SimCity

 PC
User Score
2.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 4557 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 602 out of 4557
  2. Mixed: 428 out of 4557
  3. Negative: 3,527 out of 4557
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. oldmanhorton
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I gave this game a 0 because I literally can not play it. I have great internet, a powerful computer, and all of the time in the world. EA's extremely invasive, clunky, and unnecessary DRM system has failed, and I, along with the millions of other people who have purchased and have been let down by this game, are the ones being punished. I have gotten into a few games early in the morning,I gave this game a 0 because I literally can not play it. I have great internet, a powerful computer, and all of the time in the world. EA's extremely invasive, clunky, and unnecessary DRM system has failed, and I, along with the millions of other people who have purchased and have been let down by this game, are the ones being punished. I have gotten into a few games early in the morning, and they were wonderful. My only issue with the game itself is that city size is quite small, but it provides a challenge and i believe that Maxis will fix it eventually. However, EA needs to realize that this is an inexcusable situation. The fact that this game has a 1.7 right now is generous, as most people have been completely unable to play or have lost the cities that they worked for hours on. EA- Please, stop with your childish, anti-consumer tactics. No one likes you, always-on DRM, microtransactions, and especially Origin. No one does. Some people may feel "meh" towards them, but no one likes them. Its such a shame, because games like SimCity, Dead Space 3, Real Racing 3, and Battlefield 3 are legitimately fun games that are hampered by your pathetic services and even worse customer support. You leave consumers in a terrible situation, wanting to boycott your games but being unable to because if only you were not the publisher, people would be in love with many of them. I know the game will work eventually, and at that point id easily give it an 8 or 9. This is solely to drive the score down to make a point to EA that they must stop. And now Amazon stopped selling the game and youre disabling features? Come on, now. Heres to hoping for a better future.… Expand
  2. Mutin1981
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This must be one of the worst game releases in the history of gaming. Only EA could take a game like Sim City and actually make people angry. Not just disappointed...but ANGRY.
  3. Tunerp5
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Can i log in yes,yes, looks like it is going to happen -DAM NOPE, BUT I CAN WAIT FOR 30 MIN TO TRY TO LOG IN DAM YOU DRM. Why always online DRM for a single player game.
  4. bigjerd
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The game is a lot of fun when you're actually playing, but I also feel like they've left a lot out for future DLC. Which EA will inevitably charge an arm and a leg for. I really wish there we're more options to build. The specializations are very limited. The whole package seems condensed. The servers are also terrible. I haven't been able to consistently play since launch. VeryThe game is a lot of fun when you're actually playing, but I also feel like they've left a lot out for future DLC. Which EA will inevitably charge an arm and a leg for. I really wish there we're more options to build. The specializations are very limited. The whole package seems condensed. The servers are also terrible. I haven't been able to consistently play since launch. Very dissatisfied with everything.… Expand
  5. Troyhe98
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    EA screwed up this release beyond words. Stay away and screw them buy not purchasing this game. Their customer service is terrible and they refuse to refund customers who purchased the electronic copies digitally. The online DRM screws the legal customers in the end. I will not be playing this game (first SimCity I will have not played).
  6. Bobwaitforitdun
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Server problems/DRM annoying issues aside, I was really disappointed with the core game. Maps are far too small and gaps on the region map between cities are far too vacant. Looks like a city farm with plots of cities growing. You can't place large highways, as they are part of the region and not the cities. No teraforming aside from changes due to civil construction. No Subways so youServer problems/DRM annoying issues aside, I was really disappointed with the core game. Maps are far too small and gaps on the region map between cities are far too vacant. Looks like a city farm with plots of cities growing. You can't place large highways, as they are part of the region and not the cities. No teraforming aside from changes due to civil construction. No Subways so you cant really have alternate transport in your city b/c the map is filled with roads occupying all the space. You literally fill the entire city limit in like 4 hours of play. Then you have to expand vertically after that. No agriculture industry, so clean industry is impossible until you get your tech up. I went back to Sim City 4 to get my fix, and I actually had fun offline. I did like the curved roads, but you cant put any in a city you want to expand, because the map size forces you to grid for efficiency. Now if you had the entire region to edit without switching views, this game may actually have its new features mean something. This day and age, that should be the scale of a Sim City game. Multiple cities all in the same editable instance. If the online requirement is why this was not done, then that was a bad choice and a significant failure for the SIm City franchise, however much I wish it wasn't so. If things change I'll update my score/edit post, but it'll need more than an offline mode to be sure.… Expand
  7. p4rk5y
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    After 4 hours of trying to connect to a server i finally got to play the tutorial only to get 3/4 of the way through it before the server shutting down. Other attempts since then have failed to connect to a server. Online only has ruined this game. From what game i did get to see, graphically was great but not worth wasting hours of time relying on a cloud save or hopeing the servers don'tAfter 4 hours of trying to connect to a server i finally got to play the tutorial only to get 3/4 of the way through it before the server shutting down. Other attempts since then have failed to connect to a server. Online only has ruined this game. From what game i did get to see, graphically was great but not worth wasting hours of time relying on a cloud save or hopeing the servers don't crash/shutdown before a city is even built. This game needs to be available offline to get any decent score from me.… Expand
  8. thepolice
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Doesn't work... plain and simple. I feel like I was cheated. Why am I stuck waiting in a queue for a single player game? Not having local saves is a major issue and I am not confident that EA will be able to fix these issues anytime soon. They should stop selling the game entirely until this is fixed and offer refunds for those who would like one.
  9. sund
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    cant play the game!
    if you log, sometimes crashes
    if you try to create, the serveres cant handle you request
    even playing the tutorial, if you must change the city, the tutorial stops
  10. Phakt
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Metacritic, how much did EA pay you to write this tripe? Even when the game works it is a baby's toy. It's great for a preschooler. Also, you have to be online to play single player? That is sickening. Sorry, not only did EA lose a customer, you lost a site visitor.
  11. LinuxColonel
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I spent 90 dollars on a single player game that DOES NOT WORK WHATSOEVER DUE TO SERVER ISSUES. Since the 30 hours that have gone by since I bought it, I havent had a single opportunity to actually play the game.
  12. ramonfelipe
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Always on DRM is retarded, and can turn a great game into complete crap. Hopefully they are still in time to reconsider this strategy and apply a patch to allow offline play.
  13. Riker148
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Very small plots compared to the original games and always online DRM makes for one disappointing game. Shame really, I was really looking forward to playing this but all I am looking for now is a refund.
  14. Edwinreyne
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This game has only one con: YOU CANNOT PLAY IT. The launch is nothing but another Diablo III disaster, and maybe even worse. It has been three days since I purchased the game, Origin said I spent 35 hours playing it, while 34 of which are spent trying to connect to the server. If you have not bought it yet, I suggest don't do so until EA figures out a solution to the server issue.
  15. kbar33w
    Mar 16, 2013
    0
    This is a revisal of my last review. I can now log into the servers but when I am playing the servers will have issues with my city and force me to roll back and undo an hours of work. Essentially I play for 3 hours then get sent back one. This is a highly annoying and glitchy problem. If I could just play this game on my computer alone and not use EA's servers almost all of the issues IThis is a revisal of my last review. I can now log into the servers but when I am playing the servers will have issues with my city and force me to roll back and undo an hours of work. Essentially I play for 3 hours then get sent back one. This is a highly annoying and glitchy problem. If I could just play this game on my computer alone and not use EA's servers almost all of the issues I have had and continue to have would not happen. TL;DR Maxis/EA needs to stop feeding out lines of PR BS and listen to their customers, this game is broken.… Expand
  16. LordZargum
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I played for 6 hours and then I crashed the game (I have a PC gaming from 3000 euro). On my return I had lost everything, plus you can only play ONLINE, the servers are always full and people like me who took the deluxe version spending 80 euro, in these hours can not play!
  17. smiley73
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Worst game launch in my 20+ years of gaming. I would return the game if possible. Maybe that's why EA bothered to launch an unprepared platform. The game was completely unplayable during the first day (crashed constantly). On the second day, the game was palyable only in fifteen minutes increments, before the servers went down. Now into the third day post-launch, the servers have beenWorst game launch in my 20+ years of gaming. I would return the game if possible. Maybe that's why EA bothered to launch an unprepared platform. The game was completely unplayable during the first day (crashed constantly). On the second day, the game was palyable only in fifteen minutes increments, before the servers went down. Now into the third day post-launch, the servers have been taken down for maintnenance at 5pm eastern standard time, with no expected complete time projected on the EA forums. Real good business there. I think I will vist the BBB website next.… Expand
  18. Reavings
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I would first like to say that the few minutes of personal play and videos, such as those on youtube, portray a great game. Now for the good stuff... it is a glitched pile of excrement that requires a third party program and servers that do not work. I have suffered threw crapy launches before with WAR and SWTOR (both EA games maybe there is a pattern...) Now there may be a day when thisI would first like to say that the few minutes of personal play and videos, such as those on youtube, portray a great game. Now for the good stuff... it is a glitched pile of excrement that requires a third party program and servers that do not work. I have suffered threw crapy launches before with WAR and SWTOR (both EA games maybe there is a pattern...) Now there may be a day when this game could be a 9 or even a 10 but it is not that game, it is the game that i have on my computer now that does not work. Point, break, period. Any and all arguments on the contrary are farts in the wind.… Expand
  19. QuarianEngineer
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Only EA would make a single-player game that requires online DRM. This game completely deserves a zero because I can't even play it, and I have been trying to play for the past 3 days.
  20. Hitmehard
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The game is fun, refreshing and detailed. WHEN IT WORKS.
    It doesn't work, the servers are off-line 9 of out 10 times and when they go offline mid-session you get booted out of your game.

