Urban Empire
- January 20, 2017
- Reborn Games
- 13h median play time
Urban Empire is an interesting political city builder, but it falls into a rut where every playthrough feels the same.
In "Urban Empire," become a mayoral dynasty leader and guide your city through 200 years of historical challenges across five distinct eras. Make critical decisions, establish infrastructure, debate political decisions, and use various tactics like bribery or blackmail to outmaneuver opponents. Experience a blend of city-building and strategic political scheming in this unique simulation game.
Reviews
- Unique concept that combines city building with political simulation.
- Engaging political mechanics that require players to manage relationships with various parties.
- Interesting historical context and events that add depth to the gameplay.
- Shallow gameplay that becomes repetitive quickly, lacking meaningful choices and consequences.
- Performance issues, especially in later eras, leading to significant lag and crashes.
- Poorly designed UI and lack of clear information on game mechanics, making it difficult for players to understand the impact of their decisions.
- gameplay158 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth. Critics highlight that the mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration, while the political elements feel shallow and unengaging. Despite some appreciation for the game's concept and visuals, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, with calls for more robust mechanics and clearer tutorials to enhance the player experience.
“It is not that the game is difficult; if you know the mechanics (maximum taxation in the beginning, then build districts quickly), then you can have quite a big settlement easily.”
“I was very excited about this game coming out since it seemed to take away my least favorite part of city-builder gameplay: laying down every single street and water pipe and power lines, etc. In this regard, the game delivered on this expectation very well.”
“Overall, I recommend this game to those who are curious about the macro style mechanics of the game and do not mind throwing a few extra bucks at a developer who tried to do something new and interesting.”
“I keep trying to like this game and get into it, but at no point are any of the mechanics explained.”
“Gameplay is incredibly shallow and repetitive; decisions and mechanics seem trivial, and the narrative is far too simple and sparse to compensate.”
“The tutorial offers no help in understanding how the game mechanics really work.”
- graphics73 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, bland, and riddled with rendering errors. Despite some players experiencing decent performance on high-end rigs, others report significant lag and graphical glitches even at lower settings, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a major drawback, detracting from the game's potential and enjoyment.
“A mix of almost impenetrable mechanics, terrible UI, beautiful graphics, incredible atmosphere, intriguing plot, and strangely addictive gameplay.”
“On the more technical aspects, the game itself is good-looking (though draw distance is far shorter than it should) and the graphics, though perhaps not revolutionary, are fitting, and the visuals do not leave me disappointed in the slightest.”
“The graphics are well done and follow a coherent style.”
“This game was poorly finished; the graphics aren't great either.”
“Graphics are outdated, bugs galore, and a ton of other issues.”
“I can play any game on my computer on pretty high graphics, but this game even struggles to keep 60 fps at the lowest graphical option.”
- optimization49 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly in the late game, where frame rates drop drastically regardless of hardware capabilities. Users express frustration over the lack of updates to address these problems, leading to an overall unplayable experience for many. While the game has potential, its poor optimization and numerous bugs detract from enjoyment and gameplay.
“If it wasn't for the optimization, I would never have written a review.”
“The game needs a few more rounds of optimization, as it shouldn't be causing my computer so many problems.”
“With even a modicum of optimization, the game would be great.”
“I really love playing this relaxing game, but I would really love an update that would resolve the performance problems so that I could actually finish it!”
“It is a poorly optimized mess with a terrible UI and poor tooltips.”
“Until the performance issue is solved, I can't recommend this game.”
- story40 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story attempts to integrate a multi-generational narrative tied to ruling families and city politics, but many players find it lacking depth and impact, with choices feeling inconsequential and disconnected from the gameplay. While some appreciate the historical context and visual representation, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a narrative that feels more like a backdrop than an engaging element of the experience. Ultimately, the ambition to blend storytelling with city-building falls short, leading to a repetitive and underwhelming narrative experience.
“While not a perfect game due to being too ambitious, I certainly enjoyed the eras and the story of the characters you play as.”
“It also lends replayability, as depending on your choices you will probably end up going through a much different story each time.”
“Urban Empire tries to mix storytelling aspects with city-building and strategic maneuvering in politics.”
“The game has no story, narrative, and sucks at worldbuilding.”
“There is no story or plot whatsoever to immerse in.”
“Unfortunately, it basically plays out exactly the same way with each playthrough, and other than a few shorter, limited scenarios, you ultimately have to play the same story.”
- replayability38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a contentious topic among reviewers. While some players appreciate the potential for varied strategies and different starting choices, many criticize the game for its linearity, repetitiveness, and lack of meaningful consequences from player decisions, leading to a consensus that replay value is significantly lacking. Improvements in game mechanics and additional content could enhance replayability, but as it stands, many players feel that a single playthrough is sufficient.
“Plenty of replayability due to different starting choices you make along with quite a few scenarios to test your skill.”
“It also lends replayability, as depending on your choices you will probably end up going through a much different story each time.”
