SimIsle: Missions in the Rainforest PC

SimIsle: Missions in the Rainforest is another Maxis game based on the concept of construction and management. After a series of less successful "sims" with different themes, the publishers decided to go back to the roots of the series, again offering players a classic economic strategy. In order to refresh the already used up ideas, an external Intelligent Games studio was invited to work on SimIsle.

The game allows us to take control of one of more than forty fictional tropical islands of different shapes and sizes. Each of them is unique in its own way and is distinguished by its different relief, the number of mountains and forests, natural resources and indigenous people. Unlike the previous games in the series, each scenario defines certain goals and conditions of victory, although it is an optional choice and fans of unrestricted fun can give it up. However, if we undertake to achieve the set goals, we can continue the game without restrictions also after their completion.

The tasks set for the players are very diverse and depend on the island we choose for the arena of our struggle. A completely new element is the fact that we will use so-called agents, who must be hired by us, to perform specific activities. Each of them has a different profile and abilities - that is why we will use a special central building to efficiently manage our staff. Individual agents specialize in e.g. construction, flora, forestry, local culture or business contacts. Agents can also be sent to villages to train the people living there and thus increase their effectiveness.

As in most "sim-like" games, resources play an important role in SimIsle. The most important are natural resources such as wood, coal, gold, iron and oil. Another two, food and unskilled labour, are supplied by the indigenous peoples of the island villages. Thanks to the resources and the money they provide in the local EMU currency, we can expand the cities and train skilled workers in them. It is also worth investing in tourism, because it is quite a profitable source of income.

The game engine is a modified version of the one known from SimCity 2000. The maps are shown in isometric projection, and thanks to the ability to rotate them 90 degrees, we can see the terrain from different perspectives. The game also offers a three-stage zoom. In terms of playability, SimIsle draws a handful of its predecessors and at the same time introduces many new and fresh ideas to the gameplay. Both technically and in terms of content, SimIsle is an important step in the development of the series.

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Last updated on 24 July 2013