! Vitneta and Column

Say thanks to the company HBO for our happy childhood. We owe this television channel to get acquainted with a galaxy of memorable movie heroes – here are the brave American marines of different eras, the beautiful and terrible kings and queens of Westeros, the charismatic Italian mafiosi of the Soprano family and no less charismatic corrupt officials and police from the Underground Empire.

I will not be mistaken if I say that with an eye on the last series studio Haemimont Games created its new strategy Omerta: City of Gangsters, telling about the difficult life of the novice bandit Atlantic City of the 20s, who went in pursuit of the “American dream”. No, I didn’t have to spend money on the purchase of a license-despite the fact that some characters in the series will certainly meet us in the game, the main plot of the “city of gangsters” with the “Underground Empire” is only connected by the total time and place of action. The similarity of these two projects is explained by the fact that both rely on the events that really took place in those years. However, even this is enough to attract the attention of Boardwalk Empire fans – here the developers did not lose.

“They wanted the best …”

The adoption of the “dry law” in the United States in 1920 significantly affected the lifestyle of all Americans, regardless of their social status, age and method of earnings. Much has changed, but the wrong direction wanted to turn the streams of the eighteenth amendment prohibiting the production, transportation and sale of alcohol products to turn the course of the events. They didn’t drink less, even vice versa – the forbidden fruit is more sweet, as you know, but worries about the creation and distribution of strong drinks have passed from instantly ruined official producers of alcohol to harsh guys who were not afraid to violate the law for money. Buthlegers (the so -called illegal alcohol merchants) began the struggle for a place under the sun with each other and the police, without disdaining the most radical methods. Entire alcoholic empires were created and destroyed, which entangled cities and states with their tentacles, bribery and threats got rid of the persistent attention of officials and law enforcement agencies. Of course, all this fun was accompanied by an explosive growth of organized crime, until in December 1933 the “dry law” was canceled.

City of Gangsters It provides the player with the opportunity to try himself as one of the similar luck hunters, of which there was enough in the United States in the “dashing 20s”. Choosing the name, appearance and background (which affects the initial characteristics) of my hero, I go to Atlantic City-the city of rich opportunities, promising success to those who are not afraid of difficulties.

“Merry Omert”

To convey the unique atmosphere of the underground alcoholic center of the North-Eastern coast of the beginning of the last century, the developers managed to perfectly, which is noticeable at first glance. Atlantic City turned out to be recognizable and memorable-fans of the same Boardwalk Empire will be especially happy. All this splendor simply perfectly complements the sound accompaniment: the music and voice acting of the dialogues of the main characters are made with love.

There are a lot of bonuses to study. Even too much-you do not have time to “pump” to some due to the fact that the game ends.

The city lives its own life. Passers-by are walking leisurely along the famous plank flooring in the embankment, chic limousines and trucks are in a hurry on the roads, at the factory they talk about something of their hard workers at the plant. The day is replaced at night, sometimes the weather spoils and the rain begins – pedestrians get umbrellas, and the asphalt of the streets is covered with puddles reflecting the light of lanterns ..

However, there is no time to admire the beauty – things are not waiting. “Do you want to live – know how to spin” – an unspoken rule of gangsters of all time. You can “spin” in two ways: by force and threats, getting money for a beautiful life or receiving this money from legal and not very legal trade in various goods and services.

On the map you can find buildings marked with special iconograms – at home for rent, warehouses, restaurants, dwellings of officials and sheriffs and other underground bars and breweries. Each of these buildings is available for various actions – for example, an institution can be rented and open there your production, or you can arrange an armed robbery or extort money from the owner. Choose one of several options and wait until the main character or one of his associates will fulfill the conceived. Strange, but for some reason our gangsters prefer to move to their two, with a desperate sprint. It looks a little ridiculous, especially when the head of the criminal clan from all legs runs to fulfill a “particularly important” task of renting some kind of race.

There is a refuge of our “brigade” in the form of a small cozy house, which, however, over time can grow to a chic mansion – there would be enough “green”. Dollars are always needed, and not only to the main character-opening a global card, you can start serious business relations with other respected residents of Atlantic City (from the gangster of the middle hand to a large Butleger). Serious people are a serious business: someone urgently needs to sell a large batch of alcohol, someone buys weapons, the usurer is ready to give a loan, and the sheriff’s assistant will help to divert close attention to our modest person.

The game has three types of resources necessary for trading and performing some actions: using beer or alcohol, you can unleash the tongue to the informant, and a resource such as weapons is necessary for the commission of armed raids. There is, of course, and money, but not everything is so simple with them. The whole currency is divided into two types: “dirty” money is received by illegal trade, racketeering and banal robberies, and official institutions like pharmacies and casinos bring “clean” money. Getting the latter is not so simple, but only they can pay for some goods and services. However, the “dirty” currency can be “washed” by using the services of intermediaries.

