Along that road and the many that will be laid down after it I would place warehouses, complimentary factories, and more, all coming together to give me the tools to move up to the next rung of the economic ladder and produce goods that I can offer in trade to one or more of the AI players scattered around the map. I'm guilty of getting really cute with my village layouts early on.I found myself positively hypnotized by the routine of dropping in a farm, plant, store, or other facility and running a road that connects all the way back to the harbor, which serves as every island’s hub. It’s a little unsettling that it was only once I embraced this cold-hearted efficiency that I started to experience the joy of rapid advancement and expansion, which feels like a dark reflection of the time period that Anno 1800’s setting is loosely based on. And yet, as I learned the value every bit of space has and just how important it is to build as many dwellings as possible to attract the employees I would need to man all of the many production lines I required to advance, I gradually turned into a greedy and cruel colonial power, squeezing every ounce of productivity out of claustrophobic mazes of buildings that turned into literal fire hazards. I’m guilty of getting really cute with my village layouts early on, giving my growing collection of laborers the luxury of space and symmetrical layouts that modern architects and civil engineers would be proud of. Expansion is an option, but trade is a crucial mechanic for survival. The puzzle becomes even more complex when you add in that many of the pieces can’t be found or crafted on your starter island that’s where trade routes come into play. Every level of technological advancement requires more ingredients, more educated workers, and more sophisticated facilities. It’s a constantly evolving puzzle that plays out on three levels: Production lines, trade routes, and town layouts. The complex and satisfying routine in Anno 1800 is built upon the creation and collection of various resources that you need to keep the inhabitants of your island colony happy. The change of setting doesn’t instantly make it better by itself, but it is refreshing and supports a fun real-time strategy game. This seventh iteration of the long-running village-management series goes back to its origins, trading in the futuristic setting of the last two entries for the more traditional sails, Schnapps, and sugar cane. The hours flew by as I ignored its many automated suggestions that I should step away from the computer for a break. Once I got over how ugly my budding villages were going to look if I wanted them to be efficient and profitable, Anno 1800 sunk its teeth into me.
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