Ikrariam

The strategy-game genre has seen many iterations, from the slow-paced turn-based games to real-time outings. There are civilization-building titles that allow players to micro-manage resources while growing their cities. Games like Civilization can be very focused on outcome but also have a nice open-world field and some of these titles can allow for a sandbox setting.

Ikariam is one such sandbox game that has an ancient flavor coating it, but at its core, it is a micro-managing game of city expansion, alliances, light political turmoil, residents you must keep happy, and resource managing – all in a multiplayer world.

Gameforge is behind this online Java-based title that moves at a sedate pace. You have to plan ahead, much like you would in a game of chess, keeping an eye on resources. Should you start to fall short of required materials (they are wood, wine, marble, crystal glass and sulfur), if your combination of trade post and trading port allow, you can colonize another island with a village, harvest resources there and ship them to the town requiring the materials. Or you might be able to find them being sold by another player.

There are other factors that come into play and the game will allow players to attack other cities and colonies. However, more than likely, at least on the server this preview is based on, players seem more content to trade amicably and grow populations, conduct research and build up.

The game’s pacing can be measured in hours, whether you are online or not. A governor’s residence in a colony, needed to quell corruption, won’t take long to initially build, but to increase to level 2, it will take close to eight hours and a host of resource materials. However, Ikariam is the type of game that you can pop into for 10 minutes here and there, begin a research track or start a building, or even conduct trade, then log out and come back hours or a day later to see the work completed.

The game is played from an isometric view point with tabs that will key in on one of your cities, show the island, or display the world map. Proximity to other islands is key for trades as distance is measured with ‘x’ island radius. At the entry levels of your city, you get a one-island radius, but as you work up your colony, that expands.

As for the look of the game, the developers went for the ancient Greek feel, with each island boasting a Wonder. Wonders can be like a Colossus. As donations are made, the Wonder will level up and provide bonuses. In the case of the Colossus, a defensive bonus is given. There are also four areas for your colony (or colonies) to research. These will determine what is available for your city to build and how the game shapes up.

The game has many different layers that overlap and affect what you are able to do, but the nice thing about this is that it is not overly complex. In fact, my 12-year old has taken to playing the game and is enjoying herself. It is a delight to see her plan what she needs to be building next and fretting when she starts to run short of resources.

Ikariam is not a groundbreaking game, but it is a nicely paced and entertaining title. There is a subscription plan in effect; player can log into Ikariam (it is entirely Web based), register for free and play the game. There is also a Plus version of the game that asks you to ply your advisors with ambrosia (at a cost – 100 ambrosia will cost you $14.99 while 1,000 has a $79.99 price tag). Ambrosia has a time factor attached to it. For example, for a 20% boost in harvesting building materials, it will cost you five ambrosia and it lasts for seven days.

Because this is a Web-based game, the system specifications are low, and this is a great game for a laptop on the go. While gamers may not sleep, eat and breathe the game, it still provides a nice little diversion.