PC strategy game 1701 A.D. focuses on economics, supply, and trade through colonization of tropical islands in a historical simulation based on the European push into the Caribbean. In this third episode of the series, game players have an honourable duty coming from the Old Continent as they will work to make the Queen happy by creating a profitable port colony and eventually make a move to independence.
In order to advance a colony to a new level, which is important as higher level colonists pay much higher amounts of tax, certain needs have to be met. Once gamers provide their citizens with basic needs like food and shelter, the game's characters require other pressing goods like religion, tobacco and alcohol. Many of these resources can be found or grown anywhere, and many others need the use of fertilization or a resource deposit (clay, iron, jewels, gold) and won't be found on every island. If any one of these needs fails to be met, the citizens protest, eventually rioting and burning down buildings.
1701 game players will lead an exploring task to the neighboring islands and exploiting them for resources using an internal trade route, keeping the society thriving. With that said, the video game offers very little incentive to start more than one settlement.
In terms of combat, using your PC will make it easier, although with 1701 A.D. It is a weaker aspect of the gameplay. Players can build up a substantial military force, but it works best as a defensive measure, like keeping pirates at bay, rather than spreading out and conquering. The naval military is generally for harassing the other players or defending against harassment. Once enemy military vessels appear in the water, it's a race to secure supply lines from other island chains by providing escorts for trade vessels. However, war can certainly mix up the gameplay quite a bit once people establish a stable city.
The game's bright graphics will please most gamers, with the water reflections being among the best aspects. Its sound design doesn't stand out, with little to no music, but the gameplay is likely to keep players interested.
1701 A.D. Features:
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A unique combination of empire building, trade, exploration, diplomacy, and battle
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Easy-to-learn gameplay featuring a tutorial with audio and visual prompts, plus interactive in-game help
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Huge 3D game world with various zoom and rotate camera angles for exploration
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Information mode, in which 3D symbols appear to give players instant information on resources and buildings
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More than 100 subquests that reward the player for performing various tasks
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Multiplayer mode allowing up to four gamers to play over a LAN or the Internet in Player vs. Player or Co-op modes
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Secret operations, such as sabotage, espionage, and demagoguery, build greater interaction between parties
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Queen feature provides help to players during lower levels and introduces challenges as the game progresses
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Village center, which is the hub of the settlement, provides players with a real-time gauge of the city’s progress through the appearance of the center and the activities of its inhabitants
Optional military elements allowing for unit troop formations and troop feedback as they take part in spectacular battles on land and at sea
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