It contains a number of bonus levels along with a smattering of additional, just-for-fun content. Then again, a lot of those pesky gold stars still allude me, so I will be going back.Ī Collector's Edition is also available. I would have loved to move through it at a leisurely pace, taking in a few levels every day. In the end my greatest regret was that I have had to power through the game quickly for this review. Less able players will work more at finishing levels while more experienced ones will have the goal of beating the clock in mind. The plot is clearly meant for kids, but the puzzles themselves are perfect for all ages. Visually it looks very good, though the attempts at appealing to as broad an audience as possible does leave the vapid story and characters feeling very juvenile. And the controls are a simple matter of clicking: this game could translate very easily to a device like the iPad. But it is equally easy to pick up and put down as you need it. It is all too easy to get engrossed with every growing challenge, so fortunately there are tons of levels to complete and Royal Envoy will keep you busy for a while. In fact, when such pauses seem too long you start to become suspicious that you are going about the challenge all wrong - and chances are you're right. The most frustrating parts come when you have to wait for something to happen, like a load of wood to be finished. Alternatively a level could have a very specific layout and beating it depends on figuring out what to build when, what to demolish and so on.Īt its heart it is a lateral puzzler with a huge emphasis on speed and thinking on your feet. But later on you are often given a devastated village, a set of goals and a 'good luck' slap on the back. Initially the game holds your hand, giving basic challenges or guiding you through new buildings that have been unlocked. And it might sound silly, but you'll want those stars. The question of beating the clock - and thus collecting a golden star - is a different one. This isn't always necessary, because with the exception of a few levels you can beat any challenge at the first attempt. When a level starts, you have time to take in the goals and think of the strategy ahead. And once you get started, it's hard to stop.Īnalysis: Royal Envoy manages to create a creative range of challenges throughout your island adventures. Whichever route you choose, now you have to carefully balance the action: sending collectors for tax workmen to do upgrades or cut wood when to use cash and wood for what task, etc. Or you can build a market, where you can exchange a little wood for a lot of cash. Thus, apart from buildings to provide rent, a bank will be a smart idea. But two building spots are being blocked by a pirate seeking a bribe, so you'll not only need cash, but you'll need to generate a lot fast. Upgrades and buildings require wood, so you need a sawmill. Let's say a level wants you to build three chalets, each upgraded to three stars. But Royal Envoy is about finding the most efficient and fastest way to the goals at hand. So far this must sound like a typical strategy game where you plan a city. Finally, there are upgrades that you can use to create more happiness, if the need calls for appeasing the mobs. Houses - which start with cabins and go all the way to mansions - generate revenue through rent, while sawmills and workshops bring in the wood, and markets and banks let you grow or manipulate money. Workers build and upgrade stuff, tax collectors keep your fiscal future intact. In your arsenal: workers, tax collectors and a growing catalog of buildings at your disposal. In your way is the clock, obtuse pirates and the odd piece of undergrowth. Each village has a set of goals - build certain buildings, meet upgrade requirements, attain a specific level of civic happiness or make a set sum of money. In reality, though, you are playing little logic puzzles. Hopping across a series of islands, you have to visit the respective villages on each and repair them. Royal Envoy is an incredibly addictive mix of strategy, city building and wack-a-mole. Thus off you go in Royal Envoy, with the king's adviser in tow, to engage in town planning of such high speed it makes pitching a tent look like a multi-year project. The king chooses that person to be you, partly based on the criteria that you do not wear a fluffy wig (rich coming from a guy who seems pretty fond of silky slippers.). After the rainy season tears apart a series of islands known for their fine crafts, someone has to restore the villages there to their former glory.
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