Pros: Nice graphics, sound and interface. Highly addictive. Very logical and simple to understand. Clear and easy to follow.
Cons: Battles a bit weak and simplistic

For a long time I avoided the Caesar series. I had first seen the original Caesar years ago on my trusty AMIGA 500 and never could make head or tail out of it. The single floppy disc which it came on soon found its way to the darkest reaches of my disc box, never to emerge again.

Caesar 2 came and went without me so much as batting an eyelash thanks to my initial discouragement with the previous game and it is only by the sheer chance that a friend of mine offered to loan me his copy of Caesar 3 that I was ever able to experience just what this series was all about.

I don't know whether it was my impatience with Caesar I or if there have been vast improvements in game-play, because Caesar 3 has turned out to be one of the most engrossing god/city management games I have ever played.

Caesar III sees the player put in the shoes of a favoured Roman governor charged with the expansion of the Holy Empire through the establishment of new colonies and cities throughout the newly conquered territories. The action is viewed via an overhead 3D perspective and the player is armed with the ability to create roads, water supplies and various administrative, religious, military, governmental, commercial and recreational structures, which each satisfy a different element of the needs of the populace and allow for further growth of your city.

The availability of different commodities, which may be made from raw materials or obtained via trade decides what class of citizen will take up residence in a particular part of your city. Rich citizens generate huge taxes, but beware - they don't do a lot of work either. A city full of fat, orgying snobs will fall apart very quickly if the lower class are not there to do the actual work.

The gods play a part in the prosperity of your cities also and their moods are reflected in the mood of your population. God's may become angry and send misfortune if they are not happy with your level of devotion through the construction of grand temples in their name, but may send blessings and bumper harvests if they are well pleased. The option exists to turn the effects of the gods off and I usually do just that. With the god effects off, temples still play an important part of city life as they are required for the spiritual needs of the people, which when satisfied translate into happiness.

Each mission is completed when certain criteria and levels are met. Different levels of culture and population as well as the the contentment of your people all come under the microscope when you hope to advance to the next level.

Caesar 3 offers two options at the completion of each level, one usually being situated in a peaceful province, the other in an unsettled, war-torn one. This choice allows those who would prefer to concentrate on city construction and management to choose one route, while allowing those after a little more action to follow the other. I usually chose the peaceful route, partly because I am the type who prefers the strategy element to the hands-on battle element, but also because the fighting is perhaps the weakest facet of the game, being very simplistic and almost pointless. Basically, the army with the most men will win, no matter what strategy you use.

The sound and graphics in Caesar 3 are lovely in their functional simplicity, with the buildings all looking very authentic. The tiny citizens scurry throughout the city on their day to day errands and it is quite clear and obvious what each is up to, making the game very easy to understand and follow.

Caesar 3 is a wonderful extension of the god game, coupled with a bit of Sim-City style town management and turns into a crackingly fun gaming experience. Those who love Caesar 3, should also check out Pharaoh from the same company (Sierra), which at first glance looks to be nothing but an Egyptian theme for Caesar 3, but is in fact an even more sophisticated and entertaining game.

This game will forever remind me that I should not condemn a game series or a software house to oblivion because of early bad impressions. Had I maintained my blinkered view, I would surely have missed out on one of the most rewarding and addictive games from this genre I am ever likely to experience. Ave!