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General discussion (archive)Caesar vs Pharaoh vs Zeus(34 posts)(34 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 16, 2014
I'm thinking of grabbing one of these during the sale. Played Pharaoh as a kid and it was fun but I'm curious what others think of the other games? Zeus looks really wacky, kind of digging the art style so I'm leaning towards it.
Posted April 16, 2014
Zeus/Poseidon is the same as Pharoah but in a more mythological Greek setting, same engine and gameplay though. Also check out this:
http://www.wsgf.org/dr/pharaoh/en
http://www.wsgf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=14149&start=40

In glorious widescreen.
Posted April 16, 2014
Damn, these 2D games looks so nice in modern resolutions.
Posted April 16, 2014
I made a small comparison here:
http://www.gog.com/forum/general/battle_of_the_games_2014_tag_team_game_rumble/post188
The bottom line: if you want only one then definitely choose between Pharaoh and Zeus, according to your personal taste (I've described major differences in the aforementioned post)

If you have any questions feel free to ask I think I know a lot about this series ;)
Posted April 16, 2014
Going from the eldest title to the newest, they move a little further away from 'realism/simulation'. I didn't get into Zeus because i found it's graphic style too cartoon like. So out of the three i have and play Pharaoh+Cleopatra (as this is the pinnacle of 2D art in the genre imho) and Caesar III, as my ancient city builders of choice.
Posted April 16, 2014
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Ghorpm: I made a small comparison here:
http://www.gog.com/forum/general/battle_of_the_games_2014_tag_team_game_rumble/post188
The bottom line: if you want only one then definitely choose between Pharaoh and Zeus, according to your personal taste (I've described major differences in the aforementioned post)

If you have any questions feel free to ask I think I know a lot about this series ;)
Thanks, in a way it sounds like it might be better to start with Zeus since it sounds less challenging. I'm currently trying to learn how to play Darkest Hour so I might go for the lighter of the two.
Posted April 16, 2014
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Ghorpm: I made a small comparison here:
http://www.gog.com/forum/general/battle_of_the_games_2014_tag_team_game_rumble/post188
The bottom line: if you want only one then definitely choose between Pharaoh and Zeus, according to your personal taste (I've described major differences in the aforementioned post)

If you have any questions feel free to ask I think I know a lot about this series ;)
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SweatyGremlins: Thanks, in a way it sounds like it might be better to start with Zeus since it sounds less challenging. I'm currently trying to learn how to play Darkest Hour so I might go for the lighter of the two.
Yes, Zeus requires less micromanaging but keep in mind that it's not a casual game. Changing the difficulty setting may decrease number of disasters and invasions but you won't avoid scripted events and some of them are indeed challenging. On the other hand it's definitely not one of those hardcore strategy games that will crash you every time you play it. I think it can be relatively easily beaten by person who is completely new to city building genre.
Posted April 16, 2014
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Crosmando: Zeus/Poseidon is the same as Pharoah but in a more mythological Greek setting, same engine and gameplay though. Also check out this:
http://www.wsgf.org/dr/pharaoh/en
http://www.wsgf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=14149&start=40

In glorious widescreen.
Thanks for your links. I searched for a widescreen for Caesar 3 too but I guess this game doesn't have it.
Posted April 16, 2014
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SweatyGremlins: I'm thinking of grabbing one of these during the sale. Played Pharaoh as a kid and it was fun but I'm curious what others think of the other games? Zeus looks really wacky, kind of digging the art style so I'm leaning towards it.
If you only can get one, you should go IMO with Pharaoh. There IS some satisfaction in building monuments for incredibly stupidly high amounts of resources that in real life stood the test of time.
Zeus is pretty much similar with a bigger focus on the storyline, but without the monuments. Can't say anything about Caesar 3.

Didn't like the battles in Pharaoh and Zeus much, though. Generally Pharaoh was more fun to me, but if you have the money, definitely take both (or even all three with Caesar 3).
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SweatyGremlins: Thanks, in a way it sounds like it might be better to start with Zeus since it sounds less challenging. I'm currently trying to learn how to play Darkest Hour so I might go for the lighter of the two.
If we talk about the same Darkest Hour, it is nothing at all like any of the three games. o.O
Post edited April 16, 2014 by Protoss
Posted April 16, 2014
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GabiMoro: Thanks for your links. I searched for a widescreen for Caesar 3 too but I guess this game doesn't have it.
Caesar 3 does have a widescreen patch:
http://www.wsgf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=14149&p=144499#p144499

