Cities: Skylines 2 Review – Bigger But Not Better

Cities: Skylines 2 on PC

It isn’t usually the concept of higher roads and site visitors is a function that’s extremely anticipated, however that’s precisely what I used to be wanting ahead to with Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive’s Cities: Skylines 2. A extra natural approach of laying out a metropolis comes with simpler street placement, and the improved approach during which site visitors is simulated was a welcomed sight. Sadly, even one of the best layouts can undergo from jams and backed-up site visitors, a mirrored image of how this sequel delivers smooth-flowing enjoyment and irritating occasions in equal measure.

Contemplating it’s been eight years for the reason that first sport, the expectation for Cities: Skylines 2 was to reach with groundbreaking improvements and concepts that may construct on the robust foundations established with years of assist and neighborhood mods. In a way, it does, with loads of new mechanics that deliver a way of realism to the financial system and the way a correct city metropolis is dropped at life.

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Nevertheless, issues can get needlessly difficult and fraught with clunkiness. Be it the expertise of planning your dream metropolis however leaping by so many hoops or simply attempting to get issues wanting the way in which they need to in actuality. At occasions, it’s like getting behind the wheel of a superpowered automobile however being trapped behind dozens and dozens of site visitors lights turning pink every time there’s momentum constructed up.

Earlier than diving in, it’s noteworthy to level out that in the case of technical necessities, the builders have preemptively acknowledged that optimization remains to be a piece in progress. Relying in your rig, the sport might look exceptionally lovely or sluggish issues all the way down to a crawl that makes you query why it even launched within the first place. No less than in my expertise, my RTX 4080 and Ryzen 9 7900X3D had no points showcasing Cities: Skylines 2 in one of the best mild.

That gained’t be the case for everybody, given how laborious the sport will push most CPUs and graphics playing cards, however is it well worth the hassle? As a lot as I like the lifelike depiction of life within the metropolis, as soon as your inhabitants begins to hit 5 figures, efficiency will dip at varied factors of the simulation. Are new industrial and residential zones being populated? There could possibly be a second or two of stuttering because the cranes transfer in. Terraforming might need been simpler early on, however elevating hills and creating lakes can immediately develop into a slow-moving affair. These optimizations can’t come quick sufficient.

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As for the precise metropolis constructing, it’s a combined bag as properly. The improved roads are a delight; the curve and parallel street choices make creating distinctive enclaves simpler than the extra uniform central hubs in any of the territories. Having a definite persona makes one creation totally different from the subsequent, however early on, Cities: Skylines 2 doesn’t make it straightforward to sit down by the more difficult occasions.

Decrease-density zones are inclined to undergo from a scarcity of consideration to element, particularly with the extra complicated terrain that’s current in many of the maps. It simply doesn’t look proper when skyscrapers and towering buildings look excellent in opposition to the improved lightning and seasonal modifications, however the suburbs can’t even look stage and sit on strong floor as you zoom in for a better look.

Granted, there may be at all times the answer of terraforming to create extra buildable areas, however that’s not precisely the enchantment of a sport like Cities: Skylines 2, at the least not for many gamers. Having to spend any prolonged period of time to create an space that’s viable not solely from an aesthetically pleasing perspective but additionally functionally could be a bummer as an alternative of it being a software so as to add to the view. The preliminary number of maps might have contributed to this malaise, which gained’t change till extra content material is added or the neighborhood takes issues into its personal palms. Both approach, there may be a lot ready to be completed, identical to for the optimization work.

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Look previous that although, and it turns into clearer how Cities: Skylines 2 ups the ante in the case of lifelike depictions of an precise metropolis, not one that’s self-sustainable however propped up by its neighbors. With assets requiring processing earlier than changing into extra superior items, gamers must get used to the truth that constructing a big, sprawling metropolis that has every thing is a factor of the previous. As a substitute, creating small pockets of communities that may contribute to the bigger image is the place the enjoyable is. The power to create combined zone areas can also be welcomed, echoing a growth that’s not unusual to see in our actuality when residential and industrial entities come collectively.

Service buildings have additionally gotten a refresh of kinds, bringing prolonged protection in all areas and benefitting from varied upgrades to extend their effectivity, albeit with the tradeoff that almost all of them occupy too giant of an area. The identical system of development that unlocks extra choices for gamers is again, rewarding those that are in a position to develop their cities considerably with new options and potential issues to take care of.

It gained’t be that tough to get an honest financial system going if the basics are sound, however typically, there are unexplained circumstances that may throw a wrench within the works. There could possibly be hidden points that may value gamers, however the sport doesn’t essentially get into the weeds for this facet. Simply don’t be afraid if money stream immediately will get into the pink; it might rapidly leap again to the black immediately, which suggests the financial simulation nonetheless has extra work to be completed.

As for gamers who can’t get sufficient of that social media buzz, Cities: Skylines 2 additionally brings again Chirper to supply well timed updates that may assist maintain a lid on issues. Sadly, maybe taking place the identical path as its inspiration—it normally does extra hurt than good. As a substitute of highlighting precise issues that may be mounted, the residents utilizing Chirper appear to relish trolling the participant as an alternative.

Complaints of noise and crime are legitimate, however not so when your complete metropolis is safeguarded or evaded any types of sound air pollution. Having strong info overlays is a good way to maintain tabs in your metropolis, which makes the Chirper alerts much more egregious when you’ll be able to clearly see nothing a lot is fallacious together with your rising metropolis.

These factors make taking part in Cities: Skylines 2 far more difficult than anticipated. On the one hand, there may be a lot to admire concerning the simulation work and constructing choices obtainable to gamers from the beginning, however the many points imply having to attend and see if issues get higher down the road. The unique sport benefited from years of neighborhood mods and extended assist, however the sequel merely can’t wait for a similar state of affairs to develop, particularly not with an skilled workforce on the helm. At this level, leaping into the sport appears like knowingly driving in direction of a vacation vacation spot, figuring out there’s a pile-up someplace within the distance. The tip purpose may be enticing, however getting there will probably be a ache.

In regards to the writer

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and a part-time Steam Sale sufferer. He has a factor for Batman and superior statues, and working out of house for each. Ship assist. Jake was a contract author for Twinfinite between 2021 to 2023 and specialised in writing detailed guides on each new launch he might get his palms on.