Caesar
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Critic Reviews 73% add missing review
Amiga Format (91 out of 100) (91%)
Now that Impressions have proved what they're capable of, let's hope we see many more games of the exceptionally high quality of Caesar. There's a lifetime waiting to be wasted with Caesar, and I for one can't wait to get started all over again.
Dec 1992 · Amiga · read reviewAmiga Action (91 out of 100) (91%)
Any game in which you have to build and maintain a city seems to have endless appeal for computer users. I cannot honestly remember a bad example of this type of game and Caesar is no exception. It's an great title and one of the best of its kind. You won't tire of this one and the hours of gameplay means it is a tribute to the power of the pound. Grab your laurel and toga, and enjoy yourselves!
Dec 1992 · Amiga · read reviewST Action (88 out of 100) (88%)
If you're bored with the challenges that Sim City and its ilk can give you then slip into your toga and step back into Roman times!
Mar 1993 · Atari ST · read reviewST Format (84 out of 100) (84%)
Caesar is an excellent game. Parts of it don't quite hang together well enough and there's not really enough variety from one province to the next, and ultimately itâs a bit easy to suss out how to win, but even so, it's very absorbing and extremely addictive. All told, it's a bit of a cracker.
Jan 1993 · Atari ST · read reviewAmiga Power (84 out of 100) (84%)
If you like strategy games, it's well worth checking out. Having to deal with two levels of play is intriguing twist, and the graphics are quite jolly in a Populous-like way (ie, lots of little animated figures). While the challenge is greater than with Sim City, the game is also less easy to get into, and not as instantly appealing - if you make a mistake it's virtually impossible to rectify it. You have to get your planning right from the start, but the effort is repaid. You might start off with your cities crumbling, but you just have to have one more go, because you figure you've worked out what you did wrong the last time.
Dec 1992 · Amiga · read reviewPelit (83 out of 100) (83%)
Grafiikka on sekÀ Amigassa ettÀ PC:ssÀ varsin siistiÀ ja, hupaisaa kyllÀ, lÀhestulkoon identtistÀ. Pelaaminen on lÀhes ÀÀnetöntÀ, ja efektit kertovat vain eri asioiden tapahtumisesta, kuten esimerkiksi barbaarien ilmestymisestÀ provinssiin (joka ilmoitetaan myös visuaalisesti).
Jul 1992 · Amiga · read reviewPC Format (UK) (83 out of 100) (83%)
Graphics are beautifully detailed but sound is sparse so you're not missing much if you don't have a soundcard. These few points aside, Caesar is thoroughly gripping stuff. It has all the essential ingredients of a top game and is worth every moment you spend playing it.
Jan 1993 · DOSAmiga World (B+) (83%)
The only thing really wrong with Sim City was that it didn't go far enough. The city you built was an end in itself. And delightful as that end may have been, there wasn't anything you could do with your creation once it was up and running... except admire it or destroy it. With this in mind, I come to praise Caesar, not to bury it. It's a Sim City that goes further: a classical turn on Konami's Utopia that lets you build a provincial Roman capital circa the birth of Christ, develop the region around it, defend both against the depredations of the everpresent barbarians, and address occasional requests from the people and orders from your boss back in Rome.
Aug 1993 · Amiga · read reviewGambler (80 out of 100) (80%)
Moje zdanie o tej firmie bardzo szybko zmieniĆo siÄ, gdy pewnego dnia zagraĆem w wersje demonstracyjnÄ gry Caesar z jakiegoĆ zachodniego czasopisma. ZachwyciĆ mnie wspaniaĆy scenariusz oraz fakt, ĆŒe zawsze "coĆ trzeba robiÄ". WkrĂłtce otrzymaĆem peĆna juĆŒ wersje tej gry i przez nastÄpne dwa tygodnie graĆem w niÄ "do upadĆego".
Dec 1993 · DOSCU Amiga (79 out of 100) (79%)
Avid god-sim players will find Caesar a welcome addition to their collection. The depth of gameplay and sheer number of possibilities offer a great challenge whilst it's also tremendous fun. New players eager to experience a god-sim for the first time, could well find Caesar to their liking. It's certainly no Sim City or Populous 2, but it does have a certain historic appeal.
Dec 1992 · Amiga · read reviewPlay Time (78 out of 100) (78%)
FĂŒr diejenigen unter Euch, die mit Sim City noch nicht genug haben und ein biĂchen Abwechslung möchten, ist dieses Spiel bestimmt zu empfehlen. Leider ist es ohne Zugriff auf Kohorte nur ein (recht gutes) Imitat.
