Caesar™ 3
- August 29, 2016
- Impressions Games
- 91h median play time
Get on Steam"Caesar III" is a city-building strategy game set in the Roman Empire, where players must design and manage cities to keep citizens happy and meet imperial demands. The game offers an isometric view, with citizens and resources accurately simulated to create a realistic Roman city experience. Players must balance various aspects of city life, such as housing, food, entertainment, and sanitation, to ensure growth and prosperity.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Timeless classic with engaging gameplay that combines city building and strategy.
- Nostalgic experience that brings back fond memories for many players.
- Challenging mechanics that require careful planning and resource management.
- Technical issues such as sound looping and resolution problems on modern systems.
- Outdated graphics and interface that may deter new players.
- Frustrating AI pathing and resource management mechanics that can lead to gameplay challenges.
- gameplay88 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Caesar III is characterized by its deep and rewarding city-building mechanics, blending strategic depth with engaging resource management challenges. While the game features dated graphics and some frustrating mechanics, such as pathing and worker AI, it remains a nostalgic favorite for many players, offering a rich experience that rewards careful planning and problem-solving. Despite its age, the game continues to captivate both old fans and new players with its charm and complexity.
“Well-designed gameplay with the right level of difficulty.”
“Caesar 3 remains one of the best classic city-building titles available, with solid gameplay and great historical elements.”
“Balancing the needs of your population while managing limited resources and responding to various challenges, such as invasions or natural disasters, keeps the gameplay engaging and rewarding.”
“The most frustrating mechanic is the pathing system used to deliver goods from building to building.”
“There are a ton of hidden mechanics that you need to know about to be successful in this game, and a lot of them are pretty obtuse.”
“The biggest issue with the vanilla experience are market priorities, pathing, and the walker mechanic for delivering services.”
- graphics88 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its age, yet many players appreciate their charm and simplicity, which enhance the nostalgic experience. While the visuals may not compete with modern standards, they are often described as vibrant and well-designed for their time, contributing to the game's engaging gameplay rather than detracting from it. Overall, the graphics serve as a reminder of an era where gameplay took precedence over visual fidelity, making the game enjoyable for those who value substance over style.
“The game's aesthetic simplicity does not detract from its beauty; instead, it enhances the nostalgic feel, reminding players of an era when gameplay and creativity took precedence over high-end graphics.”
“Despite the passage of time, the art style holds up remarkably well.”
“Its charming sprite graphics and deep, rewarding gameplay have stood the test of time, continuing to captivate old fans and new players alike.”
“Not only does it manage to play worse than the original 00s game, but it's also so buggy that just changing resolution broke the graphics so thoroughly that it rendered the game unplayable.”
“The graphics are outdated, but I still don't mind spending hours on it.”
“No zoom, simple commands, graphics are subpar by today's standards.”
- story56 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally considered weak, with many players noting that the narrative is not particularly engaging despite adequate voice acting. However, the mission-based structure provides a variety of challenges that escalate in difficulty, requiring strategic planning and problem-solving, which keeps players engaged. While the game offers a rich city-building experience with historical context, the storyline itself is often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and mission complexity.
“It is atmospheric, the mechanics are fun, the visuals have aged remarkably well, and the mission/map design provides just the right amount of challenge and space to keep engaging the player and escalating the scenario without feeling repetitive.”
“Real rich story as well and good narrator with all kinds of story paths.”
“The game also features a clever mission-based structure, which gradually introduces players to more complex scenarios.”
“That being said, it has to be noted that the storyline is not very engaging (though the voice acting is adequate) and the mechanics (especially the logistics) can be hard to master, and the AI of some of the workers doesn't always make sense, making the game somewhat frustrating at times.”
“This leads directly to another issue: every single mission past the 2nd one, whether peaceful or warlike, will have nonstop enemy invasions.”
“Ultimately, enduring the game is miserable, as you experience serial arsonist-level fires nonstop no matter how many praefectures you build, pretty much nonstop invasions even on peaceful missions, having to place countless reservoirs and almost as many miles of aqueduct as miles of road, setting down fountains and seeing a house 4 blocks away saying it needs access to water.”
- music34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its orchestral complexity and immersive quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the soothing and nostalgic soundtrack, some report technical issues such as looping tracks and sound bugs, particularly on Windows 10. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.
“The orchestral soundtrack is complex and very immersive.”