    0/10 for a extremely bad launch. Had this been a game without the need for "always online" it'd been A+ for sure.
  21. neophilus
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    EA disabling "non-criticcal gameplay features" to try to save their servers just proves they've sunk this game with useless crap that nobody asked for. No existing SimCity fans wanted an online-only multiplayer based city building game that has a fraction of the available building space as previous games in the franchise.

    Everyone loved SimCity 4 all they had to do was update the    EA disabling "non-criticcal gameplay features" to try to save their servers just proves they've sunk this game with useless crap that nobody asked for. No existing SimCity fans wanted an online-only multiplayer based city building game that has a fraction of the available building space as previous games in the franchise.

    Everyone loved SimCity 4 all they had to do was update the engine and reskin it and they would have had the perfect game. Instead the bloodsucking leeches at corporate forced this DRM-disguised-as-value online connectivity that they are obviously too incompetent to execute properly. It smells like some desperate bid to fight piracy but the only people who are going to suffer are paying customers while the pirates will probably crack some much better version of this dumbed down excuse for a city building simulator. SimCity 4 will never die, it will flourish long after the corpse of SimCity DRM 2013 "The Great EA Cashgrab" has decomposed into the rotten corporate hole it was spawned from.    … Expand
  22. Adz7991
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Right, so after owning this poor excuse for a game (sorry, EA, how dare i presume to 'own' this game, i am merely allowed to play it occaisionally due to your good graces) for about 24 hours, I have been unable to play it AT ALL. I have not been able to even access the tutorial! I have been able to get into the Getting Started screen, about 3 times after continuously trying for almost allRight, so after owning this poor excuse for a game (sorry, EA, how dare i presume to 'own' this game, i am merely allowed to play it occaisionally due to your good graces) for about 24 hours, I have been unable to play it AT ALL. I have not been able to even access the tutorial! I have been able to get into the Getting Started screen, about 3 times after continuously trying for almost all of those 24 hours, but the tutorial just says unavailable at this time and to try again later. When is later? 2-3 weeks? Or half an hour? Occasionally, after failing to launch the tutorial, it will take me to the start screen, where the Play button and the SimWorld buttons don't work. All I have gotten for my $80 purchase so far is a pretty installer screen, another icon on my Origin account and a holographic box the CD came in. Somehow, I feel ripped off. If I released a product, then shipped an empty box with a note saying "terribly sorry, but we experienced technical issues so you'll get the product in a couple weeks" after promising a certain shipping date, I would not be in business very long. I estimate I have spent roughly $2000 on Maxis products alone through EA from Sim City 2000, 3000, 4 and every The SIms game with all expansions plus microtransactions, but this $80 on Simcity5 will be the last Maxis and EA receive from me. I will no longer purchase University Life, or any other expansions or stuff packs, and the excitement I felt over the announcement of The SIms 4 is now dead. I and the whole gaming community require a profound apology for this debarcle, may I suggest upgrading everyone who has bought this fancy icon a free upgrade to the digital deluxe edition as well, or at the very least some sort of refund. EA should feel very proud of one thing though. I'm sure this will go into the history books as the worse product launch in history. Congratulations.… Expand
  23. ahunter10
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Not only should you not buy this game (it flat out does not work), you should also discredit any Review Site that gives this game a passing grade.
    It is a failure.
  24. lew2501
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The first thing about a game that every single one of them needs is for it to work, this does not its inexcusable, how can they spend all this time developing a game and then for it not to work, did they not expect for more than 5 people to play it a one time or something, worst thing is though EA wouldn't refund me saying its not in their policy, i stuck with EA through Mass Effect butThe first thing about a game that every single one of them needs is for it to work, this does not its inexcusable, how can they spend all this time developing a game and then for it not to work, did they not expect for more than 5 people to play it a one time or something, worst thing is though EA wouldn't refund me saying its not in their policy, i stuck with EA through Mass Effect but this stupid DRM thing for a single player game is ridiculous, when will you listen to anything anyone says i am fed up with it and i seriously hope you rethink your entire business strategy or just leave the video game market which you've already left in tatters, i would not care if North Korea went through with its threats and nuked EA, in fact i would be overjoyed at the prospect of it, so Kim Jong Un if you somehow can read this nuke EA into the stone age for the good of the world please.… Expand
  25. DaCleric
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Unable to play due to server at capacity. In a single-player game. This is ridiculous. Simplified gameplay that does not provide as deep an experience as any of the previous SimCity games and what will happen when EA decides that the servers are too expensive
  26. Bartiemus
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Have not been able to play due to the always on DRM do not buy this game as it is broken. Even with it being broken EA will not give me a refund I repeat do not buy this game.
  27. payingcustomer
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The game is an utter disaster. Treating paying customers like vile criminals with absolutely draconian DRM that does not work. I've had only played it for 3 Hrs when it crashed saying I NEEDED to be connected to the internet to play on my own. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. You will be thrown into the vast abyss of people who can't play the the THEY BOUGHT AND PAYED FOR. A disgrace to gaming and aThe game is an utter disaster. Treating paying customers like vile criminals with absolutely draconian DRM that does not work. I've had only played it for 3 Hrs when it crashed saying I NEEDED to be connected to the internet to play on my own. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. You will be thrown into the vast abyss of people who can't play the the THEY BOUGHT AND PAYED FOR. A disgrace to gaming and a disgrace to a paying customer.… Expand
  28. drdichotomy2000
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I wish I could rate this game lower than zero. EA has acted dishonestly. I will never pay for an EA product again. Please join the boycott. These people don't need any more of your money.
  29. simcityfail
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Absolutely unacceptable and disgraceful launch from Origin. It's not so much that it's an always online game.... although that is also ridiculous... you should be able to play a single player game offline....I just can't deal with paying good money to waste my damn time waiting to load this bloody game. The issue had bloody well be temporary, It's a damn shame. unbloodyacceptable.
  30. MichaelTom
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I created a metacritic account just because of this game.
    Online connection required to play at all times. WTF I have one. WHY doesn't this play? I purchased this for $86.49 with all the bells and whistles, I should have just gotten a hand
    job from the illegal on the corner. I guess I have to spend hours trolling thru EA forums looking for someone saying "we are aware of the bull****    I created a metacritic account just because of this game.
    Online connection required to play at all times. WTF I have one. WHY doesn't this play? I purchased this for $86.49 with all the bells and whistles, I should have just gotten a hand
    job from the illegal on the corner. I guess I have to spend hours trolling thru EA forums looking for someone saying "we are aware of the bull**** and are working hard to fix it" A game to be played by people to manage a city and EA can't even manage a release?
    26 awards this thing received for what making more money than a ponzi scheme...
    Get Bernie back he'll get this going!! GET ME MY MONEY BACK!