Dec 1992 · AmigaComputer Gaming World (CGW) ( ) (70%)
Sim City in Rome. Begin as a low ranking Roman bureaucrat and work up to âThe Purple.â More of a game than a simulation, but it can be fun.
Jun 1993 · AmigaComputer Gaming World (CGW) ( ) (70%)
Sim City in Rome. Begin as a low ranking Roman bureaucrat and work up to âThe Purple.â More of a game than a simulation, but it can be fun.
Jun 1993 · DOSAmiga Games (68 out of 100) (68%)
Alles in allem ist CĂSAR also eine passabel gelungene Neuauflage eines Evergreens mit einigen neuen Elementen. Auch technisch ist das Game ordentlich geworden. Die Graphik ist einfach, aber gut: Es macht SpaĂ zu beobachten, wie schlichte Zeltlager langsam zu stolzen Villen mutieren. Der Sound dagegen beschrĂ€nkt sich auf ein gelegentliches Bruzeln und Rumpeln bei besonderen Ereignissen, mehr wĂ€re hier aber auch nicht zweckmĂ€Ăig gewesen. Wer schon immer gerne StĂ€dte geplant hat, wird auch von CAESAR nicht enttĂ€uscht werden.
Nov 1992 · AmigaPC Joker (67 out of 100) (67%)
Naheliegenderweise ist die Steuerung per Maus bzw. Tastatur und Icons. praktisch identisch mit der des âOriginalsâ. Das kann man von der öden, ĂŒberwiegend hellbraunen und kaum animierten Grafik weniger behaupten. nur das Scrolling ist recht flott. Der Sound ist zumindest via Soundblaster ertrĂ€glich, und der Spielwitz gar nicht so verkehrt - ausgehungerte SIMulanten werden den Nachschub jedenfalls zu schĂ€tzen wissen.
Dec 1992 · DOSJoker Verlag prĂ€sentiert: Sonderheft (66 out of 100) (66%)
Weshalb der zur Jahresende 92/93 erschienene Imperator zu den Glanzlichtern des Hauses gezĂ€hlt werden muĂ, liegt auf der Hand: Es handelt sich um nichts andere als einen âSim-Cityâ-Klon in altrömischer Toga!
(page 16)
Amiga Joker (65 out of 100) (65%)
Die Steuerung per Maus und Icons klappt tadellos, weil sie praktisch 1:1 vom âOriginalâ ĂŒbernommen wurde. Dagegen enttĂ€uscht die Grafik durch eine fade, ĂŒberwiegend hellbraune Farbgestaltung und dĂŒrftige Animationen, lediglich das flinke Scrolling verbessert den Gesamteindruck wieder leicht. Die Effekte sind mit Oropax gerade noch ertrĂ€glich, aber den Musikus sollte man nun wirklich den Löwen in der Arena zum FraĂ vorwerfen. Und das Spiel? FĂŒr eingefleischte SIMulanten ĂŒberlegenswert, fĂŒr KuriositĂ€ten-Sammler geradezu ein MuĂ...
Nov 1992 · Amiga · read reviewJoker Verlag prĂ€sentiert: Sonderheft (64 out of 100) (64%)
Weshalb der zur Jahresende 92/93 erschienene Imperator zu den Glanzlichtern des Hauses gezĂ€hlt werden muĂ, liegt auf der Hand: Es handelt sich um nichts andere als einen âSim-Cityâ-Klon in altrömischer Toga!
(page 16)
Joker Verlag prÀsentiert: Sonderheft (64 out of 100) (64%)
Weshalb der zur Jahresende 92/93 erschienene Imperator zu den Glanzlichtern des Hauses gezĂ€hlt werden muĂ, liegt auf der Hand: Es handelt sich um nichts andere als einen âSim-Cityâ-Klon in altrömischer Toga!
(page 16)
Atari ST User (55 out of 100) (55%)
The graphics really aren't that bad, but the sound is non-existent and the gameplay represents nothing new and for me very quickly became boring.
Dec 1992 · Atari STRetro Spirit, The (2.5 out of 6) (42%)
Litt pÄ samme mÄte som Sim City-serien, trÄr Caesar litt varmt og prÞver seg frem med hva som fungerer. Det er til tider litt frustrerende og tungvint, men idéene er gode. Klarer man Ä ignorere de smÄ irritasjonsmomentene er det mye underholdning for alle aldre her. Heldigvis skulle serien bli endÄ bedre, nÊrmere bestemt 3 Är senere nÄr kanontittelen Caesar II kom ut. Se opp vÄr omtale av den snart!
