A PC owning friend refused to believe that the Spectrum boasted this piece of classic history until he was actually playing the bastard on a +2. With tail between legs he announced that he had no idea the Spectrum could handle such complex programs - well fuck him eh? Starting with a bare island, you are invited to create a living thriving community with only $20,000 at your disposal (or $8 million if you have the Alchemist PD save file!)
Starting with humble ambition you plot out areas of land designated as either Residencial, Commercial or Industrial. Add a power station, police & fire departments and a helpful road system and the pin-prick inhabitants will start to emigrate to your little hamlet of Chipping Sodbury. Set the tax rate fairly low and the scum will come flocking, all dressed in shell-suits and humming Status Quo songs.
Once your small creation has fattened out to its full potential, its time to expand, overspend and then watch your city crumble. Finances allowing, you can add Ports, Airports, Stadiums, a rail network and lush parks. Sound like your town? You lying get! Using Alchemists cheat you can build like McDonalds without a care in the world where the envoirment is concerned. With more limited funds you'll have to tax the bastards to raise more money for your bridges and tunnels. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the game is to unleash various disasters on the poor townsfolk. A major earthquake or a sneaky flood will test out your ability to keep the city powered and inhabitable. Better still, go to bed with the game still running and fuck knows what you'll find when you wake up! I fell asleep in a drunken stupor once and awoke to find a smouldering pile of rubble.
Having played the latest version on PC the Speccy program does its best to keep up. A packed city means alot of data to keep track of... I think you'll be impressed. There is alot to keep track of in this one, pollution, crime, unemployment and house prices all have to be addressed or you'll be about as popular as Alan Sugar at a Spectrum enthusiasts Fair. Take headbutts fat bearded one. It took me ages to track this down, I advise you to get your hunting hats on or to obtain the pirate copy that has appeared on the nudge wink network. Well, what can you do if the shops don't stock those programs you want to buy? Not many games will ever top this one on the Speccy.
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