‘Virtual City’ Review
Virtual City is a city simulation game where you travel from one city to another rebuilding and refurbishing various cities. Virtual City fails to match the complexity and amenable nature of other larger games like SimCity. However, its sharper focal point makes for a very fun and unique game unlike others in its genre.
Gameplay 8/10
Rather than managing a whole city, Virtual City bases itself more on industrial chains and transportation of goods. You are still able to build roads, buildings and scenery to an extent, but the game requires less of this and more on your skills to oversee a successful industrial chain and deliver goods to certain places.
Virtual City is level based, which is good in the sense that each level and scenery is different with varying difficulty and tasks for you to perform, but bad in the sense that by the end of the level, all your hard work is lost as you are sent to some other dump to refurbish. The developers have stated that an update is coming soon with a Sandbox mode which is badly needed.
At the start of a level you are given a certain amount of money which you must spend on vehicles and industrial buildings. You then need to construct a supply chain by linking a truck to certain industrial buildings to create an end result. For example, linking a truck from a grain far to the mill will then produce flour, which can in turn be sent to the bakery and so on. By later levels, more complex supply chains involve up to 10 buildings making for a very complex management situation.
Keep your inhabitants happy by attending to their needs.
Away from the industrial side of things, you also need to keep your civilians happy. Happy civilians will earn you more money and will create a warm bubbly feeling inside, knowing you are making everyone smile with glee. To do this, you need to provide a rubbish collection service, public transport and an environmental rating high above 0. There are tons more I could say about Virtual City and its features, but then this review would be a few pages long so I’ll leave you to discover them all.
Now after all these processes and tasks, it is quite easy for an inexperienced player to be inundated by so many things he or she needs to do which makes the game unattractive. Thankfully, the leveling system helps immensely because you are very gradually introduced to each mechanic, but it still leaves you to discover and find out things for yourself. At no time did I feel that the game was just holding my hand and telling me what to do when, and you are given a certain level of freedom to do what you want, whether it is the right thing or not. However, you are still bound by strict goals which you need to achieve which is where a Sandbox mode would help to vary the game.
Graphics 10/10
The graphics are stellar and look extremely good, even on 2nd generation devices. The animations are smooth and I was surprised at how well the game performed as a whole. Also, the attention to detail shines through at various points in the game and should be commended.
Controls 10/10
The game also works well in relation to the very small screen of the iPhone. Virtual City does not suffer from cramped controls and options, and even though I would have preferred a bigger screen to play on, I never felt the small screen hindered the game. The building selection and other on-screen controls are very intuitive and easy to use.
The graphics are superb for a city simulation game.
Sound 10/10
Like the graphics, the sound is also extremely detailed on every level. The many different sound effects and sounds make for an immersive experiences.
Menus 9/10
The graphical menus look great and work well. They fit well with the theme of the game and don’t take away from the experience.
Longevity 7/10
As mentioned, Sandbox mode is really what is holding Virtual City back. Without it, the game still lasts and is worth the money, but can become a bit repetitive.
Cost 9/10
Its $4.99/£2.99 price point is certainly worth it for such a fully fledged game, however if your tight on cash, then maybe wait for the Sandbox upgrade before you buy.
Conclusion 63/70 – 4/5
Overall, Virtual City is not out to take on the big names like SimCity in terms of flexibility and mass of features, but instead comes together to create a unique, playable simulation game that everyone will love. My one complaint which prevents this from being a 5 star title is its lack of a Sandbox mode, which would increase its longevity two fold. Yet still, Virtual City remains a game, perfect for all you simulation fans out there. Of course, if you are not sure, try out the lite version which offers a generous slice of the fun.
