SimCity Classic

SimCity is an awesome game that I remember playing as a child. We didn't have a computer at home so I would be so anxious to have computer lab at school on Fridays. If I didn't get the computer with Oregon Trail then I was hoping for the computer with Sim City on it. That was in the mid 90's, now almost a decade later I find myself still in love with the Sims.

One of the pioneers of its time, Sim City gave you control. The graphics were excellent and the outcome of your city whether it succeeded or failed depended entirely upon you. Like nature itself, in this game a host of things could plague your city like natural disasters. What would you do if an earthquake or flood hit your city? Repair the damage to its infrastructure and try to bounce back.
Then of course you had to plan the layout of the city and strategically place streets. At the same time you have to be the ultimate politician by appeasing everyone within city limits. If you did not your overall approval rating would fall. Also, you have to control that little problem of violence within city limits, much like real life in inner city's where one of the number one problems is crime. There are also the pesky problems with pollution that we in the real world have to contend with. The amount of pollution directly correlated with the type of power source you used to run your city. If you let it get out of hand then say goodbye to your city.
Ultimately when playing the Sims you realized that it actually runs parallel to everyday life. Every move you made there was a consequence whether good or bad. In essence it was the modern day Oregon Trail only you’re a pioneer of a city.
This game is not easy by a long shot, however, it is a welcome difference from the games that are out today. It seems like most of them you’re just a mindless drone move mouse here, put food down here. Not with the Sims you actually had to think, make decisions and come up with good solutions to everyday problems plaguing the city. There were things beyond your control that you also had to contend with which gave it a feel of unpredictability that you don't get with games these days. If you’re tired of all the Cake Mania's and Diner Dash's, then this game is for you. It's a classic that still relevant more than a decade later and it makes you think!