WSGF is in a bit of a mess these days, many games do have widescreen patches around but they either don't have an article on the site, or the patch is hidden in some forum thread.
Posted April 16, 2014
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Protoss: If we talk about the same Darkest Hour, it is nothing at all like any of the three games. o.O
This one! [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkest_Hour:_A_Hearts_of_Iron_Game]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkest_Hour:_A_Hearts_of_Iron_Game[/url] :D

Yeah it's nothing like them but it's hard so I wouldn't mind something light. I'll sleep on it and pick a game tomorrow, I did like Pharaoh as a kid and will get it eventually but I'm still leaning towards Zeus, it looks silly but fun.
Posted April 16, 2014
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GabiMoro: Thanks for your links. I searched for a widescreen for Caesar 3 too but I guess this game doesn't have it.
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Crosmando: Caesar 3 does have a widescreen patch:
http://www.wsgf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=14149&p=144499#p144499

WSGF is in a bit of a mess these days, many games do have widescreen patches around but they either don't have an article on the site, or the patch is hidden in some forum thread.
It even has for 1680 x 1050. Double thanks Crosmando and +1!
Posted April 16, 2014
Do Zeus and Poseidon also have a 'build-something-big-gradually-over-ax-extended-time' thing going on? Ie something like the monuments in Pharaoh? Something where you stockpile resources and watch your workers actively build the structure?

I've spent a lot of time on Caesar 3 and Pharaoh. I think Pharaoh is the better game, but Caesar 3 still has something going for it: its atmosphere. Its not that it is better than Pharaoh, its just different. Having grown up reading about Asterix & Obelix's adventures in Rome (and other places), it is a heck of a lot of fun to build my own roman city. If you want to check it out, check it out before Pharaoh as the latter introduced many features to the gameplay that would've been really great in Caesar 3. I do have one complaint about Pharaoh though, but only one : the damned aging workforce is hellishly annoying. Especially if I just want to sit back and slowly and calmly build up a metropolis.
Posted April 16, 2014
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s23021536: Do Zeus and Poseidon also have a 'build-something-big-gradually-over-ax-extended-time' thing going on? Ie something like the monuments in Pharaoh? Something where you stockpile resources and watch your workers actively build the structure?

I've spent a lot of time on Caesar 3 and Pharaoh. I think Pharaoh is the better game, but Caesar 3 still has something going for it: its atmosphere. Its not that it is better than Pharaoh, its just different. Having grown up reading about Asterix & Obelix's adventures in Rome (and other places), it is a heck of a lot of fun to build my own roman city. If you want to check it out, check it out before Pharaoh as the latter introduced many features to the gameplay that would've been really great in Caesar 3. I do have one complaint about Pharaoh though, but only one : the damned aging workforce is hellishly annoying. Especially if I just want to sit back and slowly and calmly build up a metropolis.
Yes, temples are to Zeus what monuments are to Pharaoh. They generally don't take as much time to be built, but the principle is the same.

Aging workforce? What do you mean?
Post edited April 16, 2014 by Wesker
Posted April 16, 2014
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s23021536: Do Zeus and Poseidon also have a 'build-something-big-gradually-over-ax-extended-time' thing going on? Ie something like the monuments in Pharaoh? Something where you stockpile resources and watch your workers actively build the structure?

I've spent a lot of time on Caesar 3 and Pharaoh. I think Pharaoh is the better game, but Caesar 3 still has something going for it: its atmosphere. Its not that it is better than Pharaoh, its just different. Having grown up reading about Asterix & Obelix's adventures in Rome (and other places), it is a heck of a lot of fun to build my own roman city. If you want to check it out, check it out before Pharaoh as the latter introduced many features to the gameplay that would've been really great in Caesar 3. I do have one complaint about Pharaoh though, but only one : the damned aging workforce is hellishly annoying. Especially if I just want to sit back and slowly and calmly build up a metropolis.
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Wesker: Yes, temples are to Zeus what monuments are to Pharaoh. They generally don't take as much time to be built, but the principle is the same.

Aging workforce? What do you mean?
Basically the percentage of your population that are workers steadily declines. This one guy seemed to try and see exactly how and to what extent:

http://www.villages-and-cities.de/extern/grumpus/which_way_to_thebes/data/Pop_Worker_Ratios.htm

It becomes a problem when you spend a lot of time on one city. After a while all the workers start to disappear with the 'worker deficit' eventually spiraling out of control. To fix it you have to start to demolish houses to get younger inhabitants, which is a bit silly. I only wish that they had implemented the aging process differently so that it doesn't become such a big issue late in a game. Logically, it should at least be counteracted somewhat by the maturing of children.
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Community
General discussion (archive)Caesar vs Pharaoh vs Zeus(34 posts)(34 posts)
(34 posts)