Date: 2008-11-02 11:52:02 Created: null
Nobody seems to do games like this anymore. And what a great shame it is. I firmly believe a pure graphical update of this game could be a big hit. Further refinements and features like increased multiplayer options would just be icing on the cake.
Before you ask, Populous: The Beginning is not what I'm talking about. While it is an enjoyable game in its own right (with some annoyances if my memory serves me right) it's not the kind of evolutionary step I'm interested in here. The Beginning was too much RTS and too little land altering. Too few levels as well. That's why I've been playing Populous II on and off for the past ten years or so, but only played through The Beginning once and never really felt any need to come back to it.
The meditative value of games with tons of quite similar levels without any story or other breaks really is underrated. Now that I think about it, Populous II is very close to a multiplayer game's setup but in single player. The same gameplay all the time, only different landscapes and varying opponents.
The few two-player matches I've had I've really enjoyed, but alas I've never had an equally skilled player in my circle of friends.
While Peter Molyneux keeps on doing various god-themed games, none of them has been as fun as the Populouses. I had high hopes for Black & White, but it's not the same. Maybe Black & White 2 will be something closer ... We'll see in just a couple of years I'm sure :-) ...
October 7th, 2002, 01:42
Wohoo, I've finished the game! Winning on level 998 after a playing run including an unusual number of losses (a few levels where the computer thunderstormed me to death with so many storms at once that I couldn't cast any spells even when I had the mana really got to me) put an end to it after what? Ten years? Feels kind of satisfying I have to say ...