The game manages to create a feeling of “being a Roman governor” – with the small details of civil life in the city, residents walking the streets, markets, theaters and infrastructure. This year the game also adds another and ambitious facet: a combination of construction, economy, politics, culture and even military if you choose.
Already in the first part of the game, where you are on a small Roman island and have to prove yourself to the emperor and his wife, the designated empress, we are forced to face difficult questions, each of which affects our position in front of the emperor and on the other hand as our citizens. For example, you will have to decide how to handle men who cheat on their wives, a woman who chooses to keep her faith despite the imperial decree, and more.
If you choose to favor the emperor, you will receive significant benefits such as trade licenses and even the ability to settle more islands tax-free. On the other hand, if you do not maintain the positive spirit of your citizens, you will face armed civil unrest. This balance is what makes you keep building non-stop and forget how many hours you play. Additional options in the game that you will have in the first stage is the choice of the God who will accompany you (with benefits of course) and which research you would like to do, each choice as mentioned has a price and it changes the game experience completely.
Those who like historical campaigns, with lots of decisions that change the style of play dramatically, will really enjoy playing Anno’s campaign a few times. Pretty soon you will be able to build a fleet of ships, colonize islands and start developing an empire within an empire, at any moment a threat can fall on you from the emperor or the wild rebels who are lurking for you.
Those who prefer to live their lives as they wish, and not be dependent on restrictive scripts, can choose the sandbox mode, which allows you to establish your community as you wish, as long as you pay the tax to Caesar, of course. In terms of content, it is a very rich world with dramatic changes such as local environmental impact systems. This year every public or industrial building creates a certain effect that affects the residents who are within range.
In addition, it is possible to research different technologies that will upgrade your buildings or the quality of the soldiers and of course the quality of life of the residents. This year you will also be able to choose to play between two different cultures: a Roman ruler or an invader who is the governor of Celtic territories in the area of Albian. Each choice completely changes the way you play.
Anno is much more than a building game, it is a game that forces you to play strategically and diplomatically. Whether it is the quality of the army or the quality of the language, you will have to manage relationships with other governors and choose whether you will obey the emperor, or form an alliance to overthrow him from power, all the power is in your hands. The DLC packs will also be released later, which include a wild island with a huge volcano and a wild and uncivilized land with new resources. A new monument with chariot races for the amusement of the citizens and a new provenance shaped by wide deserts and a mighty river.