Posted November 14, 2009
The majority of the games on this site came before my 'prime'. I started playing simulations on Simcity and never really grew out of them thanks to Sid Meiers. I never played Patrician 3 when it was in it's graphical or game play prime, I just randomly picked it because it sounded like fun and I got it in a two for one. I didn't expect much, and in doing so really underestimated how much fun it could be.
I find most of the games on this site needing what I call the 'Nostalgia factor'. If you didn't play it in when it was on top, it's hard to get into years later. Not so with Patrican 3, I was completely enthralled for almost a month, and still very much involved for months after. This game is just too much fun for city-building, resource trading, diplomacy-craving dorks like me.
Some of the gameplay aspects- such as the battles- seemed too simple to have to fight for more than two or three minutes; I remember a particularly annoying battle where I had to chase a pirate against the wind for five minutes, then he turned around and sailed with the wind to the other side of the screen while I could only match his speed and never close the distance. These minor nuisances are completely overshadowed by the real meat of the game as you expand your own trade empire.
You start with a trade office in a single city with a single ship. You must outfit this ship with sailors (and later captains) and weapons for defense. You visit surrounding towns, selling what's needed there and buying what's in surplus. You build your own resource gathering and manufacturing plants in your home city, as well as warehouses. You build houses so your hometown grows faster to accommodate your labor needs. Your fleet grows, and you can group your ships together, perhaps a few quick, heavily armed ships protecting the cargo behemoth. You expand your trade offices to other cities so you can secure other raw materials for your own manufacturing. Your trading rank rises as your wealth and influence grow.
Once you can get voted mayor of a specific city, you are tasked with that city's defense. The gameplay takes an upward and outward approach: as you rise the ranks, more becomes available to you. It has elements of Pharaoh and 1701 A.D. And thanks to GOG, it's DRM-free and easy to jump in.
I find most of the games on this site needing what I call the 'Nostalgia factor'. If you didn't play it in when it was on top, it's hard to get into years later. Not so with Patrican 3, I was completely enthralled for almost a month, and still very much involved for months after. This game is just too much fun for city-building, resource trading, diplomacy-craving dorks like me.
Some of the gameplay aspects- such as the battles- seemed too simple to have to fight for more than two or three minutes; I remember a particularly annoying battle where I had to chase a pirate against the wind for five minutes, then he turned around and sailed with the wind to the other side of the screen while I could only match his speed and never close the distance. These minor nuisances are completely overshadowed by the real meat of the game as you expand your own trade empire.
You start with a trade office in a single city with a single ship. You must outfit this ship with sailors (and later captains) and weapons for defense. You visit surrounding towns, selling what's needed there and buying what's in surplus. You build your own resource gathering and manufacturing plants in your home city, as well as warehouses. You build houses so your hometown grows faster to accommodate your labor needs. Your fleet grows, and you can group your ships together, perhaps a few quick, heavily armed ships protecting the cargo behemoth. You expand your trade offices to other cities so you can secure other raw materials for your own manufacturing. Your trading rank rises as your wealth and influence grow.
Once you can get voted mayor of a specific city, you are tasked with that city's defense. The gameplay takes an upward and outward approach: as you rise the ranks, more becomes available to you. It has elements of Pharaoh and 1701 A.D. And thanks to GOG, it's DRM-free and easy to jump in.