Silicon City Review (PC)

The industrial zone is not developing and I have almost no clue why. My win farm is supplying more than enough power to the city and the space zoned for factories is connected to the roads that also transmit electricity. There’s a big section for apartments close to the industry, making it very easy for workers to travel to new potential jobs.

I even have a little bit of unemployment, which should make it relatively easy for new businesses to find the employees they need. But my industry currently consists of exactly three tiny factories. I’ll give this area a few extra months to develop but if nothing happens I might simply replace it with a ton of offices and see how that kind of area will evolve.

As time passes, I have to invest in some extra public service. A new fire station is required to make sure that all of my citizens are protected from fires that have already claimed a few houses. School coverage also needs improvement and I might also drop in another library. There are a few areas that really need green spaces. Finally, it’s time to think about where I will place the next big apartment zone, which will take a big chunk out of my budget.

Silicon City is developed and published by Polycorne. I played it on the PC via Steam. The title has all the classic city-building mechanics lovers of the genre might expect but with an extra focus on the actual citizens and their happiness.

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The game does have a campaign that’s mostly designed as a tutorial, giving players information on its core mechanics. A few characters, including an absentee mayor and a helpful advisor, will talk to gamers during these small scenarios, but the writing is mostly informative, with a few bits of humor thrown in. Veterans of the genre should skip it and head straight for the Play a Classic game option.

It offers two approaches, sandbox, which removes limits and unlocks and allows players to simply build the city of their dreams, and, once again, classic. Here, gamers get extra options about initial resources and will have to gain levels, by drawing in citizens, before they can use all the featured buildings.

Silicon City is designed to be a throwback to the first Sim City titles and their competitors. Gamers initially have limited reserves of currency and a big empty space to develop their city. The first move is to zone a small area for residential buildings to get some citizens in. Population levels act as limits, leveling a settlement up, which offers access to extra buildings.

As people come in, they need jobs, which are offered, at first, by zoning for farming and for restaurants. Push the population up and additional zones open up, including apartment and high-rise offices. The road options will also evolve over time, giving gamers more control over the way their citizens move around.

To create a city willing to back the mayor through multiple elections it’s not enough to zone for different types of buildings and link them to roads and power. Citizens need to be happy, which is reflected in how many follow the mayor’s feed on an imaginary social network. To make them enjoy life in the city, they need expensive amenities.

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Parks should exist on every second street corner. A big stadium and its associated football team will make a corner of the city one of the most attractive for residents. Police and fire stations will prevent or deal with crime and fires. A good mayor will also build clinics, hospitals, schools, libraries, and more.

Silicon City guides gamers by giving them clear objectives to reach, which often deliver a unique building as a reward. It creates a good rhythm for the game, with the city developing organically as players put down more zones, asses which other buildings are required, wait for the funds to become available, and then invest to expand and improve.

Failure to keep citizens happy will lead to a lost election, so make sure to use overlay and citizen information to find the best use for money. Silicon City captures the fun of classic city-building experiences and rewards players who invest energy and time to optimize their development process.

Because the title is so good at evoking older titles, it features no massive innovation that can push the genre forward. It also doesn’t use its citizens enough. It’s nice to click on one and see how the mayor can improve a life but I wanted them to do more than simply leave when annoyed.

Silicon City is so retro looking it might register as ugly for some players. There’s no attempt here to create detailed citizens or beautiful landmarks. Nighttime is kind of pretty, with twinkling lights spread around the city. All the buildings are procedurally generated, which is an interesting approach. Zooming in allows players to take a closer look at their neighborhoods and select citizens for more detailed statistics. The user interface is also classic and gives players quick access to a range of overlays and other details.

The game’s soundtrack remains mostly in the background, offering a pleasant companion to the dutiful mayor. There’s no voice acting, which is a good thing because it would add an unnecessary distraction. The city soundscape is less interesting and never makes it comes alive.

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The Good

The Bad

Conclusion