STREETS OF SIMCITY

Reviewed By: Carole Stewart McDonnell
VOLUNTEER GUEST REVIEWER

GAME TECH INFO

Computer Platform: PC, MAC
Produced by: Maxis
Price Range: $19-35
Learning curve time: 45 min.
Age level: 10+
ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults

Genre: Action/Simulation
Christian Rating: 4 of 5
   (slightly offensive)
Gameplay: 5 of 5
   (excellent)
Violence: 2 of 5
   (heavy)
Adult Content: 5 of 5
   (barely present)

"The Streets of SimCity" CD-ROM game is a companion to Maxis' "SimCity 2000" and a city created in “SimCity2000” can become a 3D playground in "Streets of SimCity". But this is also a stand-alone game which can be played separately.

This is --so far-- Maxis' only foray into bullets, street war mayhem and wild car races. A touch of excitement for those who may have thought Maxis games were too cerebral. But, like other Maxis games, one still has to think of resources. For instance, a fully-loaded road racer costs quite a bit to keep up. And jumping ramps and dodging bullets and missiles on the violent streets of SimCity - not to mention dealing with crooked car mechanics - can leave one in debt.

The game has the frenzy of a good car race but it also has a lot of violence. Some Christian parents will consider the game harmless fun; the violence isn't as bad as that in “Doom” or “GoldenEye 007” or "Duke Nukem". Other Christian parents might want to skip it. I didn't like the shoot-outs. Cyber-guns being emptied in cyberspace still pack a wallop as far as I am concerned. Violence and skirting the law shouldn't be made to seem exciting. The speeding and head-on collisions reminded me that the temptation to live fast, drive cars fast, and do everything fast is a big one in this generation. Too many kids have visions of getting their first car and speeding down the road to the squeal of tires. This CD game can fuel this notion.

Year of Release—1997

Neutral—This game had all the makings of a classic, but Maxis stumbled here and there. The “missions” are supposed to be like you are a stunt driver in a TV show, but it seems to be more of an excuse than a plot. Plus, and maybe not many of you have noticed this, the “A” word appeared onscreen as soon as I completed the last mission in "Galahad's Watch". (Makes me wonder how it got an “E” rating.) Lastly, the presence of the police made it a challenging game, but it soon got annoying to be given a ticket every time I saw a police car. In all, I can't give this game a very high rating, but I did enjoy just driving around my SC2000 city. My Ratings: [3/3]
—Chad Harris, age 16

Okay, so it's not as violent as it could be, but it's still a little unnerving. In the actual “game” you drive around destroying enemy cars and rewarded by a fiery explosion and a voice clip of "DESTROYED!" Be careful not to feed your violent personality with more violence… this game isn't suitable for small kids. On the plus side, you can simply drive around through the cities without other enemies… but it's not worth buying just for that. The graphics, sound, and control of this game is horrible, however. This 3D graphics was bad when this game came out. If you are seeking an alternative, try Midtown Madness from Microsoft. Non-violent, and offers you better graphics and the same city-driving experience… My Ratings: [3/2]
—Red, age 17

This is, in my opinion, the coolest game in the Sim Series. You can import your cities from “Sim City 2000” (though you lose the building customizations) and get to drive through it. On the Streets level you can have custom cars. We downloaded a car skin off the net to have Marty McFly's Back to the Future car which can actually fly through your city. I'm a special kind of Sim Fan. I like to create worlds, but I get bored with all the managing. However, “Streets” gives you the fun interaction of your city. If your idea of gameplay is driving instead of accounting, get this in tandom with your SCURK. Only objection could be the carnage-free violence. My Ratings: [3/5]
—Markus Wolf, age 29

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this Christian Spotlight review are those of the reviewer (both ratings and recommendations), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Films for Christ or the Christian Answers Network.