Pros: Diverse tasks. Charming atmosphere. Stunning artwork. Great overall production. Cons: Some too challenging tasks.
When it comes to business simulations, the first thing that comes to mind is the Build-a-lot series. The series has a large following despite not much changing between series. Royal Envoy is also a simulation game where players construct buildings and profit from renting buildings. However, its charm and atmosphere makes Royal Envoy stand out from other building games.
The action takes place on a magical chain of islands. According to the story, royal subjects have suffered from a devastating storm. The king of magical Islandshire appoints a leader -- that would be you -- to manage the repairs.
You travel from island to island, town to town around Islandshire to help residents restore their homes and build other buildings. Every building brings in income while tax collectors work to fill up the state treasury. The player can use this money for anything.
While progressing through the game, the player unlocks new types of buildings. The market building offers another way for the player to earn cash. If you need more building materials, build a sawmill and workers supply you with the necessary resources.
Every level in Royal Envoy involves restoring one town. Each town comes with specific tasks. For example, build five cottages and earn 3000 gold, or complete three deals and buy a balloon. Regardless of the task you have, the question of losing a level never comes up. The time meter adds a challenge so if you complete the level within the given time, you earn a golden star. However, those who do not like rush can still enjoy the game play.
Though some tasks repeat from level to level, each town has something unique. In some, you meet eccentric characters like pirates, for example. At first, they can bother you and the only way to stop them is to pay a fee.
Thanks to the lovely 3-D characters and charming cartoonish-style locations, the game plunges players into a magic world with a delightful atmosphere. The game also features lovely animation harmonizes perfectly with the audio.
The only thing that frustrates is some of the too challenging tasks. Good news is that it only affects your ability to earn golden stars. Royal Envoy should grow popular in the world of simulation games. The game's developers say it is the first one in a series. Unlike Build-a-lot, here's hoping the sequel will preserve the colorful atmosphere of the original while adding exciting new features.
