Caesar III is an absolutely wonderful game. Without a doubt, the game tips its hat to the granddaddy of all city building simulations, the SimCity series. The historical setting of the Roman Empire, however, gives Caesar III a charm all its own. Think of SimCity on Roman Red and you've got the picture.

Mastering the game is tough, but not impossible. At any time during the game, you can click on any individual element, from a citizen to the Colliseum to a plebeian's tent, and get immediate feedback on what you're doing right or wrong. Clicking on your citizens is particularly fun because they speak what's on their mind (strangely enough, the citizens of your Roman city have accents from across the globe -- what a Russian trader and an English peasant are doing in the Roman countryside, I have no idea).

The art in this game is excellent. Caesar III programmers did a masterful job of representing the individual buildings, from the Senate to the Temple of Venus to the legendary Circus Maximus. Your city is fun to look at while you're playing.

The main trick to playing Caesar III successfully is knowing when to create city defenses, whether it be building a Roman Legion, creating city walls or both. Do it too early and you take money away from vital tasks such as building farms and food storage or creating proper water supplies. Do it too late and a handful of rampaging Gauls can ransack your entire city as you watch helplessly from the safe side of the picture tube.

While building defenses are a critical aspect, this is not a war game. Caesar III is a superb city-building sim that will tax your thought process to the fullest. ~ Scott Sigler, All Game Guide

While small, all the graphics are excellent, from cart-pushing workers to spawling ampitheatres. ~ Scott Sigler, All Game Guide

Great music, but when you play the game for hours it gets repeptitive. The citizen voices and the ambient sounds is excellent. ~ Scott Sigler, All Game Guide

Fantastic attention to detail is obvious in every element of this game ~ Scott Sigler, All Game Guide

Totally addictive, and will keep your desire to rule satisfied for many hours. ~ Scott Sigler, All Game Guide