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By providing an impressive level of detail in a game where detail is essential, and by including intuitive enhancements to the player experience, this is one title that should easily land on the “must have” list for any gamer.
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GameNowGreat sequel for the one and only city sim game out there. [A+; Apr 2003, p.45]
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The new features, refined interface, and (above all) near-perfect sense of balance make this old dog feel vital and new.
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Game InformerIt would be unwise to attempt to measure the amount of time you'll spend playing this game in hours; rather, it should be measured in days or weeks. [Feb 2003, p.106]
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The graphics are nothing short of fantastic. Whether viewing the city from a bird’s eye perspective or up close and personal to homes, businesses, or traffic, the level of detail and finesse are obvious.
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Unlike "SimCity 3000," SimCity 4 really is a major evolutionary step in the series.
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It is marvelous fun to use God-like power to morph the terrain, release tornadoes on the town, or simply try to make your city the best it can be.
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The most obvious improvement from the previous games is the interface, which is now far simpler than it was in any other SimCity title... This is without a doubt the best SimCity game so far.
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Entertainment WeeklyThe game is such an architectural playground that you can build on it for hundreds of hours and never get bored. [17 Jan 2003, p.87]
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One thing that is really great about SimCity 4 is the fact that EVERYTHING is under your control.
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We couldn't have asked for much more than has been delivered, and I doubt Maxis could have done much more with a formula that they've improved upon time and again.
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Cheat Code CentralThe level of detail is astounding... You can play this game for years and always get different results.
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The amount of detail, information, and control in SimCity 4 is nothing short of amazing - wannabe city planners and mayors will be in city management nirvana.
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The same, and happily just as oops-where-did-the-weekend-go addictive. Buy it, and resign yourself to some five-hours gaps in your memory you may have difficulty explaining to the police at a later date.
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Oops-where-did-the-weekend-go addictive. Buy it, and resign yourself to some five-hours gaps in your memory you may have difficulty explaining to the police at a later date. [PC Format]
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A more than worthy successor to the mayoral throne, and by far the best in the series, except for slow-down issues.
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Technical sim junkies will have a lot to build, destroy, and monitor, but newbies might want to run for shelter.
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PC GamerEverything you've ever loved about the series has been given a gorgeous new visual treatment. If you've got the patience to handle the tough difficulty, it'll be a fun game. [Mar 2003, p.112]
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Yes, you are able to import your sims, and yes you can observe their daily routine as they work their way up from the inner-city slums into a high-level corporate position, but then you have to ask yourself why you would want to do that to begin with.
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With the updated graphics and cool God Mode this game will give you hours and hours of tinker and tweak gaming pleasure.
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Due to the presence of some stability and performance issues, as well as a few noticeably lacking features, SimCity 4 doesn't seem as polished as it could have been.
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Despite our concerns over the lack of a full 3D engine, Sim City 4 is a beautiful game to behold.
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It's crushingly addictive, especially with the fascinating new possibilities offered by having your cities trade with each other for resources. Fix the stability, add some scenarios and we might be looking at a five star game.
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GMR MagazineThe fundamental mechanics haven't changed much, but they have been significantly enhanced. What's most noticeable is the excellent presentation. [Feb 2003, p.70]
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Unlike past SimCities that dealt in generalities, this one takes a more hands-on approach.
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Computer Gaming WorldThe shift in emphasis to tending the whims of your Sims has left the economic model a bit shaky. [Mar 2003, p.84]
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SimCity 4 isn't a perfect game. It has a difficult learning curve, so the poor documentation and limited tutorials might frustrate players. And the gameplay suffers from some pacing and balance flaws.
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Unfortunately the high system requirements and tedium of building will probably turn away hordes of players who otherwise would've had a great time.
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The new feature I found the most interesting is the ability to tax different income brackets.
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SimCity 4’s biggest flaw is that it’s not a SimCity. It’s some third-party interpretation of what SimCity should be like, with some grand new features. The new features are implemented but the designers totally missed what makes a SimCity.
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Lacks scenarios, ready-made cities from the developers, and some new features -- the first person "streetside" view was discussed during development, but is absent.
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Minutes turn to hours turn to days of play but all of a sudden, a revelation hits you. ‘What am I doing?’, ‘What’s the point in this?’ – you start to question why you’re putting so much time into a practically endless game.
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netjakSurprisingly deep, complex, and accessible, SimCity 4 is the pinnacle of simulation games.
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Edge MagazineSimCity 4 might sit down among the many footnotes in the history of gaming, but it fills its remit with skill, creating a game that genuinely demands something of our oft-neglected intellect. [March 2003, p.101]
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A nice looking but repetitive and slightly annoying management game.
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Computer Games MagazineBecause the game adheres so much to real-world city-building, it's harder and harder to build the city of your dreams. [Apr 2003, p.76]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 301 out of 353
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Mixed: 43 out of 353
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Negative: 9 out of 353
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DiogoCJun 28, 2008The improved graphics and the marvelous taste of challenge makes this the best SimCity ever!
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Mar 5, 2013
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Oct 10, 2018