Despite this, Anno 1602 is still occasionally played by small groups of LAN PC gamers, or by players over the internet. Because the network play is less sophisticated than that of modern games, lags and disconnections often occur. The game also features online and network play with up to 4 other players simultaneously.
In Anno 1602, the player can choose to play out one of the game's many scenarios or engage in a free form game. The US release contains all 6 scenarios (in addition to the tutorial and training game) that were included in the original European release, as well as 9 new scenarios, along with a "free play role". As the game starts, the player will need to find a nearby island, colonize it, and start building up an economy. The player controls an unnamed European nation in 1602 AD that is looking to expand their power into the New World. Even though the game focuses heavily on an economic standpoint, on various occasions the player will be forced (or will bring it upon others) to defend their islands against possible enemies.Īnno 1602 is a colony building and trading simulation. Players can also trade with their own colonies, and various neutral CPU controlled players such as native tribesmen. The ultimate goal of the game is to discover chains of islands, settle them, develop on them, and then trade with other players. 3 Distribution and commercial performanceĪnno 1602 aims to be a mix of simulation and strategy gaming, giving players the chance to create a realistic and lively world, modeling it to their liking.Anno 1602 began the Anno series, which led to the sequels Anno 1503, Anno 1701, Anno 1404, Anno 2070, Anno 2205 and Anno 1800.
The game was less successful in international markets, but ultimately sold above 2.7 million copies worldwide by 2004. It was the German market's best-selling computer game of 1998, and remained the region's highest seller of all time by 2003, with over 1.7 million units sold in German-speaking countries. The game design is noteworthy for its attempt to implement a 'progressive' artificial intelligence, meaning that the pace of the game changes in response to how quickly players act.Īnno 1602 was a commercial blockbuster that attracted buyers outside the usual demographic of German computer games, including a significant percentage of female customers. Set in the early modern period, it requires the player to build colonies on small islands and manage resources, exploration, diplomacy and trade.
in North America, is a 1998 construction and management video game developed by Max Design and published by Sunflowers Interactive. I adore 2D, though, so that's another reason why Tropico 1 always wins in my book.Anno 1602: Creation of a New World, entitled 1602 A.D. The sequels are, IMO, either too easy or just flat out charmless, but definitely a good start for a beginner. The economic and political balance can be very tricky to attain, and that's what keeps me coming to it: I can always find new ways to deal with issues and tackle each island in a slightly different way, depending on my citizens' needs, wishes, political agendas etc.ĮDIT: I am referring to Tropico 1 because it can be as brutal as you like it, and I like my islands to be very difficult. On the other hand, I've been playing Tropico since the year it was released, at least for multiple weeks every year. You always need to fulfill the citizens' needs in the same order, so I really don't see the huge replayability factor in the game. They feel so bland, devoid of charm, and most of the time play out the same. Tried to get into them multiple times, but they just feel so lifeless to me despite the nice graphics.