Game Title: Catan: The First Island Developer: Exozet Games Publisher: Exozet Games Game Platform: J2ME Tested Version: 1.0.0 Phone Reviewed: Sony Ericsson K610i
Be A Real Settler!
Story:
A new island has been discovered by some intrepid seafarers and the first inhabitants are engaged in a struggle for sovereignty over the new territory. Men and women of the various clans found the first settlements. Natural resources are tapped, roads are built and the settlements are being developed into cities. The realm of the island is flourishing and its influence is increasing. In this island, your terminal goal is to become lord of Catan!
Design:
Is the game something like "The Settlers" by Gameloft? I think that they are both strategic games, but with entirely different game play. In this game, you can choose from 8 different computer players to act as your opponents, or you can compete against your friends through "Hot Seat" form. What's more, if your friends also have this game on their phones, you can play it via Bluetooth. The multiplayer mode can, at most, support 4 players. The game is played by at least 3 players, no matter if the opponents are computers or humans, including "Hot Seat" mode, increases the playability immensely. The game is very complicated, but very challenging, as well. There are many elements and tricks. Honestly speaking, it may be kind of confusing if you've never played this type of game before and are unfamiliar with the rules. But fortunately, the "Tutorial" is very detailed and can help you pull through the daze. Besides the tutorial, there is a "Wikipedia" in this game, which is the "Catan Almanac". You can read game rules and obtain extra tips in it at any time.
Among others, the audio and video settings are various. You can customize your own style here. The options include: "Sound", "Animations", "Cloud Effects", "Auto Zoom Option", and "Opponent Comments". Take the sound option, as an example; if you switch on the sound, you can then further adjust the music effects, in game. You can have "music+fx", "only music" or just "effects". Then, if you switch on the "Auto Zoom" option, when it is your turn, the map will be zoomed in automatically, by which you can see the fields and buildings more clearly.
After you finish choosing your character and opponents, you must also make game settings, which is more complicated than the former introduction settings. Here you will see various game types available. First you can decide who will be the Starter Player of the game. Besides the "Default" game type, with the "Classic" Catan rules, you can also select "Quick" game type, in which a player only needs 7 "Victory Points" to win. Also, you can define additional game settings in "Custom" game type. Now I will tell you more details about "Custom". You can define the "Map" (variable or fixed), "Dice Mode" (normal, stack-full or stack-5 cards), "Robber Mode" (normal or friendly), "Resources Bonus" (none or after 5 turns), "Start Mode" (settlement or city) and "Victory Points" (10 or other numbers). * All the first options in the brackets are default.
Gameplay:
Where should I begin? The game has so many features and tricks. I must first point out that all the following testing are based on the "Default" game settings. To start, let me introduce you to the interface of the game. In the middle is a board, which is like a honeycomb. It's composed of 19 "Grids", and in each grid there is a number. These zones are of different terrains: "desert", "field", "forest", "grain", "hills", etc.. Outside the "Honeycomb", there are also 9 surrounding circles. They are "Harbors", of which 4 are generic and 5 are special harbors for specific resources. In each corner is the icons of the players, whose colors are different. On the bottom stands a bar, which shows the status of your resources. If you press the right soft key, you will get more information and tips. You can press the hot key (#) to view the current statics of the game; hot key (0) to trade; hot key (7) to buy or build; and hot key (*) to end turn. The game has many hot keys, which are convenient for the players.
At the beginning of the game, you are asked to found your first settlement. After that, you will build on your second intersection. Then the game really starts from your dicing. What kind of resources will be gained is determined by the sum of the two dices. For example, if the result is 8, then the resources in the grid which are the marked "8" are produced to some players. Who can get these resources? The hex belongs to those whose roads or buildings are nearby. The owners can share the productions. In your round, you can buy or build things. Also you can trade with bank or opponents. First, you should submit an offer to the other players in the "trade menu". If no players is interested in your offer, the bank is always welcome. One of them is the "Development Card", which can be very useful. It can be divided into 3 kinds of cards: "Progress", "Victory Point" and "Knight". The using of cards is reciprocal. Other players can also use them. If someone uses "Knight" card and moves the "Robber", and then you are accidentally trapped in the "Robber Zone", you will be robbed. (Actually, I was always robbed when I played this game. )
During the game, you can press (1) to zoom out of the island. In this mode, you can see the forest whose leaves are swinging with the wind. You can also see flowing water between mountains. If you switch on the "Cloud" effect in the settings, you can see clouds clearly and birds flying in the sky. What a vivid image! I can't believe the nice animations. It's as if you were in a helicopter and overlooking the entire island.
Conclusion:
The game offers much surprises and more that can only found on your own. A good strategic game needs more ideas from life, not just military tactics. In "Catan", you will learn how to trade, how to recompense, and how to compete. The island is a battle of life, and also for right and might. In my opinion, the game conceals two underlying choices: Good and Evil. It all depends on the player. Will you be a Good Guy, or a Caesar-like tyrant?
The game is very complicated, but very challenging, as well. There are many elements and tricks. Honestly speaking, it may be kind of confusing if you've never played this type of game before and are unfamiliar with the rules. But fortunately, the "Tutorial" is very detailed and can help you pull through the daze. Besides the tutorial, there is a "Wikipedia" in this game, which is the "Catan Almanac". You can read game rules and obtain extra tips in it at any time.
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Catan: Die Erste Insel (by Exozet Games)
(Nov 9th 2007, 8:17pm)
