14 DAY TRIAL // Since Sim City went a bit too casual with its latest installment, another game was needed to take its place and be crowned the best city building sim game in the world. And we might have a winner with Cities XL, if it manages to do everything as promised by developers. It is a great prospect and, personally, I can't wait to see it hit the stands - even though it will be only released next year.
Developed by Monte Cristo (the same developers of the OK game City Life), Cities XL promises to be the true next generation city building game, pushing realism to the limit and trying to bring cities that are as close to the real thing as possible. Another interesting thing that will make the game even more enjoyable by everybody is the fact that it will allow us to see our cities online - but we'll tell you more about that a bit later.
Because we have to know first what Cities XL will bring to us. We'll have realistic 3D maps, an incredible collection of structures based on American, Asian and European-influenced architectural styles. The maps (that seem to look much better than those we've seen in City Life) feature all the possible environments: mountains, hills, canyons, beaches and islands, all of them set in various climates, from tropical to desert and so on. Regarding the city building itself, it seems to be, at least in theory, the same known by hardcore gamers, since you'll have to create the right combination of buildings in order to keep your citizens satisfied and happy.
But, as I've said before, probably the most exciting new feature of the game is its multiplayer mode which will allow players to create interconnected cities on virtual and persistent planets. This means that city management will get to the next level, with mayors being able to trade with one another, specialize their economy and team up with fellow mayors to create true metropolises. Events and competition will increase the interactivity and realism. For example, a concert held in one town might attract visitors from other ones, visitors that will further be able to walk through the city and admire it's beauty.