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Review
This review applies to version 2.0
The latest version of this software will soon be reviewed by our
informers.
For those who love this board game by Klaus Teuber, the computer version of “The Settlers of Catan” is here. This is the electronic incarnation of the board game published by Mayfair Games, Inc., Kosmos Verlag, and other licensees of Catan GmbH.
For those who don’t know the Catan game we are going to try to give an idea of what it’s about. Catan game is a strategic game played by 3 or 4 players. Each player has the goal of getting as many resources as he can and conquer as much land as he can. Obviously, the resources and land have to be “shared” by all participants so there is where the strategic skills and, eventually, the war skills show up.
In the computer version of the game, you will be playing one player and the rest of the players will be played by the computer. The game doesn’t allow to play several players at a time because you shouldn’t be able to see what the other players are doing. It could be played on a network though, but that options is not available either.
The game field is represented by a matrix of hexagonal cells, adjacent one to another. The outer cells have three sides facing the ocean, so they have the possibility to access to trade ports. The inner cells need to build a road passing through other cells in order to get to the ocean.
Each cell has different resources just like different regions on a country. At the beginning of the game each player has the possibility to set a first settlement and build one piece of road. Each player will be building his first city as well. From there, the game starts organized in rounds in which the players will be rolling the dice, trading with other players to get certain resources they need, or fighting for land.
The resources are represented by cards with different illustrations on them. In your screen you will be seeing how many cards you have corresponding to each resource and so you’ll know what resources you need the most. You’ll be seeing the players’ scores as well and a record of the moves the players have done in previous rounds.
When you first enter the game, you’ll see a pretty flat screen with the main menu. The options are the following:
- New: to start a new game of Catan.
- Load: use this option if you have an unfinished game.
- Save: use this options to save a game and finish it later.
- Settings: this is the menu from which you can set some game options like sound volume, music volume, full screen, among others.
- Resume: if you paused your game, use this option to go back playing.
- Restart: if you paused your game, use this option to restart the game from the beginning.
- Credits and Exit: no further explanation required.
You can try this game for 60 minutes before you buy the licensed version. If you like it, you can buy this game for only 29.95 dollars, right from the Oberon Media Game Center, on the Web. There are some discounts for GameServer Members.
About the system requirements, is not that big computer that you need to run this game. Take a look to the list:
• 300 Mhz Pentium or better
• 64MB RAM
• Direct X 3.0
• Windows XP/Vista |
- Easy to learn how to play the game using the help and the tutorial.
- Affordable price.
- Nice interface.
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- It’s available only in English.
- It’s not a multiplayer game.
- Use on network is not supported.
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Reviewed by: Lionel Mira Reviewer rating:  |
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Screenshots
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