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Game Informer Review
German developer Funatics is continuing the Cultures franchise with Northland, a game that takes the art style, gameplay, and plot from (in particular) Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard.
In Cultures 2, four heroes defeated a giant serpent capable of destroying the world of men. During their quest Hatschi, Sigurd, Bjami, and Cyra rejuvenated cities and civilizations they came upon during their quest using a Sims/god-game hybrid style of play. After the serpent was defeated, the friends went their separate ways, celebrated joyously, and this is where Northland starts.
Players have the choice of continuing the lives of Cultures 2's heroes through the single-player campaign or opt for up to six gamers to join in on the included multi-player missions. There is also a free play option for those that just want to build and chill.
While the story is interesting and infused with Norse legend, it's the multiple difficulty levels, whimsical art style (which is a good thing), and hands-on management of individuals that makes this more engaging to a wider audience of players. Somewhere between The Sims and Civilization, Northland fills a unique gap in the strategy genre.
Concept:
Continue the Cultures 2 storyline with improved graphics and AI
Graphics:
Although the closest zoom makes everything look like an NES title, the character and building designs are really nice
Sound:
Like drum n' bass for the Nordic set
Playability:
Easy menu layout and generally intuitive controls. Even newbies will get along just fine
Entertainment:
The Sims/strategy/action mix is engaging and the plot is nicely history-laden
Replay:
High
Rated: 8 out of 10
Editor: Lisa Mason
Issue: March 2004
2nd Opinion:
Northland does a decent enough job of combining The Sims with resource management and town planning, but I can't recommend this over the much better options within the PC simulation and strategy genres. Also, Viking women are apparently only good for cooking, cleaning, and popping out babies, which seems a bit archaic. I'd look elsewhere for your strategy fix.
Rated: 7 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener
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From the Manufacturer
The story begins where the plot of "Cultures 2 - The Gates of Asgard" ended. After perilous adventures our four heroes defeated the Midgard serpent and thus saved the world. A great celebration began and everyone was happy and content. But everything has to come to an end sometime, and time to say farewell came faster than our friends wanted.
Hatschi, the brave Saracen, returned to his home village. Sigurd, the Frank hero, left the south and set for his way to beloved Franconia. Bjami and Crya, feeling more than just friendship for each other, returned back Byzantium to recover from the exertions of their adventure at the palace of Crya's father, the emperor of Byzantium.
But one day they were disturbed by a call for help from their friend Hatschi. Hatschi's homeland was plagued by mysterious monstrous serpent creatures, which spread chaos and destruction through the country. Without hesitation Byjami and Crya hurried to help him and stumbled right into a new adventure, in which the sly god Loki will play an important role...
Loki, known from the Nordic sagas as a versatile god of lies and weaver of many intrigues against his divine "colleagues", has been banned from Asgard by godfather Odin as a punishment for the trouble caused by the Midgard serpent. Now Loki is plotting revenge and searching for a possibility to sneak back into Asgard and pay Odin back.
Using the pseudonym Ykol he worms into the confidence of Hatschi and our heroes and accompany them on their adventurous quest. All the time he is weaving a tightening web of clandestine intrigues in which our heroes will get entangles unsuspectingly - until the whole truth is revealed at the end of the campaign and a final showdown takes place in Odin's throne chamber...
But before this, the serpent plague must be vanquished, a miraculous amulet must be created, Sigurd's people have to be relieved of the wolf demo Fenris and his evil hordes, and our heroes have to traverse the underworld, free the abducted Crya, blow a magic horn, thaw some frozen gods and release Odin from a charming spell.
Customer Reviews
Best game ever!
I have only played the demo of Northland but I am an addict of its predecessors, Cultures and Cultures 2. It is the cutest, most fun city-building sims-style game around. It was never very popular in the US but its European success has led to them finally releasing another in the series over here. Download the demo from northland.com if you're interested, but I highly suggest buying it because once you start you won't want to stop!
Warning: time dissappears but you won't care
Great Game in the tradition of Servcity
I have all the Cultures games and they are wonderful for gamers who are not into 'build thousands of soldiers and go kill everything in sight' action games. The pace is what you want it to make, from slow building to, yes, making soldiers and fighting fights. The graphics are cool, the story makes sense (mostly, grin) and the campaign gives the right mixture of tasks and action. There is one more in this series out in Germany and here's to hoping that we will see it in the U.S. as well. Highly recommended.
Northland Funtastic!
Northland is a fun filled adictive building/strategy game. Each viking is an individual and you have to get them to build a village, extract building material and provide food and homes. You assign jobs to each male viking and he will learn new skills by either working or going to schools. You can often trade your products for things you need. Create soldiers to fight anything from wolves to demons. You have choices as to how you want to play so the game is easily replayable. Some people feel that it takes too long to learn how to play it. Each game in the series builds and improves on the prior one but does not change the basic structure of the game. Once you know how to play one Cultures game you can easily play the next. I am addicted to the game and can play for hours.
My main complaints about the game are that the women do not have enought to do and although you can group the soldiers you cannot really form them into units (as in AoE or AoM).
If you liked Settlers you will love Northland. It is pure fun to play.
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