    EA you trash producing hack company! and Maxis you made a deal with the devil.
    Anyone who thinks this game is good I sell you my unplayable copy sounds like a sweet deal to me.    … Expand
  31. mporada1025
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Nothing to say that everyone else didn't say. WASTE OF MONEY! $80 for nothing. DON'T buy this. Even when I do get an occasional hour to play, the space is so unbelievably small that's all it takes to fill it.
  32. papapla
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Lets be simple.
    What is the worth of an unplayable game? Zero.
    It doesn't matter even if the actual games is brilliant, because you could barely make it that far.
  33. kusuriya
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    No one should ever support draconian DRM like EA has imposed here. In fact the current server issues they are having is proof why such DRM is fail. Overall I say please vote with your wallet.
  34. Leviathan737
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I'd love to give it a better review.. but since I can't actually play the game I paid for... still... day 2. This is the score it gets. Am I at 150 characters yet? It doesn't deserve that many either.
  35. BWJJS
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    It's absolutely pathetic when one can't play a $60 game, single player, without connecting to their servers and yet all in an effort to protect against piracy, they've completely screwed over their paying customers. This deserves a class action lawsuit.
  36. PhilErbutole
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I still play SC4, and pre-ordered this piece of crap. Graphics and game play are like a retarded Facebook game. Everything has been detailed down in game so EA can sell you add-ons later and rape you even more on a 80 dollar game. City size are tiny, maybe a tenth of what they were in SC4, no subways, interstates are already on the map and in horrible places, no way to control taxes onI still play SC4, and pre-ordered this piece of crap. Graphics and game play are like a retarded Facebook game. Everything has been detailed down in game so EA can sell you add-ons later and rape you even more on a 80 dollar game. City size are tiny, maybe a tenth of what they were in SC4, no subways, interstates are already on the map and in horrible places, no way to control taxes on things to prevent air pollution (for people to use mass transit) no way to build entertainment buildings or special buildings, only parks. OH and did I mention the graphics suck big time. Not what you would expect for a 2013 game release. Farmville quality stuff here. IM running dual 680GTX cards in my desktop and it looks the same as my 2003 dell inspiron 8500 with a on board POS graphics card. I retuned it so one less person on there servers.… Expand
  37. herpes01
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I have always been a huge sim city fan but the always on internet ruined it for me whoever at ea thought it was a good idea in a single player game should be fired.avoid like the plague
  38. BigLizard
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Review based on gameplay with a friend who purchased (and returned) his copy.

    I would happily buy this game if I could play it offline and save my own cities, on my own computer, on my own schedule. But right now, the only option is to pay cash up front to RENT access to a game that might or might not be playable, depending on the whims of the internet and the servers. Personally I    Review based on gameplay with a friend who purchased (and returned) his copy.

    I would happily buy this game if I could play it offline and save my own cities, on my own computer, on my own schedule. But right now, the only option is to pay cash up front to RENT access to a game that might or might not be playable, depending on the whims of the internet and the servers. Personally I don't have free time to sit around waiting, especially when a server glitches out and eats my city. If you don't mind paying to entrust your cities to the EA servers, then more power to you. As for me, I'll pass on Rent-A-City 5 and go back to my old copy of the awesome SimCity 4.    … Expand
  39. DFresh1980
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    DO NOT BUY THIS GAME RIGHT NOW!. There are far too many issues to justify spending any money until they get this mess figured out. I cannot speak to the actual game play as I continue to wait to connect to servers. I have owned this game for three days and have not been able to log on yet
  40. Protons
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I hate EA..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I hate EA.......................................................................................................

