The Immortal Mayor

Wouldn't we all like to adopt the title, The Immortal Mayor? We'd have a sense of entitlement over a piece of land to do as we pleas - no concern about being thrown out of office. That premise sounds equally as entertaining as it does dangerous for all the citizens under your rule. So thank goodness someone made a game incorporating these exact values!

The Immortal Mayor, as one could establish from the title, is a city-builder / god sim game that adds a Chinese folk flavor into the traditional genre mix. Games of this caliber tend to be a bit samey, but adding an oriental perspective into town development and man-management spark intrigue. And since you're mayor forever, no chance of screwing up, right?

All Hail, Land God!

So here's the thing that's going to get people playing this game. Upon entering the generated world, you won't be called mayor, or king, or any sort of prestigious title - you are the almighty land god. Let's face it, you won't get a better title than in any city-builder game. Now we've established that positive, we better check on whether The Immortal Mayor actually plays well.

The narrative sets the tone and objectives of the game. You are a god trying to win over the hearts and minds of your people, bringing them prosperity with every development decision you make. Housing, leisure, entertainment, labor - all need to be managed effectively to establish yourself as the one true god. It's the typical city-builder undertones but delivered with a more vibrant flair.

That vibrancy is bolstered by the fact that the Immortal Mayor looks gorgeous. The cel-shaded graphics of the versatile buildings, people, and environments are a joy to look at. It's a real stunning feat in a genre where how a game looks is so important. You'll be able to watch your town grow in awe, though the limitations of the game are apparent when trying to move your camera through the map quickly.

All considered - The Immortal Mayor isn't wholly different from most city-builder or god sim games. Having said that, it is actually one of the most captivating to be released in a while. The beautiful visuals, intuitive UI, and objective-filled narrative encourage players to craft a fantastic world at their own pace. Definitely a winning formula for the genre.

Praise Be To The Mayor!

It could be argued it's a bit misleading to think you'll be mayor, but then again - it's not. Taking on the role of a growing god hasn't been so satisfying since the early days of Populous: The Beginning. Throughout the gameplay, you get the feeling of being an almighty deity in complete control of the world around you.

Pros:

• Beautifully constructed city-builder/god sim game with unique lore
• Initiative structure to the game
• Entertaining mechanics to establish your godly presence

Cons:

• Camera control gets frustrating
• Learning the initial management mechanics takes a bit of time