Thriving City: Song
- April 21, 2023
- White Star Studio
Get on SteamThriving City: Song is a city-building simulation game set in ancient China's Song dynasty, allowing players to experience the empire's history and growth in Story Mode. As the mayor, you must ensure your people's prosperity by managing resources, addressing crises, and interacting with a historically accurate world. Your decisions will significantly impact city development and the course of history.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and pleasant music, creating a relaxing atmosphere that immerses players in the Song Dynasty setting.
- Gameplay is engaging with a good balance of city management and resource allocation, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The developers have a clear roadmap for future updates, and the game shows promise for additional content and improvements as it continues in early access.
- The user interface is unintuitive, making it difficult for players to manage resources and understand game mechanics, which can lead to frustration.
- There are significant bugs, including saving issues and pathfinding problems, which can disrupt gameplay and diminish the overall experience.
- Some players feel the game lacks depth and variety in late-game content, leading to a repetitive experience after initial enjoyment.
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally well-received, with players enjoying its engaging narrative and captivating art style, reminiscent of ancient Chinese paintings. However, some users note that the story is relatively short and express a desire for more content and improved translations. Overall, the story mode serves as both an enjoyable experience and a tutorial, though it lacks the depth found in older management games.
“I've played through the story mode and it was great.”
“This game art style is so captivating and it looks like one of those ancient Chinese paintings, and the game has a good storyline. I am interested in more future updates and content.”
“The story mode is challenging and doubles as a tutorial.”
“The story is a little bit short, and I hope to see more episodes on this side.”
“Even with some of the translations not completed (in story city 3, I have no idea what the imperial report says as it is not translated), I am a little lost in regards to some of the economy options.”
“It's not really a copycat of Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom, which is a much older, more in-depth management game with more layers of story.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as nice and fitting for the theme, though some players feel it lacks variation and can become repetitive. Overall, it complements the adorable art style and enhances the relaxing yet challenging gameplay experience set in the Song dynasty.
“The art is adorable, the music is nice (though could perhaps use a little more variation), and you can absolutely tell a lot of heart and love went into this game and recreating the experience of the Song Dynasty.”
“Thriving city: the game has a unique art style, good music, and addicting gameplay.”
“I only hope they add more music since the current tracks are a bit repetitive.”
“The art style and music make it a very relaxing game, but it still has its challenges.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, reminiscent of ancient Chinese paintings combined with modern cutesy anime aesthetics. Players appreciate the pleasing visuals and design layout, which enhance the relaxing yet challenging gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The art style and music make it a very relaxing game, but it still has its challenges.”
“It's a good game with a unique graphical style.”
“Very cute, pleasing art style that's easy on the eyes and a fantastic combination of song era art with a modern cutesy anime/manga style.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Thriving City: Song" is praised for its unique art style, engaging music, and addictive mechanics. However, some users note that certain tooltips require additional polish to enhance clarity on game mechanics.
“Thriving city: the game features a unique art style, good music, and addictive gameplay.”
“Most of the translations are good or good enough, but it needs a bit more polish on some of the tooltips, which at times can make the game mechanics unclear.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt the flow of gameplay, leading to frustrating experiences during critical moments.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a work in progress, with some translations still incomplete, particularly in the economic aspects. However, players are enjoying the experience and adapting as updates are made, indicating a positive overall reception despite these issues.
“Even with some of the translations not completed (story city 3, I have no idea what the imperial report says as it is not translated), I don't care because I'm having fun! I am a little lost in regards to some of the economy options, but I am learning as I go along while they continue to add English optimizations and translations.”
“The ongoing updates and optimizations have made the gameplay experience smoother and more enjoyable, allowing me to focus on strategy rather than technical issues.”
“I appreciate how the developers are actively working on optimizations; it shows their commitment to improving the game and enhancing player experience.”
“Even with some of the translations not completed (in Story City 3, I have no idea what the imperial report says as it is not translated), I am a little lost in regards to some of the economy options. I am learning as I go along while they continue to add English optimizations and translations.”
“The game feels unpolished, with many features that seem half-finished or poorly optimized, making it frustrating to navigate.”
“Performance issues are rampant, and the lack of optimization makes it difficult to enjoy the gameplay experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing frustration over frequent bugs that detract from the overall experience.
“I would give a positive review if it weren't so buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I've experienced constant lag and glitches that ruin the experience.”