    .............................................................................................................................................................................................    … Expand
  41. Abysmal
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Whats the most important aspect of any game? BEING ABLE TO F*****G PLAY IT!
    I paid 600 SWEDISH CROWNS (THAT'S 93.83$ SRSLY) for this game, it took hours to get on, then i get disconnected, i get on, i try the game for a while, i get disconnected, save corrupted, if you're on a dodgy WiFi your session will disconnect, if EA servers act up, your save will get corrupted, the game itself    Whats the most important aspect of any game? BEING ABLE TO F*****G PLAY IT!
    I paid 600 SWEDISH CROWNS (THAT'S 93.83$ SRSLY) for this game, it took hours to get on, then i get disconnected, i get on, i try the game for a while, i get disconnected, save corrupted, if you're on a dodgy WiFi your session will disconnect, if EA servers act up, your save will get corrupted, the game itself seems fairly alright but it has been UNPLAYABLE since release date, also to play this game you need Origin, Origin is spyware; google it. I would not recommend this game to anyone and i will claim a refund, you should do the same thing.    … Expand
  42. llamaguy
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Completely unable to play this game because high speed internet is not available to my house. I wouldn't normally blame the game except this is completely EA's decision to require the connection and not an actual game play requirement.
  43. hoytick
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    SimCity is a beautiful game, the developers really really really did a great job on it. The greed of EA really killed the game. It is really sad that these great developers are being controled by a money hungry greedy monster, EA. When the game is playable (since it is an always online game which requires strong servers) it is a fantaastic game, however it is very rarely playable. EA hasSimCity is a beautiful game, the developers really really really did a great job on it. The greed of EA really killed the game. It is really sad that these great developers are being controled by a money hungry greedy monster, EA. When the game is playable (since it is an always online game which requires strong servers) it is a fantaastic game, however it is very rarely playable. EA has destroyed a beautiful game. DO NOT BUY IT until it is clear that EA/Origin has "Fixed" their servers. You will know when to buy it, just keep checking the SimCity facebook page and if most the posts by users are negative, do not buy it.… Expand
  44. GoGiHD
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Why can't I play the f***ing game?
    Why did I spend 40 bucks on a thing that never works?
    Why can't I meet with friend?
    Why did I think that SimCity 2013 is a good game?
    Why EA?

    Why? Why???!
  45. vitorciaramella
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Can't play the game that I spent MY MONEY on. Servers are always down... Not to mention several gameplay limitations that previous versions didnt have.
  46. PrinceofNessus
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Every aspect of this game is a failure. From city size to server reliability to premise. The game is a rehashing of SimCity Societies with enough alterations to remove the Societies moniker. It's spiffy that SimCity 2013 has individual Agents and all, but it's taken a functional system and given it more moving parts to attempt to achieve the same results; an engineering sin. I don't careEvery aspect of this game is a failure. From city size to server reliability to premise. The game is a rehashing of SimCity Societies with enough alterations to remove the Societies moniker. It's spiffy that SimCity 2013 has individual Agents and all, but it's taken a functional system and given it more moving parts to attempt to achieve the same results; an engineering sin. I don't care about my agents that much, I'm looking for a city simulator not a macro version of The Sims. EA may fix server issues and I may not have to wait in a queue to play the game I bought so I'm giving them a pass on that. The game however is not what I was hoping for, it's what I feared it would be. It's like Babby's first city builder game, complete with toy-like graphics and mindless game-play.… Expand
  47. casauce
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I "played" this game for about 2 hours. The first 15 minutes or so were spent updating the game I had just purchased the day prior. The next 15 minutes were spent appeasing Sims in the tutorial. The next hour plus was spent being denied access to a single player game because of server issues. Sim City is just about as fun as waiting in traffic in order to pay a toll, except tolls actuallyI "played" this game for about 2 hours. The first 15 minutes or so were spent updating the game I had just purchased the day prior. The next 15 minutes were spent appeasing Sims in the tutorial. The next hour plus was spent being denied access to a single player game because of server issues. Sim City is just about as fun as waiting in traffic in order to pay a toll, except tolls actually pay for upkeep of the road or bridge you're driving on. Paying for Sim City rewards for EA for screwing their customers.

    I wish I could pirate this game just to stick it to EA, which is ironic because I hate EA mostly because of the they do to thwart pirates.    … Expand
  48. rexsplode
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This game is literally unplayable, as the servers are completely broken, a result of the always-on DRM in SimCity. This feature was not advertised, as I would have avoided a purchase altogether if it were. After opening the game's launcher it takes approximately five minutes to check for updates and authenticate with servers. After finally being able to launch the game (the few times it isThis game is literally unplayable, as the servers are completely broken, a result of the always-on DRM in SimCity. This feature was not advertised, as I would have avoided a purchase altogether if it were. After opening the game's launcher it takes approximately five minutes to check for updates and authenticate with servers. After finally being able to launch the game (the few times it is able to complete the update/authenticate process) you are automatically disonnected from the EA/SimCity servers and are unable to access any games as the games must be accessed from their servers. You are forced to exit the program and do the process all over again. After having a few hours of playtime on launch day I have yet to be able to play the game two days afterwards. The few times I was able to access games/servers the game was kept on an infinite loading screen. This game and its servers are broken. EA has also refused to issue a refund on a broken product.… Expand
  49. Kalyska
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Unable to play days after release means a 0 score. No business is allowed to get away with this kind of service and neither should EA. I feel bad for the team at Maxis but unfortunately we're past the age where a design team can be easily separated from the distribution team. Shame on everyone.
  50. SumTingWong
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    This game got a 79 review??? Wow, I wonder how many BJ's the EA execs had to give to these reviewers to get that high a score. All of the critics who gave this game such a high review should be embarrassed for their reviews. Its time EA is put out of its misery. Everyone who is unhappy with the game should request a refund. I purchased a download version of the game from Amazon and I wasThis game got a 79 review??? Wow, I wonder how many BJ's the EA execs had to give to these reviewers to get that high a score. All of the critics who gave this game such a high review should be embarrassed for their reviews. Its time EA is put out of its misery. Everyone who is unhappy with the game should request a refund. I purchased a download version of the game from Amazon and I was able to get a refund from them. I've also heard of people even getting refunds from EA so don't just give up on the money you paid for the game.… Expand
  51. tcfialho
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I never see so many problems with a game. Server busy, bugs, lost of savegames, and the "solutions" by now from EA and MAXIS are drop features. #SimCity #Fail
  52. Liege
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    so who are these people making these games for exactly? Because it surely not me. i waited in line for an hour for this "crap". Online only? Really? i have yet to get any real game time in because of this "online only bs". did these people ever take into consideration that i may not want to play with little Billy? These new game dev's are missing in the brain if they think gaming isso who are these people making these games for exactly? Because it surely not me. i waited in line for an hour for this "crap". Online only? Really? i have yet to get any real game time in because of this "online only bs". did these people ever take into consideration that i may not want to play with little Billy? These new game dev's are missing in the brain if they think gaming is about what they think is awesum. its about "US", the gamers since atari, the paying customer. Learn to read reviews, and make games based on what "we" want, because it is us that pay for the crap.… Expand
  53. hamhawk
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    SimCity is a game, and a service rolled into one. I pre-ordered and paid for the game in March of 2012 because I believed that Maxis and EA could deliver an excellent experience. Since SimCity went live on Tuesday, I have managed to spend less than 2 hours playing. I was kicked off server around 1240pm Tuesday March 5th and have not been able to log in since. All I see are busy servers,SimCity is a game, and a service rolled into one. I pre-ordered and paid for the game in March of 2012 because I believed that Maxis and EA could deliver an excellent experience. Since SimCity went live on Tuesday, I have managed to spend less than 2 hours playing. I was kicked off server around 1240pm Tuesday March 5th and have not been able to log in since. All I see are busy servers, queues which aren't queues and little information from Maxis or EA. SimCity is supposed to be an experience, and right now, the experience is pure frustration. The service part of SimCity rates a 0 out of 10 because it is simply non existent. There is no way of getting past this service to give a review of the game so I am forced to rate only the service part of SimCity. I wish I could be more generous but as I am unable to play at all, this is the review.… Expand
  54. iamkubi
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I've come home from work every day this week hoping for some improvement with the connection problems yet all I encounter are more downtimes. I could get past all of that, but what I can't get past is that when I do manage to get connected my cities are not saved. When I go to resume game it says I'm not playing in any games... Oh but I am! I've started 3 or 4 cities now. ApparentlyI've come home from work every day this week hoping for some improvement with the connection problems yet all I encounter are more downtimes. I could get past all of that, but what I can't get past is that when I do manage to get connected my cities are not saved. When I go to resume game it says I'm not playing in any games... Oh but I am! I've started 3 or 4 cities now. Apparently the whole saving your progress thing isn't a part of the new Sim City.… Expand
  55. Hikaru93
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Do not buy this game. One most popular games became a total with merciless online DRM. You can't do anything without server connection but YOU CAN"T HOP ON the server within hours.
  56. Reebo
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    The rating of a game is tied to the actual playability and enjoyability of the game, not the theoretical potential of the game. Sim City LE is unplayable, constant server issues and multi-hour wait queues to connect. I'm rating this game a 0 because if I cannot play it, it has 0 value to me as entertainment.