“I've now gone into era 3 with 3 of the 4 families, played on each of the maps, and I'd definitely say that there is a good base for replayability.”
“Lacks the replayability required to make this a worthwhile purchase.”
“I do not recommend this game because it is very repetitive and has no replayability, and none of the choices you make in this game have any visible effect.”
“Overall a decent game but no real replay value.”
- stability32 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, frequent freezes, and significant performance issues, even on high-end systems. Many players describe it as unpolished and lacking support from the developers, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from its potential. While a few users have experienced minimal issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is plagued by technical problems that hinder gameplay.
“It has been bug-free for our first two hours.”
“Glitch and bug-free so far, running at 61-64 fps, which is great with peak settings.”
“Released in a messy, poorly documented, and somewhat buggy state, then immediately abandoned by the devs who vanished.”
“The game is unpolished, buggy, mid-game is slow (I have a GTX 1080 Ti and I would constantly get 8 FPS) and worst of all, not worth the money.”
“Great concept and game, however, it freezes too much for my top-of-the-line PC and this is the only game that freezes my PC like it's no tomorrow. I like the game and concept, however until the freezing is patched, I'm unable to keep playing it; it's just not fun with it freezing all the time.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the mid to late game where micromanagement and council approvals slow down progress significantly. Many feel that the political mechanics force players down a narrow path, making the experience feel shallow and frustrating. Overall, the lack of variety and slow pace contribute to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction with the gameplay.
“Kinda just dull and in many ways broken, the game is unpredictable and tedious.”
“The fact that everything you do has to go through the council vote is extremely tedious when 99% of your decisions are guaranteed to pass provided you don't do anything stupid.”
“The game is tedious, slow and very little information is given regarding what outcome you can expect from any action.”
- music12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the fantastic soundtrack and its ability to adapt to different situations, while others find it repetitive and tedious, leading to frustration. Overall, the sound design is generally well-received, but the music's repetitiveness detracts from the experience for some players.
“The soundtrack is fantastic.”
“The soundtrack is amazing.”
“Great tutorial and graphics thus far, and music is to each period which is nice and changes when the intensity of the situation changes.”
“Music is tedious and boring after 2 minutes; now switched off for good.”
“Very repetitive, boring music.”
“The music is boring as shit.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its random and unpredictable events, often leading to amusing situations and choices. While some players find the humor reminiscent of the Tropico series, others express disappointment, suggesting that the comedic elements may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the game balances humor with challenge, contributing to its replayability.
“The parties are hilariously random and fickle.”
“The random events in the game are funny at times and have interesting choices.”
“The humor is in it, not just a challenge, just like in the Tropico series and El Presidente.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with beautiful graphics and intriguing plots contributing to a captivating experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere can be undermined by frustrating controls and repetitive gameplay, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Despite these criticisms, many still find the atmosphere engaging and worth exploring.
“You have to like the genre, of course, but it sucks you in if you open up to it as it creates a nice atmosphere.”
“A mix of almost impenetrable mechanics, terrible UI, beautiful graphics, incredible atmosphere, intriguing plot, and strangely addictive gameplay.”
“As I said, a very atmospheric simulation, which I have spent over 41 hours on since release.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, there is no alluring atmosphere, no special mood that makes you feel something.”
“Mouse control is a nightmare, laggy and jerky, and with the keyboard, it's not much better. There are too few zoom levels and too many new windows that open up where you have to click okay every time.”
“I really wanted to like this game, but it lacks the captivating atmosphere that I was hoping for.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant disappointment in the emotional impact of the game, with some players feeling that the designers failed to create a meaningful narrative experience. While there are elements of enjoyment, the lack of emotional depth prevents a genuine recommendation.
“I do enjoy the game and would like to recommend it at this point, but it would not be a heartfelt recommendation.”
“I don't mind game mechanics breaking narrative immersion or being unrealistic, but this level of failure represents a basic lack of effort on the part of the designers to deliver any kind of emotional impact to the game.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling misled by advertising that did not align with the actual product experience. Many express disappointment over the lack of quality and testing, suggesting that the focus was more on profit than on delivering a satisfactory game.
“They made a cash grab and then vanished.”
“Maybe they should have spent time testing rather than advertising how great it was.”
“This was not at all what I expected from all the advertisements.”
Critic Reviews
Urban Empire Review
Urban Empire is an interesting political city builder, but it falls into a rut where every playthrough feels the same.
64%Urban Empire Review – Deck of Cards
Urban Empire aims to offer an interesting mix of political intrigue with city-building creativity and management. However, it doesn't give anywhere near enough information or allow enough freedom to make it as compelling as the idea could have been.
60%Urban Empire Review
Overall, Urban Empire is a solid outing for Kalypso and has a nice blend of city building and political management that players of the genre should find interesting. It has flaws but its new perspective on an old formula is something that can be explored further in the future.
70%