Review: Sim City (Wii VC) (Wii)

The classic city building simulation game arrives on the Wii Virtual Console and Gamestyle could not be happier about it. Sim City on the SNES was a great conversion with everything being implemented extremely efficiently across the control pad. Nintendo also saw fit to include a few original twists to the classic formula, as instead of Godzilla attacking, Bowser appears. The ultimate accolade arrived when players built their city efficiently and effectively, receiving a statue of Mario for their efforts.

For the uninitiated, Sim City sets you up as the major of a new city, it is your job to manage the budget and carefully build up the city using a base of Residential, Commercial and Industrial zones. Along the way you will be given gift buildings that range from a bank to zoos and most useless of all Dutch windmills. Each building brings either a boost to the surrounding areas, or in the case of the bank opens a new option on your statistics panel.

Although the game may appear somewhat simplistic- especially considering how far the Sim City series itself has developed since - there is still more than enough here to keep you occupied and entertained. The game contains hidden depth and it is all too easy to lose control of a city if you develop it too quickly in the wrong areas. Keeping the balance while expanding your Metropolis in waiting is highly addictive, and you can expect to lose large chunks of playing time as you are transfixed by the urge to build just one more block.

Several scenarios are in place for players who wish to try something a little different. Each scenario revolves around one of the disasters that can occur such as earthquakes, floods, monster attacks or even nuclear meltdown. Here you are given the task of fixing the damage from the disaster in a set time limit. It acts a minor distraction but in truth the main game of building and managing is too strong to keep you away for long.

Graphics and sound are certainly basic but everything is presented clearly and effectively, with a large amount of graphs and meters on hand so you can keep track on the growth and problem areas of your city. It is a difficult task accommodating citizen’s demands, as your city continues to grow because crime, pollution and traffic are always on hand. These things must be taken into account so the Sim City aids on offer are very welcome.

Overall despite its basic presentation Sim City is a great addition to the Virtual Console. After time is spent with the title it becomes clear there is far more going on than meets the eye and watching your city sprawl across a map is a great feeling. Furthermore copies of SNES Sim City are difficult to find and the battery in most cartridges will have long since expired making saving a gamble. The VC version removes all these problems and allows you to dip into the game at the push of the button, and Sim City should retain your interest for many hours to come. 

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Gareth Chappell