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Reviews

This section contains reviews of the Emperor game. If you are aware of any reviews that are not listed, please contact Angel Jayhawk


GameOver: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Needless to say, BreakAway has a well made game here; well made, but perhaps not remarkably exceptional. In its craftsmanship, it continues to be one of the best urban planning games, par excellence.
Score: 86% (excellent representation of the genre).

Link: GameOver: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

GameSpot: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Emperor is a fun and satisfying management game, but it is primarily the same fun and satisfying management game as those that have preceded it.
Score: 7.7 (good).

Link: GameSpot: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

GameZone: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom is a gorgeous, challenging and thoroughly enjoyable civilization game. It is a game that delights the eyes and ears, while challenging the mind. It is an incredible, well-designed journey into the past of a nation that has existed for more than 4,000 years. This program will appeal to players of all ages and experience levels. It is great fun.
Score: 9.3

Link: GameZone: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Games Domain: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Pros:
Ancient China is a vivid setting, if somewhat unfamiliar
Online multiplayer has been added to the city-building template

Cons:
We've seen most of this before
Many of the features that made Zeus refreshing and fun have been omitted
You have to start from scratch on too many missions

Link: Games Domain: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Gamespy: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Hopefully, this isn't the end of the series. For some strange reason, these games remain a compelling experience despite the fact that they all play basically the same. It's not new and it may not be innovative at all, but this latest effort proves the series still has its legs. If you're a fan of the "City Building" series as a whole, then purchasing Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom is a no-brainer. Get it!
Score: 85 (excellent).

Link: Gamespy: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

ICU/StrategyInformer: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Do eastern civilizations charm you? Did you always want to travel to China but never really got around to do it? Have you ever dreamt of being there when great monuments were built, and important events took place? Well, now you can do all that right from your armchair in front of your pc, with the fourth installment (not counting the expansions) to Sierra's successful citybuilding series, Emperor Rise of the Middle Kingdom, developed by BreakAway Games and Impressions Games.
Score: 9.

Link: ICU/StrategyInformer: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
Link: ICU/StrategyInformer: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

IGN: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  The formula is still addicting and those that couldn't get enough from Pharaoh or Zeus will certainly want to pick this up.
Score: 8.8 (highly recommended).

Link: IGN: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Media & Games Online Network: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Emperor is an impressive game that reeks of addictive potential. If the despot in you wants some exercising, then this is definitely the way to go. And extra points to Sierra for referring to China as Zhong Guo.
Score: 8 (Playworthy).

Link: Media & Games Online Network: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Netjak: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  For those of you that never played any of the Caesar series, you may be in luck. This'll be a totally new game to you. Also, hardcore fans of Caesar will enjoy this, too.
Score: 6.1.

Link: Netjak: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Ogre: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  "Veterans of the city-building series will really feel right at home in Emperor. Not a whole lot has changed during the past few years of city-building game development, so it all fits like an old pair of shoes. The concept is simple really- lay out your roads, set up your industries, protect your city, and watch it all bustle. What has changed is the setting. We have picked up our bags and left the Mediterranean completely, and now find ourselves in ancient China."
Score: 4 (Very Good!).

Link: Ogre: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Raffs.de: Der Erste Kaiser
  Monumental! Mit Der erste Kaiser konnte Impressions Games noch einmal die bereits hervorragenden Vorgänger übertreffen. Vor allem durch die sinnvollen Änderungen am Gameplay wie z.B. den nun überall baubaren Farmen und einigen Einsturzsicheren Gebäuden kann man sich nun noch mehr auf das eigentliche Spiel konzentrieren. Auch wurden nun die Wünsche vieler Fans mit einem Multiplayermodus erfüllt. Wer lieber Solo spielt, bekommt mit Der erste Kaiser aber auch das beste Endlosspiel aus der gesamten Städtebau-Serie mit zahlreichen einstellbaren Optionen. Den netten Bonuseffekt, daß man etwas über die Geschichte eines Landes lernt hat auch dieses Spiel weiterführen können. Dabei wurden erfreulicherweise Helden, Götter und berühmte Persönlichkeiten spielgerecht bunt gemischt, so daß man neben Konfuzius auch auf z.B. Zhuge Liang (dies war der Berater von Liu Bei aus dem weltbekannten Roman "Romance Of The Tree Kingdoms") oder den "Gelben Kaiser" trifft.
Als Fazit kann man Der erste Kaiser jedem uneingeschränkt empfehlen, der Städtebau-Simulationen mag oder einen der Vorgänger dieses Spieles mochte.
Score: 88%
Yes, it's in German.


Link: Raffs.de: Der Erste Kaiser
 

The Armchair Empire: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom Interview
  Not really a review but an interview with Ed Beach, better known as Gobi Bear.

When it comes to city building strategy games, more often then not they take place in the Western world. While this is all well and good, there's a whole lot more world out there with lots of history and culture to take advantage of in a game. BreakAway Games certainly seems to think so as they plug away on their latest strategy title, Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom for the PC, which takes place in Ancient China. We were fortunate enough to get a hold of Ed Beach, Producer on the project, and he was kind enough to shed some more light on the upcoming game.


Link: The Armchair Empire: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom Interview
 

Video Game News: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  If you have never played any of these city building titles, then Emperor is the best of the bunch to pick up and try. It is nearly bug free, has great sound, and fantastic graphics. It's just a hard title to recommend to everyone. It's very niche. You really have to enjoy the punishing aspects of city building to come away from it thinking it's a great game.

Link: Video Game News: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

Wargamer: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Welcome to the oldest civilization on earth! This isn't your grandfather's Rome, nor your father's Egypt, or even your older brother's Greece - this is China! Impressions Games hands the reigns to BreakAway Games this time in order to fashion yet another title in their City-Building series. So is Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom just another well-trod road through a new civilization, or does it manage to be something bigger, better, and greater than its predecessors?

Link: Wargamer: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
 

ZDNet: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
  Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom, is a serviceable, but ultimately unadventurous entry into the strategy market. The gameplay is little more advanced than the first Sim City from 1989, and while the complexity is manageable, is not consummate with the satisfaction of victory. The online options include co-operative play, and the products life span is arguably extended by the campaign editor. This is a dated strategy game, one that does little to engage the eyes or the brain. While not seriously flawed, it can't hope to compete with the upcoming Sim City 4, and will serve as a brief, un-engaging diversion at best.
Score: 6.

Link: ZDNet: Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom