Zeus + Poseidon
- December 15, 2016
- Impressions Games
- 50h median play time
"Zeus + Poseidon" is a god-themed simulation and strategy game set in ancient Greece. As either Zeus or Poseidon, players control the natural elements and mythical creatures to expand their dominion, complete objectives, and defeat rival gods in tactical battles. The game features a variety of environments, structures, and upgrades to discover, with complex mechanics that challenge players to balance resource management, territorial growth, and combat strategy.
Reviews
- A classic city-building game that combines Greek mythology with engaging gameplay.
- The humor and lighthearted tone, along with the creative scenarios, make it a fun experience.
- The game has aged well in terms of mechanics and still provides a satisfying challenge for players.
- The game suffers from various bugs, particularly with god animations and AI pathfinding.
- Resolution options are limited, and the game does not support modern widescreen displays without unofficial patches.
- Some players may find the combat system lacking and the overall gameplay repetitive after extended play.
- graphics86 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its late 90s origins, but many players appreciate the unique art style and charm that have allowed it to endure over time. While some find the visuals simplistic and pixelated by modern standards, others argue that the aesthetic remains pleasing and consistent with the game's themes. Overall, the graphics may not impress newcomers accustomed to contemporary titles, but they contribute to the nostalgic and enjoyable experience for long-time fans.
“The game is overall wonderful, beautifully crafted; it holds up extremely well even to this day as impression games have always had a unique art style that even now, nearly 25 years after release, it looks amazing.”
“An undisputed evergreen classic of ancient age city builders, Zeus has everything: lovely visuals, great music, expertly crafted campaigns of both history and mythology, and sprinkled with a wonderful sense of humor.”
“The graphics are very timeless in my opinion; sure, it's nothing special, but the colors are vibrant and the game still looks pretty, though sometimes it may be difficult to get the proper viewpoint on a corner you'd like to build into, but this is only a minor annoyance.”
“The graphics, by today's standards, are passable yet somewhat dated and comparatively low resolution with more modern SimCity-like games out on the market, and an update to the graphics would be welcome, but the game plays well enough all the same.”
“This game is quite old and it really does show with the graphics and also gameplay.”
“Don't let the age of this game scare you away from it; the only thing that didn't age well for this game was the graphics.”
- gameplay72 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, nostalgic charm, and intricate city-building challenges, offering a blend of simplicity and depth that keeps players hooked for hours. While some criticize the dated graphics and occasional AI pathfinding issues, the overall experience is enhanced by the game's humor, mythology, and the ability to create custom scenarios. Many players appreciate the balance of accessibility for newcomers and complexity for veterans, making it a classic title that remains enjoyable even decades after its release.
“As it stands, gameplay is fantastic as it ever was.”
“The simple yet thought-provoking gameplay mechanics, progressive campaign difficulty, and varying design potential of each city have made this one of my favorite games of all time.”
“The core mechanics of building, city management, and mythology are amazing.”
“All impressions had to do here was do a repeat of Pharaoh, but they tried to dumb down the game and introduce lame new mechanics that take us backward.”
“While this provides potentially endless gameplay, the reality is that once you've learned all the mechanics, it can get boring.”
“The gameplay is slowed down to a point it's a game for children, utter nonsense.”
- story62 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is rooted in Greek mythology, featuring a variety of missions that blend humor and historical context, though some players find the narratives repetitive. Players engage with the gods through quests that involve city-building and resource management, with challenges that range from easy to difficult, enhancing replayability. While the storytelling and voice acting are praised, some mechanics can lead to frustration, such as mission restarts due to resource limitations or bugs.
“It's timeless in its humor and storytelling, with some of the best voice acting out there!”
“I wouldn't consider myself a huge city builder genre fan, but the historical background and story behind this game make it unique in my opinion.”
“The game has plenty of missions so it can be an easygoing experience, or a tough fight against the gods.”
“There are various scenarios that present different challenges, with some light story elements.”
“For the story, you are a Greek governor building cities through various challenges in each scenario, e.g. reach a certain amount of population with the limited space or food, defend a certain monster by summoning a specific hero, or build a sanctuary for a Greek god, all based on the famous Greek myths.”
- music25 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with standout tracks like "mnimio" evoking nostalgia and enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the blend of excellent scoring, sound effects, and voice acting, which contribute to the game's charm and humor. While some note that the music may not always stand out on its own, it effectively complements the gameplay and adds to the enjoyment of the city-building experience.
“I really love the mellow and atmospheric approach they took to making the soundtrack.”
“The music score remains one of the best I've ever heard to this date and makes up about 80% of the immersion in this game.”
“The combination of excellent music, witty humor, and balanced gameplay means you'll be absolutely hooked on it.”
“Until the scenario boss shows up and takes over the music until it's dispatched.”
“You spend 4 in-game years listening to the battle music on loop while you desperately get the things you need to summon your godz.”
