Populous™: The Beginning

About

Populous™: The Beginning is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Bullfrog Productions and was released on March 7, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Shaman, the path is laid before you. Your destiny is to become a god! But it will not be easy. Not for you, and not for your followers. To become a deity, you must conquer all 25 planets of the system and defeat every other tribe and their shamans. The ultimate struggle will be a difficult one, as you build mystical cities, unleash devastating spells, harness volcanoes and tornadoes, and shape the…

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Role Playing

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 285 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

A timeless classic that brings back nostalgia and remains enjoyable even today.
The game features unique gameplay mechanics that blend real-time strategy with god-like powers, offering a complex and rewarding experience.
The community support and availability of mods enhance the game's longevity and replayability.

The game suffers from stability issues, including frequent crashes and problems with saving progress.
Controls and graphics feel outdated, which may deter new players unfamiliar with the original.
There are significant compatibility issues with modern operating systems, requiring community patches to run smoothly.

graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
78%
7%
The graphics of the game are considered dated by modern standards, with some users noting awkwardness for new players; however, many appreciate the revolutionary 3D graphics and dynamic camera that were ahead of their time, enhancing immersion and gameplay. While there are occasional technical issues, such as crashes and resolution settings not saving, the game remains a beloved classic that showcases innovative use of early 3D technology. Fans express a desire for a remaster that retains the original gameplay while updating the visuals to contemporary standards.
- “The transition to 3D graphics was revolutionary at the time, offering an immersive experience that was ahead of its era.”
- “The innovative use of 3D graphics and terrain manipulation influenced future game designs and remains a benchmark in the genre.”
- “Fantastic underrated gem of a game that was way ahead of its time in terms of graphics and gameplay.”
- “The poor graphics.”
- “Crashes upon hitting new game, graphics options cannot be changed even though the options menu says I have changed the resolution.”
- “Need a remake and update to graphics and sound and voice.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
74%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of real-time strategy and god game mechanics, allowing players to directly control the shaman while managing tribe growth and offensive strategies against enemies. Despite some dated graphics and controls, the strategic depth, variety of spells, and immersive atmosphere make it a rewarding experience, particularly for fans of classic RTS games. However, some players note issues with AI and lack of hotkeys, which can lead to tedious moments in gameplay.
- “The gameplay focuses on balancing the growth of your tribe with offensive strategies to conquer enemy tribes.”
- “Its innovative mechanics, strategic depth, and immersive atmosphere make it a standout title in the RTS genre.”
- “The variety of spells and abilities keeps the gameplay fresh.”
- “The gameplay can be kind of tedious since there are no waypoints, basically idiot AI, and as far as I know, no hotkeys/binds for skills, buildings, and followers.”
- “While the followers lack individual personalities, their roles are essential to the gameplay, making them valuable assets.”
- “Its a good game, but the graphics are very dated now as are the controls. However, once you accept these facts, the game itself is very good; the spell casting is much better than the 'hands off' god mechanics seen these days.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The music in the game, composed by Mark Knight, is praised for its atmospheric and calming qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience. While there are only a few tracks, players find the soundtrack and sound effects contribute significantly to the enjoyment of gameplay. Minor changes to the background music and the removal of the narrator have gone largely unnoticed, with the focus remaining on the soothing nature of the music during gameplay.
- “The soundtrack by Mark Knight is atmospheric and enhances the experience.”
- “The game’s visuals and soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere.”
- “Now, the soundtrack is a wonderfully soothing ensemble done by Mark 'TDK' Knight, a good old school sound composer, and I believe the game's sprite work holds up well in its light, comical nature even today.”
- “They have changed very minor things such as the background music but this is not really noticeable and they have removed the narrator.”
- “The music (though only 3 in-game tracks and 1 menu music) is very calming when you need to cast spells on those pesky enemy tribes (looking at you, dakini).”
- “The music (though only 3 in-game tracks and 1 menu music) is very calming when you need to cast spells on those pesky enemy tribes (looking at you, dakini).”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The story of *Populous: The Beginning* revolves around a shaman guiding her tribe through 25 planets in a quest for godhood. While the game lacks voiceovers for mission introductions, it includes a bonus campaign that adds to the overall experience. The narrative is complemented by a nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of other Bullfrog titles.
- “In populous™: the beginning, you step into the role of a shaman leading her tribe across 25 planets in a quest to ascend to godhood.”
- “There's no voice over for the beginning of each mission anymore, but it does have a bonus campaign added in that I've never had a chance to play before!”
- “There's no voice over for the beginning of each mission anymore, which detracts from the storytelling experience.”
- “The plot feels underdeveloped and lacks the depth needed to engage players throughout the game.”
- “While the aesthetic is appealing, the story fails to capture the player's interest or provide a compelling narrative.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with its immersive visuals and atmospheric soundtrack by Mark Knight significantly enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers note that this combination contributes to the game's standout status in the RTS genre, making it both engaging and accessible.
- “The game's visuals and soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere.”
- “Its innovative mechanics, strategic depth, and immersive atmosphere make it a standout title in the RTS genre.”
- “It isn't too complex, has great atmosphere, and I hope its coming to Steam spawns more interest in it and the overall genre.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game is criticized for poor optimization on current generation operating systems and hardware, making it difficult to run smoothly without additional community patches. Users recommend seeking out the "Populous: Reincarnated" community for guidance on improving performance.
- “This is a comprehensive FAQ on what to do to make this run smoothly.”
- “Can't recommend this release because it's not optimized for current-gen OS/hardware.”
- “If you want to run the game without problems, look for the Populous: Reincarnated community and patch the game for better performance on modern systems.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in its performance and lack of updates. Many believe that the game has potential but is hindered by poor execution and a focus on profit over quality. Overall, there is a strong sentiment that the game deserves better treatment and investment.
- “As is, just a cash grab.”
- “This can't be my laptop which is a relatively recent high spec gaming laptop that runs the most recent Total Wars without issue, so this can only be what I presume is a side product of an EA cash grab, because this game should not run this poorly.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its non-linear progression, which allows for varied paths and choices. This design enhances the overall fun and encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “The non-linear progression allows players to choose their path, adding replayability and variety.”
- “Lots of fun and replayability.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is noted for its depth and complexity, with players appreciating the nuanced growth of characters throughout the storyline. Many reviews highlight the emotional arcs and relationships that evolve, making the characters feel relatable and engaging. Overall, the development is seen as a strong point that enhances the overall narrative experience.
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability on the Steam Deck, with users consistently reporting a smooth performance.
- “This runs great on Steam Deck.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and absurd elements, often described as having a "funny smell" that adds a unique and comedic flavor to the overall experience.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the lack of waypoints, ineffective AI, and the absence of hotkeys or binds for skills and buildings, which can lead to a frustrating experience.
- “The gameplay can be kind of tedious since there are no waypoints, basically idiotic AI, and as far as I know, no hotkeys or binds for skills, buildings, and characters.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Populous™: The Beginning is a role playing game.

Populous™: The Beginning is available on PC and Windows.

Populous™: The Beginning was released on March 7, 2024.

Populous™: The Beginning was developed by Bullfrog Productions.

Populous™: The Beginning has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

Populous™: The Beginning is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Rise of Nations, Age of Empires II:, Command & Conquer Red Alert™ 2 and Yuri’s Revenge™, Dungeon Keeper Gold™, Zeus + Poseidon and others.

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