Anno 1701

How very civilized....

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Back before you were born, earlier than the days your grandparents walked fifteen miles to school in the snow with no shoes, and even before they were even a glimmer in their own parents eyes, way, way, before then, the world was a very different place. If you wanted a warm, woolly jumper for the winter, a reluctant sheep in the field next door might've been your first port of call. If you were still cold, you'd have to collect a whole lot of logs to start a fire - none of this new-fangled central heating stuff. For the inhabitants of Anno 1701's world, these primitive solutions to human necessities are just the start, as you are lumped with the task of building and developing a healthy, happy society for everyone to live in.

Anno 1701 is the latest sequel to Sunflowers and Related Design's 1503 and 1602 titles. It is set at a time in history of great journeying and discovery, one in which thousands of plucky Europeans ventured Westward across the Atlantic Ocean, spurred on by a desire for trade in luxurious goods such as gold and tobacco and a thirst for geographical and scientific knowledge. More often than not, your game begins at sea, where your first decision involves choosing upon which island's shores you want to set anchor. Your assessment will be based on the types of natural fertility that any given island can provide you with, a factor that will, ultimately, as well as your management skills, underpin the prospective economic success of your colony.

In the volatile world in which the title is set, there isn't any room for modesty. Like the average SUV truck driver might tell you, bigger is most certainly better - a message that anyone playing Anno will need to take to heart immediately. Whereas you might start as a poor, yet ambitious pioneer, a keen eye for expansion is really the only way forward. Initial tasks involve satisfying your population's basic needs, but when their approval levels become more complicated to pacify, and the threat of competition from rival colonies is thrown into the mix, your skills as a wannabe omnipresence are really tested.

As well as steering well clear of isolated and haunted hotels for the winter (perhaps, though, coming up with an iconic saying like 'Here's Johnny!' might well make it worth the while), The Shining's typewriter scene taught those that have seen it that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Strangely enough, this also applies to the populace of Anno, who revel in the stimulation that new island attractions bring. As your experience and bank balance increase, new buildings such as churches, theatres and educational establishments are unlocked, providing your minions with a welcome distraction from the monotony of the 9-5 grind. They also love the odd treat, like the occasional binge drinking session or a pipe-smoking tobacco fix - blissfully oblivious to the wide-ranging consequences to their health. Tut tut, indeed.

By hovering the mouse pointer over townsfolk, a sense of their happiness is revealed, sometimes even vocally. Likewise, mouse hovering is also the easiest way to assess the status of your colony's business productivity and outlook. Failing industries may very well result in the demotion in class for some of your citizens and cause mayhem at every level of society. That said, a very well designed interface means that after an hour or so you'll be zipping around and about the landscape and performing the necessary check-ups faster than a GP on call, eager to return to a bowl of piping hot soup, rapidly cooling back at home. This aspect of Anno is immensely satisfying, increasingly so as your organisational skills are honed.

After advancing so far, you are able to set sail and expand your territory, though if your preferred island is already inhabited you might be in for a little bit of naval fisticuffs. As trade is imperative to the workings of your society, any disruption to the delivery of goods could prove costly. To deter the threat your fleet of ships can be ordered to protect precious cargo, or, should the mood take you, to sabotage other players' exchanges. It's an interesting concept, spoilt only by the simplicity of combat. Whether on the ocean blue or on land, the victors in any given skirmish tend to be the side with the mightiest army. In this respect, any tactical decisions are more or less a case of choosing when and who to pick on, then praying that the following conflict ends in a victory.

If Anno's warfare was somewhat overlooked, the care and attention given to its graphical style and appearance certainly was not. The game world is as vibrant as a packet of jellybeans, with depth that extends to providing numerous building designs for your island's structures and, therefore, a wide-ranging and believable environment. In addition, a host of variable weather effects, water that looks good enough to drink and silky smooth character animation help bring Anno's world to life. Sound-wise, although the citizen's voice acting does tire, they do beam with enough personality to halt you from reaching for the volume controls after the first few hours.

With a refreshingly simple interface, various scenarios and multiplayer options, Anno 1701 presents one of the most charming experiences in the civilisation simulation genre this year. It might not have the depth of play for some (particularly in the lacklustre combat), but for those after a more casual experience in historic economics and trading, you may well consider striking a deal with Anno.

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By Andrew Macarthy