Democracy 2 Simulation Game Review
Game Review by Michael Dermott
Game Rating = 4/5 Balls
Download Free Game Trial 34 MB
Buy the Game $22.95
After some initial frustration with play in the game’s primary interface I found Democracy 2 very nearly addictive, although I would suggest that anyone who plans on spending any quantity of time playing should probably also invest in a current civics and economics textbook.
Download Free Game Trial 34 MB
Buy the Game $22.95
Democracy 2 is a robust simulation involving relevant application political and social theory. The game’s primary interface, which displays seven pie-slice categories of numerous issues and their relationships to each other, is highly abstract. Maybe too much so for gamers who are more used to making cartoon characters jump and shoot. But I liked the interface: what are politics if not abstract?
The game’s learning curve can be slow; plan on some lost time either figuring out basic game play or looking up definitions for the numerous ideologies and issues you didn’t pay enough attention to in school. Once I mastered the terminology and basic game play, though, I found myself in a simulated political rabbit hole.
Point to one of the sixty five or so issue icons in the main interface, and a web appears representing the relationship of that issue to any number of other issues. Policy decisions on one issue will affect every connected issue over time.
Download Free Game Trial 34 MB
Buy the Game $22.95
Each scenario is accompanied by several “situations,” issues that are in a volatile state and must be resolved. Gamers quickly see the nuanced relationships between and among various social and political issues as they negotiate these challenges. Aiding players is a cabinet of advisors for each of the seven issue categories, which players can fire and appoint as they see fit.
The biggest hurdle Democracy 2 must overcome is its lack of glitz. In a gaming market where sensual realism is the greatest virtue, Democracy 2 takes the cerebral high road. Most simulation games afford gamers a chance to make something and see it work. Democracy 2 is a departure in that it affords gamers the chance to create something and see how it works.
Although Democracy 2 lacks animation, the background images of the various interface menus are engaging and highly appropriate. In addition, gamers will appreciate the wry commentary indirectly offered throughout the game play experience, including memorable political quotations from diplomats and celebrities, as well as various iconic historical images.
Download Free Game Trial 34 MB
Buy the Game $22.95
The game is ingeniously intricate, offering unusual insight into the world of politics and government. The first few times I played, I felt stupid. After that, I started to feel smarter. Democracy 2 practices an invaluable skill in that it forces the gamer to consider issues outside of a vacuum, to see how seemingly disparate ideas interact, and to adapt to those interactions in affecting change.
Despite the static nature of the turn-based game play, I found the attention to detail in menu design and game management interface to be compelling. The strongest suit of Democracy 2 is its relevance, but the game is not just an electronic civics textbook. Several times during play, I found myself making political decisions that elicited my super-villain laugh. For that, I give Democracy 2 a rating of 4/5 as an entertaining and educational addition to the sim genre.
Download Free Game Trial 34 MB
Buy the Game $22.95
Positech Games Publishes Democracy 2
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