14 DAY TRIAL // Strategy is all about synergies and good decisions. Can I find the right balance between the various family interests while also expanding? Is it better to just keep an eye on my rivals or is it a better idea to actively work to take them down?
I started as Hanno the Navigator, who built the Yazilikaya but failed to set up colonies, and now his son is in charge. This version of Carthage is focused on exploring as much of the world as possible while strengthening relations with the tribes. But we’ve been slow when it comes to military development and poor diplomacy with the Greeks might soon lead to war.
I get all my cities to produce war elephants, while the capital is pushing out more workers as I try to boost my iron production. Investing a lot of resources in another wonder is risky if a conflict breaks out but it’s also a great way to boost my civilization. And I have a young son to tutor and shape into a capable future ruler.
Old World - Wonders and Dynasties is developed by Mohawk Games and published by Hooded Horse. This is a downloadable content pack that enhances the strategy title by adding more leaders and starting conditions for all featured empires.
The name of the DLC makes it clear what players are getting. The Dynasties part refers to a range of new leaders, each complete with innovative starting conditions. Their names, like Khufu, Darius, or Sulla, will be familiar to players who have an interest in history. The extra variety should make even familiar factions interesting again.
When it comes to wonders, players get access to eight new ones. Some are familiar, like the Colosseum, the Royal Library, or the Heliopolis, and I would count the Jerwan Aqueduct, the Cothon, the Jebel Barkal, the Yazilikaya, and Al Khazneh as more obscure ones. Each can boost specific player approaches, although it’s often a good idea to build them simply to deny them to other factions.
Old World’s core mechanics, the order system and character interactions, remain engaging. The DLC does not tweak them but all the additions slot seamlessly into the system. Because the game focuses on a smaller slice of history, there’s more focus on how small choices can have big effects. The DLC adds extra events, including assassination plots, historical character encounters, and festivities that involve other faction rulers. Carefully consider the choices before committing to a decision.
Old World is a captivating game, especially in the early stages, when much of the map is still unexplored and the race for cities is on. War still feels a little limited and could use some improvements, which is why I tend to roleplay my dynasties as pacifists when I can.
Old World - Wonders and Dynasties is a good-looking game, mainly because its more limited time frame allows it to adopt a clearer style. Anyone who has played Civilization or another title in the genre will have no trouble understanding and using the interface. The ambient sounds are also solid but good history podcasts can easily replace them.
Conclusion
I like the more obscure leaders the most because they ask me to shift strategies and also allow me to learn more about Ancient history. Old World puts a fun twist on classic turn-based strategy, and I hope the developers will consider adding a new mechanic or two in future DLC.
Review key provided by the publisher.
