SimCity 4 Deluxe

Anyway, this Deluxe edition is the combination of SimCity 4 and Rush Hour, and offers excellent value for money to the person who doesn't have any other title yet. The manual clearly states that the Deluxe edition doesn't contain anything that the two titles don't contain on their own, so don't buy this if you have either. If you have SimCity 4 but not "Rush Hour", rather just get "Rush Hour", because you won't miss a thing.

Now that is out of the way, let's take a peek inside the box and see what we get.

Firstly, something that is becoming increasingly rare these days, a nice, comprehensive manual (thank you Maxis). Next, the game on (now customary) two disks. Smooth installation, quick enough for me to not even get through the "Introduction" in the manual before the game was up and running. So, with the game running, let's see what it offers.

Right from the first screen one can see the radical departure from earlier Sim Cities, as this one starts the player of in a region of maps, subdivided into potential sites for new cities, all interconnected. GREAT touch!

I found the tutorials to be very informative and a lot of fun. They make it easy for the player new to this franchise to get stuck in, right from the start. And be warned, this game is ADDICTIVE!

For the seasoned Mayor, I must say that this game has improved by leaps and bounds. Different kinds of streets ( eg streets, roads, avenues, one-way streets and highways) each suitable to different traffic loads. You also have the option to be mean and place toll-booths!

A great new addition to the game is the ability to get specific statistics on traffic patterns: click on a commercial or industrial building, and you get presented with information on where all the employees live, and how they get to work, even the distance they have to travel to the bus stop! Or, click on a residence to see where the inhabitants qwork! You get the idea. Or, click on the RCI bar to get a detailed breakdown of zone needs, et cetera. The improvements are too many to list here. The point is that the DeLuxe Edition has much to offer, to the new city planner and the old Mayor alike, provided you don't own SimCity 4 yet. My only gripe is that I am experiencing lock-ups on my home pc with this game, but it could be the pc.

If you want to have sleepless nights, frozen in front of your pc, this is the way to go.

Installation is easy and straightforward and you'll get a well-detailed instruction manual to keep you on the right track. However I would recommend full use of the in game tutorials which are very helpful in teaching you how to maximise the new map set up and familiarise you with the many changes and improvements that have been made.

This game is superb and you'll be amazed at the quality, detail and high level of game play you experience as you go along, indeed, rarely has the word 'deluxe' been so aptly put to a game title. It really is unbelievable how much the Sim City series has moved along since its inception what now feels like an age ago.

If you haven't already got this game then I would suggest that at this price you will not be disappointed.