Master the fabled mountain on newest sci-fi/fantasy game release

By Jim Schiff

Daily Arts Writer

Ah, ancient Greece. Home of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the setting for Impressions Games' "Zeus: Master of Olympus." Following in the tradition of "Caesar III" and "Pharaoh," "Zeus" takes city-building games to a whole new level. An original blend of new buildings, diplomacy, commerce, culture and humor make "Zeus" a worthy addition to your hard drive.

The basic premise of "Zeus," similar to other games in the genre, is that the player is an emperor who controls a metropolis (in this case, the Greek empire). You can play in "open sandbox mode," which allows you to start from scratch with a giant plot of land. "Zeus" also includes mythology-based adventures, which require you to complete Hercules' Labors or fight in the Peloponnesian War. The whole game stays true to Greek legends, providing a brief storyline at the beginning of each episode. Though most of the missions are quite challenging, they lay a greater historical foundation than most city-building games.

A great deal of attention must have been paid to the interface, as it is vastly improved from previous Impressions efforts. A blue sidebar on the right side of the screen displays convenient tabs for organizing structure types. You can also switch between the main city, industry, health, population and unrest tabs to know which parts of your city need improvement. Avenues of customizability are in abundance: you can play with or without enemy attacks, natural disasters, and at any difficulty level.

Game play is absolutely top-notch. "Zeus" demands a lot from the player, as far as ensuring the well being of your city, but nothing so excessive that it becomes daunting. While industry and trade are crucial, your citizens won't be satisfied without cultural venues.

Therefore, it becomes necessary to provide theaters, temples, drama schools, gymnasiums, universities and podiums for the humanities-conscious denizens of your domain. There is an option to have the computer automatically control your military, so you can concentrate on city building. Probably the most interesting feature of "Zeus" is the sanctuaries you can build to different gods. For example, the "Arbor of Athena" provides a grove of olive trees, stronger soldiers, and protection from invaders.

The game's graphics are extremely bright and colorful, especially in comparison to the dreary browns and reds of "Pharaoh." Occasionally, the authentic Greek-style font is difficult to read in menu bars, but it doesn't hinder the game significantly. The game's musical score is usually eegant and stately, and fluctuates in tone based on how well you're doing. If you're under attack, the soothing synthesizer will come to a crushing halt while the seven-headed hydra sucks the life out of your city.

Another feature lacking in previous games, but noticeably present in "Zeus," is comic relief. You can right click on any character to view their opinions on the city as they speak in a variety of accents. When selecting water bearers Abbots and Costellos, they exclaim, "I guess I don't mind living here. It's better than a finger in the eye!" As emperor, your citizens are never afraid to give you lip service, in good times or bad.

A cardboard foldout ships with the game, displaying the geography of the Greek World and instructions on how to acquire different buildings. The manual reads like a storybook, full of humor and detailed descriptions. But these are merely added bonuses to a game that is truly a gift from the Gods.

Courtesy of Impressions Games

Part of the game world in "Zeus: Master of Olympus."