1503 A.D.: The New World

The Good
The game's petite fun. I mean, it's kinda fun to explore the game world, meet other players and Natives, and watch your cities grow from simple pioneers to aristocrats rich in wealth. The graphics aren't 3D but still high in detail level. And the music is nice and easy for a game around the time of Christopher Columbus.

The Bad
There is no multiplayer mode in the game. Money is earned from shops and not taxes, this makes it hard for new players and at the start of the game. Unlike 1602 AD there's no map editor, which stinks because I liked the map editor for 1602 AD it was fun to make your own ideas for missions come to life in that game.

The Bottom Line*
A fun mix of RTS and city-building during the time of Christopher Columbus. If you like 1602 AD you'll probably like this game even more!

The Good
This game is great and I still play it today! The graphics and music are wonderful. It causes the player to think about resources and finances and the needs of the people, while creating structure and allocating materials. A variety of military weapons and options. The games AI is done very well as the computer generally faces you off against anywhere from 2 to 5 other settlements. I wish I could find more games like this one! Something like this should be done in the area of being the first to settle the United States or something. Games such as these could be made for settling the planets even!

The Bad
I wish the game was larger now, since I have been playing it for years! I'd like to see a MMOPG like this!

The Bottom Line
Take your ship and sail it to an island of your choice, each one offers a variety of minerals to mine and vegetation to grow and harvest. Create a village and supply your people with what they desire from foods, supplies, doctors, tools,etc.,and as they grow and learn through education, the more people move there until the village expands into a town, city, etc. Trade with the AI's other players or go to war with them. Watch out for Pirate ships as well! Grow through trade or conquer the entire map. Use diplomacy or cannons. Move your armies from island to island using your Navy to bring them ashore. Use the armies or Navy cannons to destroy cannon towers, building and the enemy soldiers. Build castles and construct the building which create your weapons. Have cattle, grain, tobacco, sugar cane and more farms. Highly detailed and great fun!

The Good
The game has nice and detailed graphics, several different production line, it has more of everything that made Anno 1602 so addictive. You could wait hours doing nothing and keep looking your town grow bigger and greater.

The Bad
- Even as it tried to be better than its predecessor it failed as they changed some mechanics of the first part. Money is earned via shops and not via taxes any more. This makes the game really hard in the beginning.
- In addition are the AI is something not really worth mentioning as the enemy only builds on a little island and not really disturbing you any more.
- After 1 1/2 year the multiplayer part was finally cancelled.

The Bottom Line
Fun manager game settled in the time of Christoph Columbus. It is nice to see your city grow. If you know and liked Anno 1602 you will most likely have fun with this one too.