It’s onerous 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 cellular over time, and that authentic Pocket Metropolis delivered the products with an exquisite touchscreen interface, beautiful visuals, and satisfying metropolis constructing. And no micro-transactions in sight! There was a motive we selected it as our Sport of the Week and awarded it 5 stars in our assessment when it got here out, and since that point the unique Pocket Metropolis continues to be just about the one critical possibility for these wanting a premium metropolis builder on cellular.
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 total recreation can be inbuilt 3D. I used to be excited by the announcement, however to be sincere 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 recreation was retained, however like a magic trick, at any second you possibly can zoom proper into the town you have 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 characteristic blew my thoughts can be an understatement. I’d been enjoying open world video games for greater than twenty years, and enjoying metropolis builders for nearer to 3, and it by no means occurred to me how superior it could be to design and construct your personal metropolis AND THEN really discover the whole 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 cellular with the discharge of Pocket Metropolis 2 this week. I suppose the massive query is does this potential 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 assessment of Pocket Metropolis 2, coming to your eyeballs quickly. What I’ll say although is that the open world characteristic might be as a lot of the sport as you need it to be, that means it’s completely attainable to simply ignore it altogether if you need and simply play by way of Pocket Metropolis 2 like a standard isometric metropolis builder. In reality that’s just about how I play about 80% of the time, principally 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 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 strictly what followers of the unique recreation 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 possibly not probably the most in-depth metropolis builder in the case of technique, nevertheless it makes up for it in sheer enjoyable and approachability. You may nonetheless change between panorama or portrait on the fly, and Pocket Metropolis 2 retains that great 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 type of choose up and play nature nevertheless it works completely for Pocket Metropolis 2 as a cellular recreation.
When you loved the unique, I believe it’s a no brainer to choose up this sequel. It appears thus far to be higher in each manner. When you missed out on the primary recreation, 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 plenty of recreation right here, and I believe there’ll nonetheless be no actual contenders to take its crown as the perfect premium cellular 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, be sure you try our interview with Codebrew Video games from earlier this week and maintain your eye out for our assessment of the sport quickly.