Publisher: Big Fish Games
Developer: Gameinvest
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista, 800 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, DirectX 8.1, 219 MB hard-drive space
Genre: Fantasy simulation
Release date: Available now

City sims might not be a vital genre of video games, especially after the debacle that was Cities XL, but casual games are a niche that lets developers do creative things with a smaller scope. So it is with World of Zellians: Kingdom Builder. Developed by Gameinvest, Zellians is a casual game that calls itself a kingdom builder, but it’s really a city builder. You’re responsible for laying out and building cities that satisfy whatever goals are required for a given level.

Most of the actions you’re expected to take in Zellians correspond to what you might expect in this genre. You build roads, buildings that generate revenue and resources, and houses in which people live. Buildings have some interdependencies, but economics are very basic because there is no drain on revenue or tax rates to set. For example, building a new orchard always generates the same amount of cash and resources, no matter how many you have already built and how many people are in your town. No city services really cost any money aside from the build cost, making city building rarely a question of economics.

Instead, what difficulty there is in the game comes from the maps themselves. All of the maps are quite small compared to most city sims; real estate is at a premium, and the buildings are often shaped in such a way that assembling your city is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Also, terrain is an important factor. You cannot directly build upon or remove rivers, mountains or trees, forcing you to stay cognizant of geography at all times.

The various maps are played out in a linear sequence; completing one allows access to the next. The maps are divided up into broader regions, each with its own special problems that need to be overcome. Once a particular region is completed, a bonus level opens up. These bonus levels are significantly more difficult than the regular maps; the terrain is much more of a problem, and you must build while a timer counts down.

World of Zellians doesn’t set its sights on innovation or expansive, all-encompassing gameplay. The difficulty, even in the bonus levels, is very low. The basics of the game are not at all difficult to master, and there are few surprises as you play through the maps. Since this is a casual game, explicitly meant for relaxing fun and not heart-pounding excitement or brain-draining strategy, this should not be seen as a fault. However, those who are looking for a game even remotely challenging should look elsewhere. I will note that the brightly colored animation, coupled with simpler gameplay, might make this a good game for younger children around six years of age, and I could see parents playing with their children.

In line with its casual origins and goals, World of Zellians is priced at around $6.99. It provides approximately three to four hours of gameplay, making it a better use of your money than some movies. Casual gamers looking for something simple and relaxing should take up Gameinvest’s offer of a free demo and play it.

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