Caesar 2 Download (1995 Simulation Game)

Think about how much more a player might enjoy SimCity if there was more strategy in that game than just building a city and keeping it running. What if there was some sort of combat engine, requiring the player to repel hostile attacks? How about an additional module to allow the player to set up trade routes with other simulated cities, thereby affecting the output of the original city's factories? Such is the challenge offered by Caesar II, a much more "complete" experience than that provided by SimCity.

Caesar II consists of three distinct modules, creating a game that can be played in one of two ways. For the player who is only interested in building at the City Level, the "City Building Only" option will allow him to found and construct a city worthy of being the gem of the Roman Empire. Graphics of ancient Roman structures appear as the player builds housing for his residents, reservoirs and aqueducts to supply water and a system of roads to facilitate travel. Other endeavors include building markets for the selling of goods, industries to supply goods to the markets, security facilities for sim-safety and temples and shrines in which to hold the monetary unit of the game, denarii.

If successful in building up his population, the player might consider constructing educational facilities, bathhouses and hospitals for sanitation and entertainment locales like theaters, arenas and circuses. Additional buildings increase property values which in turn cause nearby residences to upgrade themselves, attracting a larger population and earning the province's Governor more denarii.

Playing the "Full Game" adds the other two modules to game play. At the Province Level, the player is charged with conquering a number of European provinces one-by-one by setting up trade routes with small villages and building industries such as farms, mines and many other resource-creators. Building a working city at the City Level is also required in the full game mode. Further, if hostile forces are encountered at Province Level, a combat module automatically kicks in which allows the player to either fight the battle automatically using the statistics of each military force or to actually line up his forces in battle formation and fight the opposing force in real-time. If the player is successful in satisfying the four performance criteria in a particular province, he receives a promotion and is given the opportunity to conquer a new province containing all-new challenges.

Whether you call it SimCity with real-time combat and trade or Civilization with city-building responsibilities and without a research tree, Caesar II is a fantastic game. Since its release in 1995, I picked up this product many times at various software retailers and examined the features listed on the back of the box. I did not purchase it until I found it at a bargain-bin price of $10 in mid-1998. I wish I had bought it sooner because it's extremely good.

Graphics: The advantage the Windows version has over the DOS version is that multiple windows can be arranged on the screen at one time, so the "toggling" action required for switching views in the DOS version is not necessary in Windows.

Sound: Sound effects accompany the construction of all structures, and running water and barking dogs can often be heard in the background. There are also several musical passages that play depending upon the game view that the player is in at the time.

Enjoyment: If you spent a lot of time enjoying SimCity or Civilization, expect to spend as much time, if not more, playing Caesar II. There are so many challenges when playing at the Province Level, the feel of the game stays new.

Replay Value: There is an immense amount of replay value in Caesar II for a number of different reasons. In addition to the two game modes mentioned above, five skill settings are available, with Province and City maps generated on a random basis.

Caesar II is set in the time of ancient Rome, and lets you try to be the next Caesar. You start with one province and have to build an efficient city. To do this you'll have to manage the water supply properly, make sure the city is policed well, and provide adequate education, entertainment, baths, and temples (which also hold your money and can be robbed if you don't have enough protection).

At some point, possibly more then once, you'll have to defend your province from invading tribes that don't really want you there. You also have to connect all the little villages in the province with roads and make some industry, like stone mining, grapes, etc. for which you can then create markets in your city.

When you have achieved the necessary requirements, you'll be able to start all over again in a new and more challenging province. Do well enough and you can become the new Caesar.

How to run this game on modern Windows PC?

People who downloaded Caesar 2 have also downloaded:
Caesar 3, Caesar, Caesar IV, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Wolfenstein 3D, Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings, Pharaoh and Cleopatra