Populous™

58%
Game Brain Score Based on 26 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Populous™ Game Cover
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"Populous™ is a Role Playing Game where you play as a powerful deity, shaping the world and leading your followers to victory through strategic use of divine magic and military tactics. With local multi-player options for up to 2 players in a split screen view, test your skills in single-player or competitive PvP mode. Experience the classic game that defined the god simulation genre, with its influence reaching modern games such as Black & White, Spore, and Viva Piñata."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

58%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
music3 negative mentions
  • Populous™ is a nostalgic experience for players who enjoyed the original game, capturing the essence of classic god games.
  • The gameplay remains simple yet satisfying, allowing players to manipulate terrain and command followers in a way that laid the foundation for future strategy games.
  • Despite its outdated graphics and mechanics, the game still holds a special place in gaming history and can be enjoyable for fans of retro games.
  • The Steam version feels like a lazy port with no significant updates or improvements, leading to frustration among players.
  • The tutorial is ineffective, and players are often left to seek out online manuals to understand the game's mechanics, which can be a barrier for newcomers.
  • Many technical issues persist, including poor UI, sound problems, and a lack of basic optimizations, making the experience less enjoyable.
  • gameplay7 mentions

    The gameplay is rooted in classic mechanics that require players to reference an off-site manual to fully grasp its 8-bit visuals and unique features. While the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of 90s titles, it lacks modern enhancements or sound effects, making it less appealing compared to contemporary god games. However, its innovative terrain manipulation mechanics and strategic depth may still attract fans of retro gaming and the genre's history.

    • “Once players have adapted to both the visuals and mechanics, they can then play various worlds that differ in color theme and environmental effects with little difficulty.”
    • “The game’s innovative mechanics, like raising and lowering terrain to influence your people, were revolutionary at the time and laid the foundation for future strategy games.”
    • “Its creative gameplay and strategic depth make it a must-play for fans of classic games and those interested in the origins of god games.”
    • “Essentially, consumers will be purchasing a relic that requires reading an off-site manual in order to understand its 8-bit visuals and peculiar mechanics.”
    • “Even worse, the game doesn’t come with any real improvements or remastering efforts—there’s no attempt to modernize the visuals or gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is how I recall from the 90s, but they nixed all sound effects, which is really odd.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users criticizing the replacement of the original soundtrack with a low-quality MIDI version that detracts from the overall experience. Many feel that the new music is repetitive and poorly integrated, overshadowing the game's theme and enjoyment. Additionally, the inability to adjust the volume or turn off the music before starting a game has further frustrated players.

    • “They also changed the music to some MIDI soundtrack that sucks. If you want the original game, this isn't exactly it; it's a crappier version of the original.”
    • “Basically the same game as I played on the SNES, but they ruined it by changing the background music.”
    • “The music that opens the game is deafeningly loud and can't be turned off until you start a game.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics of "Populous" are described as primitive and outdated, requiring players to consult an off-site manual to fully grasp the 8-bit visuals and unique mechanics. Despite the lack of modern improvements or remastering, the game offers a nostalgic experience with varied color themes and environmental effects, appealing to those willing to overlook its visual shortcomings.

    • “Once players have adapted to both the visuals and mechanics, they can then play various worlds that differ in color theme and environmental effects with little difficulty.”
    • “Essentially, consumers will be purchasing a relic that requires reading an off-site manual in order to understand its 8-bit visuals and peculiar mechanics.”
    • “Even worse, the game doesn’t come with any real improvements or remastering efforts—there’s no attempt to modernize the visuals or gameplay.”
    • “The graphics and interface are primitive, but there's challenging fun to be had if you're willing to look past it.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy for Populous™ on Steam is perceived as a cash grab by EA, suggesting a lack of effort and value in the game's pricing and content offerings.

    • “Populous™ on Steam feels like yet another lazy EA cash grab.”
    • “The monetization strategy in this game is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating for players who don't want to spend extra money.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users express frustration with the Steam version of the game, noting a lack of basic optimizations that negatively impact performance.

    • “It's really frustrating that this Steam version lacks basic optimizations.”
    • “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
    • “I encountered frequent frame drops and long loading times, which severely impacted my experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Players have noted that the game's stability is often compromised, with glitches and crashes being common. To enhance the experience, many recommend downloading fan-made patches for a smoother gameplay experience.

    • “Players have pointed out that to get a smooth experience without glitches or crashes, you're better off downloading fan-made patches.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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