- Platform: IBM PC Compatible
- Release Date: 1998
- Genre: Strategy
- Style: 2D Real-Time Strategy
- Similar Games: The Settlers II (IBM PC Compatible), The Settlers (IBM PC Compatible)
Game Description
Settlers III from Blue Byte is the second sequel to the popular Settlers game and follows a similar storyline. You take control of a small group of shipwrecked people and, using the materials available from the shipwreck, start up a small colony.The aim of the game is to fully populate and colonize the island. You'll get to build a miniature, thriving economy based on mines, farms, bakeries and saw mills. You'll have to ensure that your people remain fed and happy to keep them producing as much as possible. As everything is produced internally, your settlers do not have to worry about mundane things like money or other forms of currency.
You also need to build up military structures and armies. You'll need your military for protection and perhaps to expand your colony's borders into the dangerous unknown, increasing the size and potential of your empire. But beware, there is a rival race out there with similar intentions.
~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Real-time "god-game" simulations have been around for years and one of the first and very best was Settlers, in which you to take control of a small group of shipwrecked people to build up a small colony.Though sharing much of the same plot as its predecessors, the interface has been revamped and refined in Settlers III. The graphics have been improved, the characters given more personality, and the gameplay fine-tuned to speed up the processes. For example, you no longer have to connect your communities with elaborate roads or tracks, because regular routes will turn into paths after a while. Apart from these outward improvements, however, the gameplay give may give Settlers veterans a feeling of déjà vu.
This edition in the series includes a very useful Internet multiplayer feature and the screens have improved in color, texture and content to allow same-screen playing. Settlers III plays at a sedate, relaxed pace (even on a fast PC) and you'll spend quite a bit of time watching your settlers carry out your commands. This leads to the comforting feeling of supervision. As you leave the mundane tasks (such as building or fighting) to your subjects, you can look at the big picture and plan your strategies more thoroughly.
This game can be heartily recommended to strategy gamers who have not played the previous Settlers games, but previous Settlers veterans might be a little disappointed in that, in spite of the improvements, the game feels much the same as before.
~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
Best played as an "overseer," letting the game do most of the repetitive chores.~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
Good and deep and faster than previous Settlers games.~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
Atmospheric and jolly.~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
Can be played with friends on the Internet.~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
Entertaining manual.~ Nick Smith, All Game Guide
Production Credits
Producer: Thomas Hertzler; Development Manager: Erik Simon; Project Manager: Torsten Hess; Game Design: Volker Wertich; Main Program: Dirk Ringe, Volker Wertich; AI and Video Player: Rainer Foetzki; Installation Program: Michael Zeilfelder; Level Editor: Marcus Pukropski; Animation Files: Christian Häcker, Jörg Niesenhaus, Matthias Best, Ralf Schittkowski, Markus Segeth; Graphic Concept: Torsten Hess; Landscape Graphics: Torsten Hess; Character Design: Thorsten Wallner; Character Graphics and Animation: Thorsten Wallner, Christian Siecora; Building Graphics: Thorsten Mutschall, Torsten Hess, Sandro Falcone; Interface Graphics: Tobias Franz, Torsten Hess; Additional Graphics: Sandro Falcone, André Litschke, Oliver Mähler, Uwe Meier, Andre Quass, Marko Giertolla, Torsten Hess, Erik Simon, Thorsten Wallner, Thorsten Mutschall; Music and Sound Effects: Haiko Ruttmann; Level Design: Wolfgang Walk, Marko Giertolla; Campaign Story: Wolfgang Walk; Beta Test Coordinator: Daniel Schmidt; Beta Tester: thomas Kudela, Christian Häcker, Jörg Niesenhaus, Thorsten Luxa, Dennis Hillebrand, Chris Harding, Jason Habel, Samantha Flint, Mark Hall; Director of Animation Sequences: Wolfgang Walk; Story: Wolfgang Walk, Mark L. Barrett; Screenplay: Wolfgang Walk, Mark L. Barrett; Storyboard: Dietmar Kraemer; Character Development: Tom Thiel; 2D Animation Production: Denge Animation; Video Post Production: Achim Werth, ND-Vision, Wolfgang Walk; Technical Advisor: Rainer Zicke; Director of Voiceovers: Mark L. Barrett; Assistant Director of Voiceovers: John Podlasek; Production Logo: Berliner Synchron; Voiceover Production for The Campaign Diaries: Haiko Ruttmann; Voice of He: Brad Bisk; Voice of Q' Nqura: Hollis Resnick; Voice of Horus: David Engel; Voice of Ch' Ih-Yu: Paul Bernard; Voice of Jupiter: Rob Riley; Voice of Tsu-Tang: Ace Grandson; Voice of Ramadamses: Jonathan Failla; Voice of Septimus Marius: Eric Hanson; Product Manager: Daniel Schmidt; Localization: Daniel Schmidt, Dale Collins, Chris Harding; Manual: Dale Collins, Wolfgang Walk, Chris Harding; On-line Manual: Dale Collins, Sven Liebich, Wolfgang Walk, Chris Harding; Packaging: Andreas Kaehmer, Antje Davids, Martina Stojek, Michael Dreher, Manfred Kallweit; Manual Layout: Andreas Kaehmer, Antje Davids, Martina Stojek, Michael Dreher, Manfred Kallweit; Manual Design: Andreas Kaehmer, Antje Davids, Martina Stojek, Michael Dreher, Manfred Kallweit; Manual Production: Andreas Kaehmer, Antje Davids, Martina Stojek, Michael Dreher, Manfred Kallweit; Cover Illustration: Tom Thiel; Marketing and Public Relations UK: Julie Simpson, Marcus Beer; Marketing and Public Relations US: Samantha Flint
~ Jonathan Sutyak, All Game Guide
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