Difficult, Inferior, but Nostalgic
Much brighter and more appealing, SNES SimCity trounces on the original PC version with a gallant and child-like glee unparalleled by many other PC Sim ports currently available for console gamers. Even now, developers like EA struggle attempting to translate Will Wright’s creations onto the home console. Nintendo, however, did a somewhat remarkable job of translating SimCity to the console gamer. Going as far as retaining the light-hearted qualities expected by Nintendo console owners, SimCity feels almost reinvented entirely. Despite stark contrasts, SimCity does not totally deviate from its PC version. Granted, it isn’t quite as complicated. Yet, it is just as overly difficult and drawn out in terms of game play time required. Stories of individuals leaving their systems on all night were not uncommon. Even then, obtaining the game’s highest honor (the Megalopolis) still appeared horrifyingly out of reach. The game was punishing and relentless in its need for you to fail. To even think about surviving through the twentieth century (where the game ends), taking advantage of a glitch in the game was almost mandatory. Shortcomings aside, SimCity (at its core) is just plain fun. Watching your little city grow is an unquestionably remarkable experience. SimCity is by no means for the casual. Re-releasing SimCity on the Wii reminds all gamers that there was a time when video games did absolutely nothing to congratulate their players. Newer, superior PC versions may draw lovers of SimCity away from this Virtual Console title. Yet, for those who owned and loved SimCity on the SNES: have no fear. Leaving the Wii on all night will only bring back fond and somewhat unpleasant memories that stuck around from back when you were ten and all was right with the world…except, of course, your SimCity.