A great game... if you stick at it.
Gameplay
This aspect of SimCity 4 is a mixed bag. It's relatively simple to get to grips with the basics of building a city, and in no time you'll find yourself with a small village with a few houses, a school, some shops and maybe even some industry. However, the big killer of this game is actually developing something more than that. Almost anyone who's ever played this game will tell you that's it's difficult to make money. No money obviously means no more development for your city, which in turn will become a frustrating experience when your outcome quadruples your income and you eventually become bankrupt. It's well worth it though if/when you can find the key to making money.
Graphics
At one time this game pushed the PC to it's limits with it's relatively high specs, but these days it runs relatively well on most computers less than three years old. The graphics are nice to look at, and everything down to minor details have been captured. A big city looks fantastic, and when you zoom in you can watch all the little people going about their daily lives. No complaint can be made here.
Sound
Nothing much to mention here, the music that accompanies the game is relatively bland and unimaginative, and sound effects, while unspectacular, do the job nicely. You can import your own music into the music folder of SimCity 4, which is a nice touch.
Value
Considering the game is four years old now, you can pick it up for around £10 - £15, and there's even a double-pack featuring this game and its expansion pack Rush Hour that you can get for around £20. Considering this game can keep you playing for literally hours on end it's well worth paying for.