Arté Mecenas

About

Command history as head of the Medici. Become the patron of such luminaries as Da Vinci and Michelangelo by using your wits to build your banking empire, establish your reputation, and commission artworks. But beware - your choices have consequences. Will you prosper or perish?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

graphics2 negative mentions

The game effectively explains the dynamics and morals of Renaissance trade with great historical context.
It offers a pleasant and casual gameplay experience, making it a fun educational tool for learning about the Renaissance.
The original concept is intriguing, and the game has the potential to engage players interested in art history and economics.

The gameplay is limited and repetitive, with a lack of meaningful choices and depth, making it feel too short and not worth the price.
Technical issues, such as artwork not displaying correctly, detract from the overall experience and suggest the game may be abandonware.
The game is incomplete, lacking key features and content that would enhance learning and enjoyment, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.

graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics in the game are marred by a significant error that prevents players from viewing commissioned artwork, resulting in a frustrating experience where they must guess without context. Instead of the intended visuals, players encounter blank squares, and attempts to view images lead to an unresponsive loading screen, necessitating a restart of the game turn. This issue detracts from the overall aesthetic and thematic depth that the artwork is meant to convey.
- “All the artwork is replaced by a white square with a magnifying glass over it, and clicking the image to get full view opens up a full-screen loading page that loads indefinitely, so I have to close the window (with keyboard shortcuts, because the full-screen game becomes unresponsive) and restart the turn.”
- “I'm affected by an error (even after verifying the installed files) which makes the artwork you can choose to commission not visible, so I just have to guess at 1/3 odds, missing any subtext or historical synchronicities communicated by the artworks.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is criticized for being limited and repetitive, primarily revolving around renaissance art trivia and a basic economic system of buying low and selling high. Many players feel it fails to meet the expectations set by the game's premise and does not justify its price.
- “The gameplay is limited and does not live up to the game's amazing pitch, and it borderline doesn't live up to its price tag, which is saying something.”
- “However, the gameplay is repetitive, alternating between renaissance art trivia (and educated guesses) and a simplistic buy low/sell high economic mechanism.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story offers sufficient depth and interactivity to justify its $10 price, though some players find the initial mission tedious and are hesitant to continue. Overall, while the narrative has potential, it may not engage all players fully.
- “More than enough story and interactivity to be worth the $10 price tag.”
- “The tutorial was fair enough, but after playing the first mission, I'm unlikely to again submit myself to this tedium.”