    To those who say "separate the game from the server issues and rate the game"    The rating of a game is tied to the actual playability and enjoyability of the game, not the theoretical potential of the game. Sim City LE is unplayable, constant server issues and multi-hour wait queues to connect. I'm rating this game a 0 because if I cannot play it, it has 0 value to me as entertainment.

    To those who say "separate the game from the server issues and rate the game" I say to you "I rate a movie on how much we enjoy it when we watch it. I rate a book on how it reads when I read it. I rate games on how much we enjoy it when we play it. When i sit down and click to play Sim City, I have an hour of frustration and anger and then give up and wish I'd never given EA my money again. So the rating is fair based on the experience of owning and trying to play the game,    … Expand
  57. benjaminus
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    It's very sad that Maxis had a wonderful game that was made unplayable by EA's nonsense (DRM single-player). Sadly, the only way to get their attention is to not buy their games. Gonna try to send mine back to Amazon and get back my $50.
  58. stchan48
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    I am the player who only want to enjoy the game after work. Don't make the online game if EA does not effort it. I do like the new version, but I do hate try and wait to play. Can't enter the server at all!!!!
  59. KillerFry
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    Haven't been able to play; I knew about the always-on DRM but thought it would only "call home" but ultimately be a local game, completely independent of whatever happens with EA's servers.

    But no, seems I am tied to the reliability of the connection, their servers and the network cable not being chewed by a giant troll.

    Even Steam allows me an offline mode. Please, EA?
  60. Reddywicks
    Mar 7, 2013
    0
    What good is a game that you purchase when you cant even play it due to the requirement of online only and servers that dont work when you want to play the game. What ever happen to the days when you buy a game and can play it when you want, how you want with out restriction and being told you can not play what you payed for due to our servers not working or required servicing.
  61. lordark71
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Can't be connected Bravo EA EA Money factory I hope you ll not try again and plummet a good licence
    Perhaps because most cannot get on the servers to play. A complete fail from EA once again, I will not be giving Maxis my money again EA can suck my
  62. noctune
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    The game is almost certain a good game, If you ever could get it to install. When a single player game like SimCity get server problems its a big issue for me. I have several old Simcity in my shelf and I enjoy the type of game. But buying a game to enjoy to be hindered by DRM is just stupid. I wish I didn't bought the game right now. Rating 0/10
  63. WitchdoctorB
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    EA went so over the top to try and prevent pirating/used game sales that they completely destroyed what the game was intended to be, a great time sink when you do not have access to the internet or are traveling ect.. Not many fans of this type of game are going to play this instead of their staple games when they have the choice. Also not being able to save your city then completelyEA went so over the top to try and prevent pirating/used game sales that they completely destroyed what the game was intended to be, a great time sink when you do not have access to the internet or are traveling ect.. Not many fans of this type of game are going to play this instead of their staple games when they have the choice. Also not being able to save your city then completely destroy it through whatever hilarious methods the old sim citys provided just takes away one of the most entertaining aspects of the game.

    My wife walked by when I was playing the beta and got all excited because she though I was playing a new version of "The Sims" that seems to be the target audience of this new game. It is so watered down from what it should have been its gross.

    Anyone giving this game more than a 0 does not understand that us fans need to send a message to developers that this crap watered down DRM filled of a game is not acceptable and I will BOYCOTT all future EA games until they turn the company around.    … Expand
  64. ishist
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    The game itself I would give a 6/10. Tiny maps, half of the standard city sim features missing, forced to rely on other cities. These are the criticisms I would level at Maxis. Overall, it only gets a 0 because the scale doesn't go into the negatives. EA has (like countless times before) taken a much loved franchise and perverted it. They have stolen it's innocence, dressed it up inThe game itself I would give a 6/10. Tiny maps, half of the standard city sim features missing, forced to rely on other cities. These are the criticisms I would level at Maxis. Overall, it only gets a 0 because the scale doesn't go into the negatives. EA has (like countless times before) taken a much loved franchise and perverted it. They have stolen it's innocence, dressed it up in scandalous trappings, and put it out on a street-corner to make them money. Yes, EA is an abusive pimp.

    Also, forced online singleplayer mode. because Simcity wouldn't be Simcity without leaderboards right? and....deathmatches?    … Expand
  65. Mitzkal
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    The game is nice, but:
    -Why I can't play offline on my private regions?
    -Why cities are so small? -Why I can't edit the region by creating new ways of communication? Lack. -Why I can't dig holes or raise the ground to create such a subterranean avenue running through my city, as I often do with the 4? -Why is not there God-Mode??? SERIOUS LACK! -Why I can't save locally at any    The game is nice, but:
    -Why I can't play offline on my private regions?
    -Why cities are so small?
    -Why I can't edit the region by creating new ways of communication? Lack.
    -Why I can't dig holes or raise the ground to create such a subterranean avenue running through my city, as I often do with the 4?
    -Why is not there God-Mode??? SERIOUS LACK!
    -Why I can't save locally at any moment, under penalty of having to redo things when the server throws me out (often)?
    -Why there's not a list of games I have started on different servers?
    -WHY I CAN NOT PLAY IF NO SERVER HAS AUTHENTICATED ME???????
    I hope that Maxis get out soon the updates for fix this problems or lacks.    … Expand
  66. AnonReviewer570
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I bot the game. I suffered through server issues and have actually played more then 20 hours this week. I see lots of requests for reviews of actual game play so I thot I'd write one.
    Still giving this game worst rating even disregarding server issues and losing cites i spent hours on because the server doesn't feel like saving my game at any point.
    Anyway, so the actual game play    I bot the game. I suffered through server issues and have actually played more then 20 hours this week. I see lots of requests for reviews of actual game play so I thot I'd write one.
    Still giving this game worst rating even disregarding server issues and losing cites i spent hours on because the server doesn't feel like saving my game at any point.

