IF YOU'RE UNAWARE OF GAME'S HISTORY:


As someone who loves ancient history, I've followed A.C. since it's early days, with the announcement and green-light campaign on Steam back in 2017. This movement had tons of traction and generated well over 120K by the time it was green lit. Surpassing it's funding milestones where it promises to eventually build in additional climates such as the Middle East and and even an Ice Age pack. Each with their own set of challenges according to their atmospheric elements. Same is true for natural disaster features, also related to each climate. And throw in some raiding to spice it up even more. Improved sky life and the Aurora-Borealis etc.

These things have yet to be included, but I'm more than confident they'll be added, as the few building this game up are still working on it in a whole list of ways. Tons of life variety and Optimization has improved far beyond many other city build games. There's plenty of features already added at this point.

Honestly, I'm impressed with how far this has come. To say that Uncasual Game's team of several Devs have tackled a tremendous feat (considering the shear size of their vision for this one of a kind piece) while working this project is in itself a deep understatement. There's so many times this game should've gone under over the years and yet somehow against all odds, the Devs have managed to persevere, coming out on top, improving the entire game from it's very poor early access state in 2021. And all this in the face of what was initially ruthless ridicule from original followers base, who's patience for the complete game lasted about a week. And who seemed to think Uncasual Games were the size of Ubisoft Studios; not to mention the overwhelming financial and development threats they were confronted before and after the fall out.

The end game of this project has yet to be realized. But what the game provides for playable content as of this post is very enjoyable. It'll take some learning investment to really feel the vibe the world around is meant to give, So prepare yourself to be committed to learning the mechanics of your tribe and the environments.

If you're doubtful about paying full price up front, then definitely consider getting this on sale. But understand that the more funds the ever-improving Devs receive from this genre base, the closer they'll be to really making this into the full masterpiece they've intended it to be. I bought this at full price and I can say confidently that I'd do it again. I'm really looking forward to what's potentially in store for the future with this. I wish the Devs an ever successful outcome. They've earned it.

I would have like to give a thumbs up to this game.

I followed its development since the launch of it, when it was then still on kickstarter.
I finally bought it...

NEGATIVES :

- Boring. I mean, at some point I was simply watching my screen at max speed fast foward waiting for tiny hut to be built and I really feel like I was loosing my time.
- Terrible UI. I know the devs changed it since the beginning. But it is just not good. Doesnt feel intuitive at all and it is invasive.
- Why can't I choose the visual of my tribe ''flag'' ?
- The world feel empty. Nature feel lame. Wild animal doesnt even roam in groups. They do nothing, they feel souless.
- Why can't storage contain more than one ressource !?
- There's not much to do or to build either.
- The same annoying ambiance music is playing FOREVER.
- Development is just too slow.
- Do not think you will build a neolithic town with complex politics, religions and the first wars in history. Your society will be simple and it is more about managing resources.
- No mesopotamians ? No semitic cultures and middle-eastern map ? Neolithic is all about the fertile crescent...
- The concept of ''ancient cities'' is a little bit too much here.
- Doesnt feel optimizated at all, but wasnt that much laggy for me (one crash only)

POSITIVES :
- Graphics are good I guess
- Seems pretty accurate historically
- You are really put in the survival aspect of paleolithic and neolithic
- Niche kind of game that I really like

Honestly, the game is worth 10 $ I would say... Sadly.

I've played probably every settlement sim on Steam and I find this one extremely frustrating.

It's very difficult to get started and there is very little in the way of handholding.

The tribe is constantly bothered by things I can't do anything about. Don't whinge about needing a better house when I already built you the best house you know how to build.

The settlers don't do the work assigned and there doesn't seem to be a way to work out why.

Immigrants just don't come, even when everyone was 100% happy for a few days... crickets

Time is ridiculous. 60 years to build a basic hut. Crazy. I prefer something a little more realistic.

The storage system sucks so hard - one item type for each storage, I spend more time finding space for new storages and managing them than anything else. Awful grind and a real pain in the neck.

I'll uninstall (again) and wait for update improvements (again).

Buy it in a sale if you must try it out.

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Response to developer reply:

Obviously I am not asking for a realistic 1 game year = 1 real year pace, that's ridiculous to suggest that and is frankly insulting.

I've built multiple types of housing including more of the best type available than the tribe needs. They still whinge about housing. I can find no other reason they are unhappy, they have food etc.

The probability of immigration perhaps needs tweaking then, because they sure as heck die off fast enough when they're unhappy.

The guided tutorial is bare minimum, which is fine, as I said I've played probably every game of this type available, I don't expect them to be the same and wouldn't want them to be either.

It would have been nicer if your response had taken on my criticism a bit more instead of turning it back on me somehow being at fault. I'm not some little kid. I rarely write reviews at all and if I've gone to the effort to do so, it's because I want to see improvement.

I will write a good review when I feel the game deserves one.