Dec 13th, 2009 · DOS · read reviewPower Play (21 out of 100) (21%)
Das Handbuch stimmt den Spieler ein: âWenn Sie ein Spiel von Impressions beginnen, mĂŒssen Sie auf alles gefaĂt sein!â - Selbst dem Imperator wĂŒrden die BlĂ€tter seines Lorbeerkranzes welken: Impressions ist es gelungen, das geniale Sim City-Prinzip zu einer vorzeitlich-römischen Katastrophe zu deformieren. Die BenutzerfĂŒhrung lĂ€Ăt alle WĂŒnsche offen: Icons, die aus dem groĂen Hyroglyphenlexikon abgepinselt wurden, die deutsche Ăbersetzung im Dialekt des Teuteburger Waldes und eine mittelschwere Maussteuerung bringen das PrĂ€fektenblut zum Kochen. AuĂerdem nerven uns Blockgrafik, Sparsound und ein noch nicht gefundener Spielwitz: Caesar ist spannend wie ein verstopfter AquĂ€dukt.
Dec 1992 · DOS · read reviewAlle PC Spiele N/A
Ăhnliches Spielprinzip wie beim Klassiker Sim City. Als Gouverneur einer Provinz des alten Römischen Reiches mĂŒssen Sie StĂ€dte bauen und diese vor Angriffen der Feinde schĂŒtzen. Grafik und SpielspaĂ erreichen nicht ganz das Niveau des Klassikers.
1993 · DOSComputer Gaming World (CGW) N/A
Early on, many players may find themselves leaping into their CPUs, fiddle in hand, while their province collapses in flames beneath them. With time and effort, however, Caesar provides that rare quality in strategy gaming - an experience whose rewards prove equal to its challenges. While the casual gamer may view the program as a meal with one too many courses, Caesar goes far beyond its Sim-City origins and provides the serious player with a real lion's feast. Hail, Caesar!
Jun 1993 · DOSPlayer Reviews
Enjoyable to begin with, but not enjoyable enough to complete
The Good
Caesar has a fairly basic premise. You are a Governor of a province of the Roman Empire. Your goal is to develop both the province and its capital city to a sufficient level to enable promotion, where you will be transferred to a new province.
As such the gameplay involves building your city, running the administrative side of things, developing the province's road network and defending it from barbarian invaders.
The idea seems simple but it can be very challenging. One of the good things about Caesar is that all houses begin as tents. If the citizens like the area, the house will grow into huts, then cottages, and eventually giant villas. If they don't like it they will disappear. This means you have to supply the houses with water, employment, entertainment, road access, forums, and many more. Of course the more you build the more money you need, and as your only income is from taxes you will need a thriving city to get anywhere.
Another good design in Caesar is the fact that your city and the province are on two separate screens and you have to switch between the two every so often to see what is going on. Spend too much time building your city and the barbarians will be happily demolishing the provincial roads.
The graphics in Caesar are nothing special but they allow you to see what is going on easily and are fairly pleasant on the eye.
The game also sets a target - unlike SimCity and similar you actually progress through levels to an ultimate goal (become Roman Emperor). You also have specific standards to achieve under specific criteria.
Oh and of course the best thing is - it's now been released as freeware.
The Bad
Despite the fact that Caesar has been well thought out there are problems with it. My major complaint is that the game is very repetitive. Once you have completed a level the only differences between it and the next are that you start with less money, have to meet higher standards to gain promotion and the actual layout of the province will change. This means that once you have completed a few levels the rest can be completed in almost an identical way. It would hve been nice if new buildings became available as you reached certain ranks.
The battle system also leaves a lot to be desired. The main reason is that Caesar was designed to be linked with Impressions' game Cohort II, but even so it would be nice to have more than four tactics available, one of which is always effective against all the armies in that one province. As it is, once you have built up a large enough army and discovered the tactic to use for that province you win every time and barbarian invasions become nothing but a boring distraction from developing the city.
The sound is also a bit basic and the music very repetitive. Background music is only available while visiting the Forum, and it would have been nice to have it all the time.
The Bottom Line
Caesar is a well-designed if fairly repetitive city-building game set in the Roman Empire. While you probably won't want to play all the way through - I am only on my sixth province and am already fairly bored with it - it will provide amusement for a fair while and as it's free, you have nothing to lose.
by krammer (254) on Mar 22nd, 2003 · DOS
Contributors to this Entry
Critic reviews added by xPafcio, Jo ST, Picard, LeftHandedMatt, mailmanppa, ti00rki, Patrick Bregger, Tomas Pettersson, Alsy.