Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom Critic Reviews

Another great city-builder from a developer that has come to define a niche genre all its own.

A gorgeous, challenging and thoroughly enjoyable civilization game.

Sure they added some new things like Ancestors (pretty much like gods), the Chinese zodiac signs, new ways of dealing with farming, and multiplayer options for the first time as well as the obligatory improvements to interface. But there isn't really anything here that we haven't already gone through in ancient Rome, Egypt, or Greece.

Well made, but perhaps not remarkably exceptional. In its craftsmanship, it continues to be one of the best urban planning games, par excellence.

It's not all that new and not all that different from the other games in Sierra's classic "City Building" franchise -- but it's loads of fun all the same.

An impressive game that reeks of addictive potential. If the despot in you wants some exercising, then this is definitely the way to go.

A fun and satisfying management game, ... if "Zeus" was two steps forward for the series, Emperor is its one step back.

Impressions did a good job of refining the gameplay with this installment.

Offers more of the same good stuff, but no real creative innovation.

Offers up the delight of "RollerCoaster Tycoon" with a historical bent and a sharp, colorful Asian edge.

A solid bit of urban planning in an interesting new setting. Period.

Those of you who spent months playing "Caesar III" or "Zeus" can give this game a miss, as it won't bring them anything new at all.

The game was enjoyable for a few levels. Definitely not $40 worth of levels, though.

A good single player building game that, although has improvements, lacks long-term gameplay abilities.

Even the addition of online multiplayer gaming doesn't do enough to overcome a sense of sameness, continuing problems with the combat system, and the absence of involving mission goals.