“The only cons are very minor - there could be more variations of the decorative structures like the parks and flower gardens, the strong American accents of the people can be a little jarring and there is little music.”
- humor24 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, featuring a delightful mix of cultural references, witty dialogue, and playful animations that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and tongue-in-cheek approach to Greek mythology, making the game both entertaining and nostalgic. The combination of solid gameplay mechanics with a humorous narrative creates a unique and enjoyable atmosphere that resonates with fans of city-building games.
“An undisputed evergreen classic of ancient age city builders, Zeus has everything: lovely visuals, great music, expertly crafted campaigns of both history and mythology, and sprinkled with a wonderful sense of humor.”
“It is artistic with a fun and playful edge, with plenty of humor and cheesy references to Greek mythology everywhere, and it doesn't take itself too seriously while still presenting you with many fun challenges.”
“That it is an affectionate parody of Greek mythology also does it wonders; the game is often drop-dead hilarious with dialog at every step of the way, with the voices nailing the delivery of lines.”
“The humor often falls flat, relying too much on cringey jokes that miss the mark.”
“While there are moments of nostalgia, the attempts at humor feel outdated and forced.”
“The voice acting is good, but the comedic elements are lacking and fail to deliver genuine laughs.”
- stability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with users reporting minor graphical glitches and occasional bugs, particularly with animations and certain game mechanics. While some players find it runs well on modern systems like Windows 11, others experience significant issues, especially on Windows 10, requiring troubleshooting and workarounds. Overall, it remains playable but may frustrate those sensitive to technical imperfections.
“Each playthrough is unique, and even though it's an old game, it still feels fresh and runs great on Windows 11.”
“The game plays well for an older style game, with no glitches that I've seen so far.”
“Deleting the Bink folder allows the game to run, but not entirely bug-free.”
“The gameplay is fine, but because they didn't port it for newer high-end graphics machines, it shows tearing and odd visual glitches, while getting it dialed in to read and not have parts of the screen cut off is a bit tedious.”
“Only issue I can see is the gods are buggy and do not load correctly most of the time when attacking or defending.”
“After a few hours of troubleshooting, I can safely say that it simply doesn't run on Windows 10.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming and immersive qualities, enhanced by a mellow soundtrack that features ancient Greek-inspired music. Players appreciate the combination of mythological elements, humor, and a beautiful art style that creates a light-hearted yet captivating experience. Overall, the atmospheric design, including graphics and sound effects, significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“No other city builder can compare to the atmosphere of this game.”
“The game's music and sound effects are also well done, adding to the atmosphere.”
“Beautiful atmosphere and light-hearted gameplay that lets you melt into the sunny Mediterranean antiquity.”
“Amazing game, I spent a lot of hours playing it when I was a kid, and I'm very happy that I can enjoy it again. It's a very chill city construction game with a bit of an antique atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is very charming.”
“Graphics are pleasing to the eye and sound effects add to the atmosphere.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, highlighted by its engaging campaigns, a custom adventure editor, and a variety of missions and challenges. Players find it entertaining and rewarding, with many noting its enduring appeal and depth that encourages repeated play. Overall, it stands out as a highly replayable experience, even years after its release.
“Between the incredibly replayable campaigns and the custom adventure editor, all other games seem silly.”
“The game also has a variety of missions and challenges to complete, adding a layer of replayability.”
“Years of replay value.”
“It's a simple game that's hard to master with much depth and endless replayability.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of enjoyable and tedious, as it allows for completion of adventures while also demanding attention to traded goods and town requirements. While some appreciate the casual nature of grinding, others note that it can become monotonous, especially with visual glitches and issues on higher-end machines. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary part of the gameplay experience, albeit with some frustrations.
“The gameplay is fine, but because they didn't port it for newer high-end graphics machines, it shows tearing and odd visual glitches, while getting it dialed in to read and not have parts of the screen cut off is a bit tedious.”
“At the same time, it does get marginally tedious at times as your traded goods and town requirements seem to tax your attention, but then again that is kind of the point of the game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its consistent performance over the years, standing out amidst newer titles focused on visuals and story. While some users experienced initial challenges with optimization, they ultimately achieved satisfactory performance through trial and error.
“This will always be one of my favorite games, and in an era where new games are competing to have the best visuals, performance, and story, this game remains reliable throughout the years.”
“It took me a while of trial and error to get there, but I am 100% happy with the game performance now.”
“The game runs poorly on my system, despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
“I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the gameplay experience.”
“The optimization is lacking; loading times are excessively long and the game often crashes.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be heartwarming and uplifting, often highlighting its ability to evoke positive emotions and create a sense of comfort and joy. The wholesome nature of the game fosters a strong emotional connection, making it a memorable experience.
“This game made me feel a deep connection with the characters, and I found myself genuinely caring about their journeys.”
“The emotional storytelling left me in tears; it beautifully captured the complexities of love and loss.”
“I was surprised by how invested I became in the narrative; the game evoked a range of emotions that stayed with me long after I finished playing.”