The gameplay is uncomplicated and after a couple of hours it begins to resemble the notorious “Fun farm” – click on the icons of buildings, choose improvements, trade on a global map and follow income and expenses, trying to prevent bankruptcy. Everything is measured and somehow too calm for those not at all calm times. If the story campaign sometimes throws some surprises, which make it a little distracted from the leisurely course of events, then the “sandbox” looks pretty boring. There is almost always enough money, especially if you do not develop too fast, which the game allows – no one will take the business, will not attack the gang members in the gateway. Yes, the main character is not alone – over time it is possible to assemble his “brigade”, consisting of several gangsters. They also carry out tasks in the area and beyond, are negotiating with officials and the police, they also have a set of characteristics and skills that are used mainly during the battles.

“It’s just a business, nothing personal!”

Step -by -step tactical battles – the second component of the “city of gangsters”. If on a strategic map it is necessary to solve things usually with a “kind word and a gun” (which, as you know, is much more effective just a good word), then it will have to be acted only with the help of weapons. One “short -barreled” thing is not limited to – there are customs with bats, rifles, shotgun, machine guns ..

Battles resemble a battle regime from the first Fallout. There are movements of movements that are spent, oddly enough, on the movement on the map, and the glasses of actions by which the character can shoot, treat others and treat others, throw grenades and knives … You can’t even mention a set of “perks” available for studyingvery rich, but each character has no more than three of them, plus three more skills gives the weapon he used. And if there are enough skills, then in terms of “customization” there is very much variety, opportunities for detailed configuration of appearance and equipment. Dress up his hero “under Al Capone»Will not work;you have to be content with what is – you can change the only weapon.

In addition, step -by -step battles look too schematic. The cartridges do not end, there is no recharge and shooting at certain parts of the enemy’s body, they also do not allow to choose the “trunk” dropped out by someone. Opponents are not very smart and prefer to crush in quantity – only then they are able to deliver serious inconvenience. Many scolded the recent XCOM for such simplifications, but compared to the local battles, Zaruba against aliens simply shine with a wealth of tactical possibilities.

The multiplayer does not save the situation, represented only by step -by -step battles one on one. The cards are small, events on them develop according to the same scenario, and with the configuration of the appearance of the characters of the case, the case here is exactly the same as in the “single”. As a result, a special influx of those who want to measure the forces in the network game is

not observed.

If you know by heart the names of all the bosses of the Sicilian mafia, you have a full meeting on the book shelf Mario Puzu, And on the desktop “Wallpaper” from Boardwalk Empire, then City of Gangsters – Definitely for you. All the rest can not be worried: the game is valuable primarily by the plot campaign and the atmosphere of the Atlantic-City of the Dry Law perfectly transmitted by the atmosphere of the Atlantic. Although nothing interferes with a couple of evenings for reselling beer and those who confuse Al Capone With Al Pacino.

Pros: stylish design;beautifully drawn city;Atmospheric music and voice acting dialogs.
Cons: too light and monotonous tactical battles;Lack of “customization” of characters.

“Good to you, dude priority, we have everything here nishtychik, fun, songs. Smile with us … And let’s so: no tourists to the island so that they do not guess our beaches and do not roam here. And factories. One is good. Two – too much. No smoke, let it flow only from our cigarettes. Be the most cool! Oh yes, country houses would. You yourself understand, no neighbors, noise, great parties. And plus everyone can grow all sorts of different herbs there in their backyard. Good for you, el prizedente dude!”

If you remember, in the original Tropico 3, we fought for power. They built an army, put in prisons to the disagreements, led propaganda on television and denigrated competitors on the pages of the Tropican newspapers. There was a struggle. And an addition “Absolute power” It was supposed to tell us about the times when we had already won all the elections, and somewhere by force, and somewhere in cunning and beautiful speeches we occupied the chair of the most important.

And what the name is! “Absolute power”. What could be the game about? Despotism, cold decisions of the president are seen. Constant binnings with the USSR and the USA – we no longer need their support. Power is it, in our powerful fist. And therefore, the tears of prayers for help can be modified in the tears of male, which flow down the general on the cheek of the general, when the Tropikan army marchs under the anthem of his free country.

Such images are born “Absolute power”, where we no longer have competitors, where we are the law, strength, power. And beware of anyone who disagree!

And so we get to the first island, and the adviser

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meets us with the words: “Good to you, dude President”. He plays reggae, he talks about a smiling world, about happiness, about the fact that this island is a real paradise. Almost all the inhabitants here – hippies and customs. They want nothing to interfere with their smooth, like music Bob Marley, lifestyle.

And the task is to make us make these people happy. Let the level of “joy” increase to 60%. And since we, as rulers, do not have the right to grow and sell happiness, we begin to work.

But we immediately set the conditions. There are no tourists, factories – excess. To chop the forest – from the evil one is. After all, it is so beautiful here. And then they add: “Let’s go to the beach, dude. Let’s dance, laugh. We believe in you, our slander president!”

