It’s exhausting to imagine however we’re only a few months away from the 5-year anniversary of Codebrew Video games aka developer Bobby Li launching the unique Pocket Metropolis within the App Retailer. A full premium city-building sim is one thing that was severely missing on cell over time, and that unique Pocket Metropolis delivered the products with a beautiful touchscreen interface, beautiful visuals, and satisfying metropolis constructing. And no micro-transactions in sight! There was a motive we selected it as our Recreation of the Week and awarded it 5 stars in our evaluate when it got here out, and since that point the unique Pocket Metropolis remains to be just about the one critical choice for these wanting a premium metropolis builder on cell.
Simply because there’s no actual competitors in that house doesn’t imply that Codebrew have been resting on their laurels although. Within the fall of 2020 a sequel was introduced, and this time across the complete sport could be inbuilt 3D. I used to be excited by the announcement, however to be trustworthy Pocket Metropolis 2 slipped from my thoughts within the time since, so I used to be particularly taken off guard when a brand new trailer was launched final month and revealed simply what was in retailer for this 3D sequel. The isometric city-building of the primary sport was retained, however like a magic trick, at any second you might zoom proper into the town you had been constructing to disclose a 3D open world mode the place you because the City Mayor might roam round partaking in actions or finishing missions.
To say that this function blew my thoughts could be an understatement. I’d been taking part in open world video games for greater than twenty years, and taking part in metropolis builders for nearer to a few, and it by no means occurred to me how superior it might be to design and construct your personal metropolis AND THEN really discover all the factor on foot or by car. This is sort of a peanut butter and chocolate second that was simply begging to be explored, and so now we now have that on cell with the discharge of Pocket Metropolis 2 this week. I suppose the large query is does this skill to roam your personal metropolis open world-style add something to the expertise, or is it only a fairly gimmick?
On the threat of teasing, I believe I’ll let that query be answered by our pal Mikhail in his full evaluate of Pocket Metropolis 2, coming to your eyeballs quickly. What I’ll say although is that the open world function may be as a lot of the sport as you need it to be, which means it’s completely attainable to simply ignore it altogether in order for you and simply play by means of Pocket Metropolis 2 like a traditional isometric metropolis builder. Actually that’s just about how I play about 80% of the time, largely as a result of there’s simply a lot to be constructing and managing and monitoring that I don’t actually have time to consider “Oh I’m going to go shoot hoops on the park I simply constructed!” or “Oh I’m going to go cease some random muggings on the road!” I really like that these choices are there, and I believe as soon as I get additional into my metropolis the place it doesn’t want a lot micromanaging I’ll most likely discover them extra.
For now although, Pocket Metropolis 2 is precisely what followers of the unique sport might hope for. It’s greater and higher in just about each manner simply on its city-building mechanics, with the additional open world stuff being like icing on the cake. That is perhaps not probably the most in-depth metropolis builder in terms of technique, however it makes up for it in sheer enjoyable and approachability. You’ll be able to nonetheless change between panorama or portrait on the fly, and Pocket Metropolis 2 retains that fantastic high quality from the unique the place it’s simple to play for only a few moments at a time or for lengthy stretches. A variety of sim video games wouldn’t have that form of choose up and play nature however it works completely for Pocket Metropolis 2 as a cell sport.
If you happen to loved the unique, I believe it’s a no brainer to select up this sequel. It appears thus far to be higher in each manner. If you happen to missed out on the primary sport, it’s protected to simply skip it I believe and dive proper into Pocket Metropolis 2 as a substitute. For a mere 5 {dollars} you’re getting a variety of sport right here, and I believe there’ll nonetheless be no actual contenders to take its crown as the very best premium cell metropolis builder till the inevitable Pocket Metropolis 3 comes alongside sometime sooner or later. Additionally, for much more perception about Pocket Metropolis 2 and its improvement, remember to try our interview with Codebrew Video games from earlier this week and hold your eye out for our evaluate of the sport quickly.