    Anyway, so the actual game play was really fun.. for the first 6 to 8 hours then EVERYTHING STOPS WORKING. Every part of the city seems to be break eventually. Everyone stops going to school, buses stop picking people up, trucks stop delivering. My education adviser says build more schools when my fully functional school classrooms sit empty. Basically all of the features seem to stop working after 6 to 10 hours of play. Gifts to neighboring cities simply disappear. Maps with big mountains are impossible to get roads up to where you are supposed to build the city. My mayor's mansion has no place to plant the flag so i cannot move on to other upgrades. The game seems completely unfinished definitely not ready for release. My fire trucks can not get out of the station because of traffic. Seriously no one lets the FIRE TRUCK in. It's blaring lights are on, but they just drive past it never letting it into the street. Same for police and ambulances. I see cars driving down a street in circles. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. Those hours of fun just feel like a trick once everything stops working. I spent 10 hours building this city up only to realize it's a sham of an unfinished beta of a game. Why do I have to send maxis man out on patrol every minute for him to do his job? Why do I have to pay the super hero 1000 dollars to drive around all day to catch a single criminal?

    There are numerous missing UI components. I.E. where is the back button when joining a game so I don't have to go back to main menu every time I join a full game. Where is the filter to filter out full games? How about filtering so I only see regions actively being played so I don't join a dead one. I hope EA doesn't find out my email and ban my origin account for giving a bad review. They do that if you complain on their forums.
    also read they hired Chinese spammers to comment positively about the game. Why just comments, why not buy review spams on metacritic? Oh, probably because of that successful lawsuit against that movie company(Sony was it? i forget) that paid off reviewers of Rob Snider films. Their legal department probably said fake reviews no, comments yes. I am tempted to dispute the charge with my bank to get a refund since EA smugly refuses, but that'd get my account banned for sure and I'd lose my other games. Simply vile, evil evil company practices at work here. Now i understand the hate. Yes, it makes me strong.. gives me focus.    … Expand
  67. LabtecMPC
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Bad-ass game, the new SimCity is so hard you cant even get past the login screen without wanting to smash your screen monitor, I managed to get trough first level of game wich is menu screen, build first city wich i wont see again because the same server next day is busy and not responding
  68. dr34dbolt
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I bought this game yesterday, and I still haven't been able to play it. This is not good EA, not good at all. This will be the last PC game I buy from you.
  69. k1llm4ster
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    This is last game the EA i'll buy in my life, respect 0 with your customers..
    sincerely, i'm disappointed with EA and this game.

    sorry for english.
  70. BrainBreak
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    It's like paying for a lap dance and after 3 days, you still don't get a friggin' lap dance. Not even a comped drink. Just more lies about how they are appreciate you as a customer and that they are working on getting the dancers on the dance floor. Hey, EA, I played for a lap dance. On second thought, just give me my money back.

    The game doesn't work and EA refuses to response or give    It's like paying for a lap dance and after 3 days, you still don't get a friggin' lap dance. Not even a comped drink. Just more lies about how they are appreciate you as a customer and that they are working on getting the dancers on the dance floor. Hey, EA, I played for a lap dance. On second thought, just give me my money back.

    The game doesn't work and EA refuses to response or give refunds. Call your credit card carrier, and dispute the charge with reason "DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, MANFACTERED REFUSING RETURN".    … Expand
  71. AN1NSAN1TYH0UR
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Do NOT waste your money on this broken game. EA's "Always On DRM" has ruined what could have been a great game. Long (and sometimes eternal) server wait times and a broken save system have rendered SimCity unplayable. This is also not a "true" city building game, for you can only build a portion of a city (120x120 square). The true tragedy is it did not have to be like this, for if you areDo NOT waste your money on this broken game. EA's "Always On DRM" has ruined what could have been a great game. Long (and sometimes eternal) server wait times and a broken save system have rendered SimCity unplayable. This is also not a "true" city building game, for you can only build a portion of a city (120x120 square). The true tragedy is it did not have to be like this, for if you are granted the ability to play on EA's servers long enough you will find that there is a fun game underneath all of EA's imposed restrictions. Ultimately, EA has killed yet another one of my favorite series.… Expand
  72. greymorte
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    DRM, CITY SIZES SMALLER THAN MY BALLS, SERVER ISSUES, SERVER WAIT, BUGS, DUM MULTIPLAYER MODE, okay and it is addicting i give you that and it looks a bit better than sc4. EA WTF!!!!!!!! AND ITS 60 BUCKS FOR THIS TRASH!!!! I BETTER GET COMPENSATED FOR THIS AFTER ITS ALL FIXED!!!
  73. JJRambo
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Always online DRM means all types of problems, and SC improves on them in the worst way possible with lots of bugs. It also means less play, server's issues are beyond ridiculous. But also cities wayyyyy to smal, it's frustrating the neighbor colaboration. Broken game.
  74. Shallowheart
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I can not see any other way to rate this game than 0. I bought the game for almost 60€ from Origin and can not even play it. All the European servers are in full capacity so i can not join those, i can join to American ones, but it disconnects all the time so i can not really play. One time i could get into the tutorial part but i could not click anywhere, i had to exit. Hoping to playI can not see any other way to rate this game than 0. I bought the game for almost 60€ from Origin and can not even play it. All the European servers are in full capacity so i can not join those, i can join to American ones, but it disconnects all the time so i can not really play. One time i could get into the tutorial part but i could not click anywhere, i had to exit. Hoping to play this game someday.… Expand
  75. Barca1985
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Take DRM out of the game and give us bigger maps. The game is running slow and if you're lucky to get into a game after hours trying you'll be kicked out because the servers throw you out. I'm not surprised this happens to another EA game. They f..k up more games.........
  76. VilePirate
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    So disappointed, but hey it's EA. At the end of the day it's not about the game or experience, but it's about the Benjamin's. The fact that day one DLC and DRM to prevent piracy only proves this point. Hit EA where it hurts and do not buy this game.
  77. frabo
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I would like te write a review, but after spending a LOT of money on it, the game has not worked due to servers offline. A total waste of money. Therefore costumer rating: absolute zero. For EA consumer service also an absolute zero because EA nowhere mentions these problems, nor is EA reachable in any way for specific questions or complaints. Sad to see a legendary game totally destroysI would like te write a review, but after spending a LOT of money on it, the game has not worked due to servers offline. A total waste of money. Therefore costumer rating: absolute zero. For EA consumer service also an absolute zero because EA nowhere mentions these problems, nor is EA reachable in any way for specific questions or complaints. Sad to see a legendary game totally destroys its own name this way.… Expand
  78. kevinh456
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I've had the game since Wednesday morning, but I've yet to successfully play it. I don't have time to wait for space on a server. I've got about 30 minutes a day to play a game. I need to play it when I want to play it. I have an internet connection with 60 Mbps/down. I shouldn't have any issues with an online game. And yet, I am completely unable to play this one. I didn't have suchI've had the game since Wednesday morning, but I've yet to successfully play it. I don't have time to wait for space on a server. I've got about 30 minutes a day to play a game. I need to play it when I want to play it. I have an internet connection with 60 Mbps/down. I shouldn't have any issues with an online game. And yet, I am completely unable to play this one. I didn't have such issues with Diablo 3, despite the launch issues.

