Ready to go back to Rome with Anno 117: Pax Romana? You might want to bring your waterproof toga because you’re being sent to one of the soggier parts of the Roman Empire, gloomy old Albion. The good news is that you can customize your own ships.
The Anno series has jumped around on its own timeline but this year, fans of this highly-acclaimed city-builder are heading back to Rome with Anno 117: Pax Romana. However, as the game’s latest trailer underlines, your stay in sunny Rome is set to be temporary.
Anno 117: Pax Romana’s developer, Ubisoft Mainz, has previously stated we’d spend time in two provinces, Latium and Albion. But this new trailer suggests that Latium is essentially the tutorial and the bulk of your time will be spent in the latter.
Creative director Manuel Reinher makes Latium sound like just the loveliest place in the world, but then explains that something goes horribly, horribly wrong (my money’s on Pompei II) and you’re instead sent to “A mysterious place where no civilized Roman wants to be.”
Where could this strange, foreboding land be? It’s Britain, or as it was known back then, Albion. If you’ve got even the most cursory understanding of Roman history, you’ll know this is going to be no easy task. The Roman Empire famously had problems maintaining their grip on Albion, struggling with bad weather, ‘barbarian’ rebellions, and the island’s distance from Rome. What could possibly go wrong for your up-and-coming governor? Again.
However, you don’t have to crush Albion’s natives. Reinher explains that you can make concessions to respect their way of life. Who knows? Maybe your Roman superiors will visit Albion to find you’ve traded your laurel wreath for a flat cap.
If tangling with the Celts sounds daunting, you can take comfort in the knowledge that Anno 117: Pax Romana will, at least, let you craft your own modular ships. Don’t want to rely on the wind? Then add some oarsmen, though that’ll take up space that could otherwise be used for cargo. Want to make your vessels a force to be reckoned with? Build a couple of archer towers on deck.
As intriguing as all this is, especially if you’re a history buff, the trailer doesn’t offer up a release date for Anno 117: Pax Romana, other than a vague 2025. In the meantime, why not busy yourself with the best 4x games or the best grand strategy games?
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