“The music is also very involving, making it a great experience.”
“The soundtrack is a real banger!”
“The only issue I have with it is that the sound is bugged sometimes and it keeps playing 2-3 seconds of the same song in a loop, and on top of that, any other environmental sound as well.”
“I loved this game growing up, but in this version, I cannot control salaries, employment, taxes, etc. For those who know, they will understand that without being able to control these options in the game, it's basically a lost cause... also, the music and speech keeps looping the first 10 seconds, which is exactly what happened to another game I got from Steam (Lords of the Realm 2).”
“I've been playing the game on Windows 10 and I've had no issues save two annoyances; occasionally the music track will stutter and begin to loop endlessly (which can be solved by getting the proper DLL files from IndirectSound), and the fact that the in-game video clips do not adjust audio according to the game's volume setting.”
- stability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with many users reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly on Windows 11, which can affect gameplay and graphics. While some players find it runs well on Windows 10 and 7 with minimal issues, others experience significant problems that hinder their ability to progress. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further tweaks to improve its stability.
“Even better than I remember it, to be honest, and remarkably bug-free on Windows 10 compared to a lot of old games!”
“Runs great with no bugs.”
“The game runs great on Windows 7 and 10.”
“Not only does it manage to play worse than the original 00s game, but it's also so buggy that just changing resolution broke the graphics so thoroughly that it rendered the game unplayable.”
“You're not really running the buggy mess that is this Steam version.”
“I don't know if the game is buggy or I'm doing something the game doesn't allow, but I can't trade even though I have the granary full and open route, also set to trade over 0. I can't advance this first scenario (the one after the tutorial). I was excited to play once again, but having this problem in the first scenario seems like a bad investment already for such an old game, already buggy.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, enhanced by recent updates and nostalgic elements. Players appreciate the diverse missions and sandbox mode, which contribute to its enduring appeal and ability to cure boredom. Many reviewers highlight that it remains enjoyable and complex, rivaling more modern titles despite its age.
“Funny how this game is as fun (if not more), complex and replayable as some of the more 'modern' games that cost $60 and come with a plethora of bugs and/or shady (or outright lying) marketing.”
“Has never lost its touch and replayability, even after all these years, is still one of the best.”
“It is always replayable and worth the time and money, curing boredom with all minor details, and a little military actions intervening commerce, trade, and city building and management.”
“With numerous missions and a sandbox mode, Caesar III offers significant replay value.”
“This same design also allows for a degree of replayability in a game.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the significant role of music in enhancing the overall experience. The visuals and mission design contribute to an engaging environment, while the historical detail, particularly in the context of the Roman Empire, adds depth and richness to the gameplay.
“It is atmospheric; the mechanics are fun, the visuals have aged remarkably well, and the mission/map design provides just the right amount of challenge and space to keep engaging the player and escalating the scenario without feeling repetitive.”
“Music is really important when you play a game, not only because of the atmosphere and theme, but because it adds to the experience.”
“Pharaoh is incredibly historically detailed, has more features, and more atmosphere to it.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers a compelling and complex city-building experience, players report performance issues and lower resolution compared to other titles in the genre. Improvements in background music and sound effects could enhance the overall experience, but the core gameplay remains engaging despite these shortcomings.
“It feels deceptively simple to learn but gets really complex to master, and there's something so appealing about building the perfect city that runs smoothly.”
“If the background music and random sound effect performance is improved, then this will be the best among all.”
“The game suffers from significant performance issues, making it frustrating to play, especially during larger city builds.”
“I encountered frequent frame drops and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“The optimization feels rushed, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even on mid-range hardware.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of Caesar III is characterized by its immersive gameplay that can be both heartwarming and emotionally taxing, offering players a wholesome yet occasionally heartbreaking experience.
“Highly immersive and emotionally straining at times, this is Caesar III.”
“Heartbreaking.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort to progress. Despite this, some still regard it as the best city management game available, indicating that the overall experience may outweigh the tediousness of grinding.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining. The comedic elements, particularly involving humorous characters or scenarios, contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment.
“This game is hilarious!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch!”
“I love the funny characters and their witty dialogue!”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users labeling it a "cash grab." However, some players appreciate the value added by mods like the Augustus mod, which enhances the gameplay experience in an otherwise established city builder.
“That's when you know this is a cash grab and nothing more.”