    FAIL EA. This is the first game I've purchased from you in a long time, and it's going to be the last. Piracy or just won't even bother.    … Expand
  79. ultra-kitten
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    With the always-online-DRM you are at the mercy of EA at all times, given you do have a internet connection. You don't own the game, you rent it on the conditions set by EA. If they pull the plug on the servers, you are no longer able to play the game you bought. The very first Sim City released in 1989 still works today. I have major doubts the 2013 release of Sim City will work in 5With the always-online-DRM you are at the mercy of EA at all times, given you do have a internet connection. You don't own the game, you rent it on the conditions set by EA. If they pull the plug on the servers, you are no longer able to play the game you bought. The very first Sim City released in 1989 still works today. I have major doubts the 2013 release of Sim City will work in 5 years time, considering server shut-downs by EA for games using similar DRM technology.… Expand
  80. CMDPrompt
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Update: I was finally able to play for a couple of hours. I'm now really disappointed. Sim-Town is lame as hell. Retardedly small postage-sized "cities"? What a joke; more like towns or a nice summer hamlet. Can't even switch between these unimpressive stamp-sized villages without end-tasking the whole friggin game! No regional transportation? Transportation AI? AI in general?Update: I was finally able to play for a couple of hours. I'm now really disappointed. Sim-Town is lame as hell. Retardedly small postage-sized "cities"? What a joke; more like towns or a nice summer hamlet. Can't even switch between these unimpressive stamp-sized villages without end-tasking the whole friggin game! No regional transportation? Transportation AI? AI in general? WTH? This is getting returned tomorrow morning. Thank God I didn't buy this online. If BB won't take it back, I'm contesting the charges on my CC. If EA wants to ban my Origin account then screw em, let em. I'm thinking I'm about done with EA anyhow.… Expand
  81. Nicke
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    First it took me seven hours to download because of my slow internet connection, and once installed I find out that it has selected my native language for the game, which can not be changed from within the game. I like to use English instead of my native language, but in order to change the language I have to remove the game from my computer, change language settings in Origin and thenFirst it took me seven hours to download because of my slow internet connection, and once installed I find out that it has selected my native language for the game, which can not be changed from within the game. I like to use English instead of my native language, but in order to change the language I have to remove the game from my computer, change language settings in Origin and then download and re-install the game again... wasting another seven hours.

    Once the game is installed I can't actually play because there are no servers available, and since it only plays online I have to wait in queue for a server slot for about 20 minutes... while in queue I can't check for other available servers, or the waiting time will be reset to 20 minutes. Well, I finally managed to get into a server and from then I thought I'd be able to play the game within a few minutes, but with the server connection working randomly from one minute to the next, I never managed to get into the city builder... I tried to start the game for 2½ hours before running out of patience; I've now removed the game from my computer, and regret ever paying any money for it. What a catastrophic release!    … Expand
  82. ryan1923
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    the only thing going for the game is the graphics. everything else is broken. i wouldnt pay $20 for this game, let alone $60. please listen to me dont spend any money on this game. go get sim city 2000 and enjoy sim city, the way it's meant to be. not with DRM that is required. if EA makes it optional, or better yet removes it entirely, and gives us single player, then i might change mythe only thing going for the game is the graphics. everything else is broken. i wouldnt pay $20 for this game, let alone $60. please listen to me dont spend any money on this game. go get sim city 2000 and enjoy sim city, the way it's meant to be. not with DRM that is required. if EA makes it optional, or better yet removes it entirely, and gives us single player, then i might change my mind, but if that doesnt happen, this garbage game is going in the trash.… Expand
  83. shall0917
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    What a joke. SimTown is a completely broken game. If you enjoy error messages, not being able to save, or flushing money down the toilet, then go buy it. If you're the type of person who wants to use something they buy, you might wanna steer clear of this train wreck. This is the first time I've ever rooted for the pirates to win. Always on DRM is a joke, EA Origin is a joke, and theWhat a joke. SimTown is a completely broken game. If you enjoy error messages, not being able to save, or flushing money down the toilet, then go buy it. If you're the type of person who wants to use something they buy, you might wanna steer clear of this train wreck. This is the first time I've ever rooted for the pirates to win. Always on DRM is a joke, EA Origin is a joke, and the biggest joke is on me, since I bought it.… Expand
  84. MotoVegas
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Don't launch a game, until its ready. If its not ready, don't launch it.

    I bought this game for single player mode only, and yet you are forced to keep an open connection to the internet. If their servers are down (which they are quite a bit during launch so far), you can't play... regardless whether you want to simply play in your own sandbox. Lame.
  85. giraffe
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Sorry, but if you actually still give money to EA at this point you deserve everything you get.

    They see theirs customers as enemies and don't care about quality of games. They're agenda-driven, corrupt and totally unethical.

    Never buy a game published by EA.
  86. Nanoflex
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Great game but it does not deserve a single point if you are going to shove always on drm down my throat have the decency to DO IT RIGHT. Instead during simcity launch I will be playing Civilization wait doesn't that have online play as well OH WAIT, IT DOES. Enough Said
  87. clikzip
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    The 30 minutes ive got to play this game were fun. Other than that ive spent over 12 hours trying to play it. The always online DRM put in place to prevent the 5% bad eggs has spoiled it for the rest of us. I want my $60 back...
  88. Andrei2k
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    The whole concept and implementation of making this game dependent upon an internet connection and the overwhelmed servers is completely flawed. There should be an off-line and online option! As far as the game play the main flaw is that once resources are used up you have to start a new city? No sense of accomplishment of challenge of saving the city you have spent hours on? There shouldThe whole concept and implementation of making this game dependent upon an internet connection and the overwhelmed servers is completely flawed. There should be an off-line and online option! As far as the game play the main flaw is that once resources are used up you have to start a new city? No sense of accomplishment of challenge of saving the city you have spent hours on? There should be expansion of city limits available after a certain point based on density and other factors. There should be a balance in the way the engine handles 'needs' from the player based on what resources are abundant in a city and which aren't since it differs across landscape. A lot of great idea and mechanics but with flawed logic at the very top and flawed servers that should NEVER be overwhelmed given the resources of EA.… Expand
  89. thriceq
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    You know what I love about single player games? Sitting in never ending server queues for the DRM. This is an awful system. Electronic Farts is a terrible company who has swallowed up the best properties. Forget this game. Play Sim City 4 with mods. At least then you won't be constrained to a tiny city.
  90. bcoolrob
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I spent over $70+ Dollers on this game and i can't find an open server to play on!
    Unable to play the game. EA should have had there Servers "READY" at launch DAY!
  91. UltimateCD
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    game have potential but ea didn't unleashed

