shop there for your own resources.
I highly recommended it and the price is well worth it.

1701 AD

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 17
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

My brother is an avid war gamer and has even designed some of his own games. He loves this game and is really enjoying it.

Hours of fun.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 9
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Great fun, if you are a fan of the Anno series of games.

Best "non-violent" game on the market!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: January 10, 2007
Author: Amazon User

1701 AD is the best and most addictive game I have played in years. The interface is beautifully done and entertaining while being intuitively easy to use. While there is some aspect or possibility of combat and defense, it is not strictly a part or requirement of the game. In fact, one of the challenges of this game is to build your influence without resorting to violence. Great fun for all ages.

City Planning

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: January 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is the type of game that can grow on you or not. Some people will be put off by the slow pace and tedium that occurs at various points during the game. However, there is a real challenge here that can take several replays to work out. As often with city planning games, the initial layout should be carefully considered so as to not require that nasty demolition tool be used, and disrupt the flow of resources. But get the hang of planning your initial city (village) and determine a strategy to expand to other islands for their resources and one can have quite a good time of watching your nation grow and proper. A reasonable addition to any library of strategy/city building games.

very nice game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: January 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Think it's very nice game. We were thinking for a while to buy it. Now we're very glad that we have it.

You can play this game really for hours and not be tired from it. Very nice game, very nice graphics, no problems with installing, no conflicts with system (that is always nice in games).
If to install good visualization - games look amazing. Every detail is perfect.

Very nice game to till your political and administrative skills.
If you built an empire and destroyed - you can try again and again and everytime will get smth new and interesting.

Very nice for everybody.

Dissapointment

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 6 / 11
Date: February 17, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have spent hours upon hours playing 1602AD and really looked forward to playing this new game.With 1602 everything was easy to use and clean cut.I was really let down with 1701AD.Altho the graphics are awesome it was very different and not at all as easy to do all the things you need to do to have an enjoyable game.They have you in a fog-of-war mode from the start unlike 1601.Plus smaller maps and just not as much fun to play.The fog-of war should have been an option and not just the state of things.My advice is do not waste your money.A total let-down for me.

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