Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom

 PC
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 41
  3. Negative: 6 out of 41

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  1. CaseyG.
    Jan 10, 2003
    5
    It's kinda hard at first but it gets better.
  2. papirnehezek
    Feb 26, 2015
    6
    Emperor is a decade old game, a part of a well established franchise. It has a nice interface and graphics on today standards. If you want to read about how great this game is, or what positives it has, then find another review. I want to save my time and just write down my concerns.
    I already played zeus, cleopatra and other city builders years ago, so I started the game on medium which    Emperor is a decade old game, a part of a well established franchise. It has a nice interface and graphics on today standards. If you want to read about how great this game is, or what positives it has, then find another review. I want to save my time and just write down my concerns.
    I already played zeus, cleopatra and other city builders years ago, so I started the game on medium which is just good for some pleasure time. I did not encounter anything disturbing during the first half an hour, but then my buildings started to collapse. I built 2x3 houses per block surrounded by road, each 3 blocks have an inspector's tower. My problem is that the inspectors randomly change path at every crossroad, which I have a lot. So, there are situations when some of the buildings just being ignored for a time, and catch on fire or collapse. Just watched as my inspector took a wrong turn and leaving my house at the end of the road to collapse. He simply gone to the road where the immigrants come from. Overall, pathfinding is so much randomized that it brakes the game. I need to watch my buildings constantly and demolish those which are being ignored by the inspectors. This should be much more controlled and less random.    … Expand
  3. KoRW.
    Jul 23, 2005
    7
    Jep, a good fun game but gets boring after a week or two.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Best PC Game of 2002
41
#41 Most Discussed PC Game of 2002
46
#46 Most Shared PC Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Armchair Empire
    75
    Impressions did a good job of refining the gameplay with this installment.
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  2. Media and Games Online Network
    80
    An impressive game that reeks of addictive potential. If the despot in you wants some exercising, then this is definitely the way to go.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpot
    77
    A fun and satisfying management game, ... [but] if "Zeus" was two steps forward for the series, Emperor is its one step back.
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