And this is absolute power, power in a fist, male tears and debate with, their mother, great powers?

But this is probably just such a humorous introduction. And when we solve all the problems of the island of the Plastamans, we will go further-to truly great affairs.

We are sailing to the next tropical island, we go into the residence, and then the adviser runs: “TSSS! Do not speak loudly, they are among us. They listen to us, they know about our plans “. Who the hell is the spies?! Comment enemies?! Yes, how are they ..

Our thoughts destroy the following words of the adviser: “Ghosts have not give us rest for so long, Mr. President that all hope for you. Please catch spirits. No urine live with them!”

And what happens next? We establish the economy in order to get money to create an investigative commission, hire police officers, then we establish a secret police. The law enforcement officers every three minutes report to us about what they could find out, and then they say with confidence: “These are no ghosts, nonsense. Ghosts! These are aliens. And they are going to land on our island!”And our task, so that everything goes smoothly, make friends with the loyalists on the island and fulfill all their desires.

Of course, after they tell you about the aliens, you already lose all hope. But there is another mission where we need to turn the island into a magnificent resort place. But with our experience, with our knowledge, we will prepare tropical beaches for the Winter Olympiad, just let me swing!

Nobody seems to interfere. We are building a pier, we begin to lay the first hotels. Everything goes calmly. So far, the adviser finally does not give us the task: “We must otherwise make a resort. May tourists remember the island! It is necessary that we have a monster here, and everyone would believe in it and afraid! So, the first thing we are building farms near the places where vacationers can walk … ”Aaaaarrrgh!

Absolutely imperfect conditions

In fact, of course, such tasks do not cause any anger. The addition turned out to be exclusively original. All missions are non -standard. And it seems that the developers simply joined when they wrote scripts. Hippie Island, where we are asked not to interfere with growing grass;The story with the aliens and, they say, insanity on the green men-the adviser even somehow says that we scare even our own wife when we put on our latex suit of an alien. There is even an island from 2010. Only after the experiment of scientists was thrown into the past, and we will gradually restore all buildings. In the beginning, we have only farms, hibars and a note from the future with a postscript – “Do not trust the monkeys!”.

And most importantly, all scenarios affect the gameplay. If the mentamans said not to chop trees and not make more than one factory, then you need to look for other solutions. And the island from the future is something else. We open the buildings gradually, and we often have to choose – in what sequence. For example, you can get either school, or roads, or apartment buildings. Which is more important?

True, in the days of the struggle for power and strength, long chains of text tasks remained absolutely. Remember, before we sometimes had to play almost in the quest? When, for example, the Soviet delegation came, and it was necessary to first decide whether to accept them, and then – what to show. And the more correct solutions, the better the reward. There is no such addition, unfortunately. Here the tasks are single -stage. True, much more funny.

New toys of the dictator

However, the addition is by no means a plot. The developers deepened the Tropico 3 mechanics and tried to emphasize the very absolute power that the leader can possess.

So there was a new fraction of loyalists. Their main task is to love us. Blindly, endlessly and unrequited. For we regard them as just a reliable resource. They are the foundation in the victory in the election.

And together with this faction, we had even more funds to make ourselves the most beloved and beautiful in the eyes of the people. New monuments, public holidays and laws, the seal of a propagandist of literature, in the description of which it indicates: “In the next three years, dumbasses will adore you stronger”. The audience of pro -government books is very subtly.

It is also easier for us to understand what needs to be done for parties. They put forward their requirements, and we see everything that they want in our notebook. Loyalists, for example, love museums, public holidays and tyranny usurized elections. Give a little freedom, and they are disappointed in you. Just perfect people! The religious party, in turn, requires more churches and becomes your best friend if you invite the pope to the island.

So now it’s much easier for us to win the love of those who we need. Or who just has to reckon with. Revolutions on the island are still possible. And it is better to build the right building for the right party in advance and get an army if something suddenly ..

As for the buildings, several new. Tourists are now roling in balloons around the island, developed countries carry us their garbage, and we sell weapons of the USSR or USA. These are all new ways for business.

And by the way, our power has become so absolute that we can fire Huanito! Yes, it is worth issuing a special law – and it will be driven away. True, now in addition to him on the radio there is also a girl-speaker. But new music, alas, no.

And yet, for those who still doubt and do not understand whether to take additions or not, I will briefly say: in fact, “Absolute power” – This is cosmetics. There is nothing fundamentally new here. If you hope for a completely different gameplay, it will not be. There are new missions, funny laws, several buildings, which were not before.

“Absolute power” – Unusual, but very pleasant addition. Who could expect this? I think very few. The developers were surprised and at the same time left Tropico 3 playable and sometimes even more complicated than the original. By the way, we were promised that if the addon is met well, then the first would follow the first. How to convey Kalypso Media, that we are fully approved by her actions?

Pros: funny missions and excellent text tasks and explanations;pleasant innovations.
Cons: There is no new music;The gameplay has not changed.