Populous: The Beginning

Review

by Nick Smith

You've probably heard of the original Populous game. It was one of the very first 'god-games.' Created at a time when other games only let you fly, fight, or just forget reality for a few moments, Populous put you in command of an entire world. In the years since its introduction, aspects of Populous have appeared in almost all later god-games and it could be credited with creating a new genre of computer games.

Populous: The Beginning follows in the excellent tradition of its predecessors. It's a 1998 prequel to the other games in the series, with the plot occurring before the others start. In other words, you haven't become a god just yet but you are still a force with which to be reckoned. You'll begin dealing with small tribes, rather than whole races or planets. Be patient, though, for soon you will be moving on to a series of 3D globes as the game progresses.

Populous: The Beginning is, in fact, based upon a series of spheres all the way through. You have control over these globes and the ability to visit any of them. This lends the game a feeling of open space, rather than the enclosed linear feel of many strategy or simulation games.

The object of the game is simple but limitless. You start off each world with a small selection of little people, organized into tribes who worship a shaman under your control. You can use these folks to build up your settlement by directing them to create houses and other, more specialized buildings. You can also train them to be soldiers and warriors, who help you conquer the rest of that planet. Your 'pet' shaman will acquire more and stronger spells throughout the game, all based on natural events or phenomena such as lightning, tornadoes or the creation of an active volcano.