Cities Skylines 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved city-building simulation game, and fans have been eagerly awaiting its release. As someone who's enjoyed the original Cities Skylines game, I was excited to dive into this new installment and share my first impressions. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at what Cities Skylines 2 has to offer, while also addressing some of the technical issues that have marred its early release.
Cities Skylines: A Game Changer
Cities Skylines, the predecessor to this new game, earned its place as one of the best city builders in the genre. It rose to prominence after the disappointment of Sim City, and it quickly became a fan favorite. The game received excellent support from its developers, numerous DLCs, and an active modding community that expanded its depth and complexity. Cities Skylines had a solid foundation and a bright future.
First Impressions: Technical Challenges
To be upfront, my initial experience with Cities Skylines 2 was marked by technical challenges. The game's optimization was subpar, resulting in a less-than-smooth gaming experience. Even after adjusting the settings to medium and low graphics, I struggled to maintain a stable frame rate, and the visual quality left much to be desired. The game's performance issues, graphical glitches, and occasional bugs significantly detracted from the enjoyment.
The Issue of Premature Release
The most significant concern I have with Cities Skylines 2 is its early release in an unoptimized state. It's clear that the game could have benefited from more development time. The community, myself included, would have patiently waited for a more polished and finished product. In a market filled with compelling games, Cities Skylines 2's rough release is particularly disappointing.
Promising Foundations
Despite the technical issues, Cities Skylines 2 retains a strong foundation and introduces notable improvements. The game offers a larger and more expansive world, providing players with an extensive canvas for their city-building endeavors. The introduction of seasons adds a dynamic element to the game, although some may find it a bit too dark during the night cycle.
Building and Planning
Cities Skylines 2 excels in terms of its building and planning tools. Creating intricate road networks, intersections, and roundabouts is a breeze. The game's flexibility allows you to adapt and improve your city with ease. The addition of districts with specialized industries and policies brings a new layer of complexity to city management.
Economic and Progression Systems
The game's economic and progression systems receive a significant overhaul, and it's a change I appreciate. Progression is no longer solely tied to population growth. Instead, players earn XP by improving citizen happiness, building, and expanding, offering a more dynamic path to city development. Skill trees and extensions for buildings make managing your city more engaging.
The Future of Cities Skylines 2
While these initial impressions are positive, it's challenging to predict how the game will fare in the long run, especially in the late-game stages. Will it remain enjoyable and functional after extensive playtime? Only time will tell. The pacing seems reasonable at this point, but it may slow down in the later stages of the game.
Conclusion: A Promising Game That Needs More Time
Cities Skylines 2 shows great potential and improvement over its predecessor, but its early technical issues are a significant drawback. It's essential for players to consider waiting for updates, DLCs, and mod support to address these problems. The game deserves a chance to mature and evolve into a more polished and enjoyable experience. For now, patience is key when considering whether to embark on your city-building journey in Cities Skylines 2.