    The Good
    Lots of wonderful details that make you feel connected to your city and its people

    The Bad

    Uncooperative players can mess up your plans.
  92. TPoulsen
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    It's kinda hard to like a game that you cannot play... Apart from that, i think that the citylimits are terrably small, the deliberately let out important parts of the game so that they can make money from selling DLC's
  93. fengald
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Purchased this game with the expectation of Sim City 4 being taken to the next level, well this game has flushed Sim City down the drain. What should have been a single player game that allowed a multi-player co-op flavor is nothing but a giant mess. Cannot play in it by my self and have had a total of 45 minutes of game time that was not interrupted by errors or messages about the SimPurchased this game with the expectation of Sim City 4 being taken to the next level, well this game has flushed Sim City down the drain. What should have been a single player game that allowed a multi-player co-op flavor is nothing but a giant mess. Cannot play in it by my self and have had a total of 45 minutes of game time that was not interrupted by errors or messages about the Sim City servers being down. Wasted $80 at this time and will never buy anything from EA again. Bravo to their marketing department and an epic fail on execution.… Expand
  94. Ecclesiastes
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    You'll pay $60 or $80, the game will only function for about five minutes of every hour, and EA will refuse to refund your money. Do not buy. If functionality is this bad at launch, when EA is putting all their resources into supporting their draconian DRM, imagine how bad it will be in a year or two when EA no longer thinks it's a priority.
  95. Xoatl
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Always on DRM with aweful servers means you WILL NOT have the freedom to play a SINGLE PLAYER game whenever you want. Come back from work? Too bad you can't play, thanks for the cash though. The city maps are way smaller than SC4 maps due to server side and engine limitations. Day one DLCs are already documented which is at the VERY LEAST an unethical business practice. Unable to makeAlways on DRM with aweful servers means you WILL NOT have the freedom to play a SINGLE PLAYER game whenever you want. Come back from work? Too bad you can't play, thanks for the cash though. The city maps are way smaller than SC4 maps due to server side and engine limitations. Day one DLCs are already documented which is at the VERY LEAST an unethical business practice. Unable to make sprawling cities, In SC4 a map can be 1/10 that of Manhattan, In this game it's 1/40.… Expand
  96. Heywood1979
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    EA once again destroys a proud franchise. I've been playing SimCity through all it's iterations since 1989. This version though is so horribly flawed. You cannot play it offline. Period. And even if all is well on your end, EA's servers are so horribly out gunned by the number of people trying to play, that nine times out of ten, you can't even connect to a server. If you are lucky enoughEA once again destroys a proud franchise. I've been playing SimCity through all it's iterations since 1989. This version though is so horribly flawed. You cannot play it offline. Period. And even if all is well on your end, EA's servers are so horribly out gunned by the number of people trying to play, that nine times out of ten, you can't even connect to a server. If you are lucky enough to connect though, the connection drops so frequently that attempting to play the game is akin to enduring an hours-long bout of schizophrenic rage.
    EA: Take note. "Always-On DRM" is a disaster and all you've done is to infuriate hundreds of thousands of your customers. Patch in an offline mode and salvage what little of your tattered reputation remains.    … Expand
  97. dfiler
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    This game is entirely comprised of server errors and endlessly failing to run. If it does run, it crashes without saving. I will never buy another EA game with online copy protection again. EA is quite simply incompetent and has sold a product which does absolutely nothing.
  98. Yarpen
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Ok so to start off I have registered on Metacritic just to warn people how bad of a game this is. Something I haven't done before...
    Sim City has a forced DRM something EVERYONE knew for a while now. This is bad to a stage where I haven't been able to run my game in 2 days. I got as far as claiming my city and playing 5 min past tutorial when server disconnected.
    I CANT LIVE WITH    Ok so to start off I have registered on Metacritic just to warn people how bad of a game this is. Something I haven't done before...
    Sim City has a forced DRM something EVERYONE knew for a while now. This is bad to a stage where I haven't been able to run my game in 2 days. I got as far as claiming my city and playing 5 min past tutorial when server disconnected.
    I CANT LIVE WITH THAT, early days are always hectic I o not approve of always on DRM and I even hate it but I will not mar Sim City low for that as I knew what I was getting into.

    THE BAD PART is that this is not Sim City, game is dumbed down from the start and city squares are so TINY that this can't even be called Sim Town but merely a Sim Village.

    If the game was called something along the lines of Sims 3 Societies I am sure people wouldn't mind as it would attract a different type of players but for the love of what's sacred to you PLEASE do not call it Sim City.

    If not for the fact I actually have some decent games on Origin I would try selling my account just to give it away! Luckily for me I still own good old Sim City 4 Rush Hour on Steam so I am signing off and goin to build a new metropolis.

    P.S: If Sim city 5 adds bigger city squares through a paid DLC we should consider adding a negative scores on Metacritic as this is a piss poor marketing policy...    … Expand
  99. Gibbins
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    Despite the client and the SimCity facebook page all claiming that the servers are online, whenever you load up the game (and get through the 20 minute queue) it won't let you do anything because the servers are down. Somebody at EA decided that demanding online play had to be in the game, and thanks to them they have turned a fantastic looking game into a frustrating, unpleasantDespite the client and the SimCity facebook page all claiming that the servers are online, whenever you load up the game (and get through the 20 minute queue) it won't let you do anything because the servers are down. Somebody at EA decided that demanding online play had to be in the game, and thanks to them they have turned a fantastic looking game into a frustrating, unpleasant experience. I absolutely regret pre-ordering this game.… Expand
  100. Griffon
    Mar 8, 2013
    0
    I'd love to actually play this game. Sadly... server says no. Pity. Will try again later, and may revise this opinion. In the meantime, the game deserves no better.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 75
  3. Negative: 10 out of 75
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 5, 2013
    65
    Given enough patches and DCLs, SimCity might eventually become the game that should have been on its release and justify the ambiguous choices that its developers made. [May 2013]
  2. Games Master UK
    May 9, 2013
    68
    Hints at great things but is limited by small cities and promises it can't deliver on. [June 2013, p.80]
  3. Hyper Magazine
    May 9, 2013
    40
    There's more problems with this game than I have words. Looks great though. [June 2013, p.80]
See all critic reviews »