Cities: Skylines Review

Cities: Skylines, developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive, arrived on the PlayStation 4 (PS4) in 2017, bringing its acclaimed city-building simulation to console players. Following the controversial launch of SimCity (2013), Cities: Skylines PS4 offered a robust, expansive, and deeply satisfying experience that quickly became the definitive modern city builder for many, proving the genre could thrive on consoles. This Cities: Skylines PS4 review explores its strengths and enduring appeal.

Gameplay: Deep Simulation and Unprecedented Freedom

At its heart, Cities: Skylines is a complex and highly detailed simulation game. Players are tasked with building and managing their own sprawling metropolis from the ground up. This involves intricate urban planning: zoning residential, commercial, and industrial areas; establishing essential services like power, water, and waste management; and constructing vital infrastructure like roads, bridges, and tunnels.

The game’s simulation depth is remarkable. Every citizen is simulated, with their own homes, workplaces, and travel patterns, making traffic management a crucial and often challenging puzzle. The public transport options are extensive, allowing for buses, trains, metros, and more to alleviate congestion. Players can implement various policies to influence their city’s development, from encouraging recycling to banning pets. The PS4 version, while managing the complexity of the PC original, features a surprisingly intuitive user interface adapted for controllers, making the extensive tools accessible. The game provides vast buildable areas, allowing for truly massive and unique cities, a stark contrast to some competitors.

• Deep and intricate city simulation mechanics
• Extensive tools for urban planning and infrastructure development
• Challenging traffic management system
• Robust public transport options
• Intuitive console UI for complex controls
• Vast buildable areas for large-scale cities

Graphics and Sound: A Living, Breathing Metropolis

Visually, Cities: Skylines on the PS4 is a beautiful game. The graphics are vibrant and detailed, allowing players to zoom in and observe the daily lives of their citizens, the flow of traffic, and the intricate workings of their city. The day/night cycle and various weather effects add to the game’s immersive qualities, making your city feel like a living, breathing entity.

The sound design is excellent, with a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the size and prosperity of your city. The ambient sounds of traffic, construction, and bustling citizens further enhance the immersion, creating a believable urban soundscape.

Replayability and Content: Endless Possibilities

Cities: Skylines offers virtually endless replayability. Every new city presents fresh challenges and opportunities for creative urban planning. The game has also received numerous DLC expansions on PS4, adding new mechanics (like natural disasters, industries, or campus life) and further expanding the possibilities for city management. This continuous stream of content has kept the game fresh and engaging for years.

Legacy: The Definitive Modern City Builder

Cities: Skylines quickly rose to prominence as the spiritual successor to classic SimCity titles, filling a void in the market for a comprehensive and unrestricted city-building experience. Its success on console proved that complex simulation games could thrive beyond PC, thanks to thoughtful UI design. It remains a definitive classic PS4 game and a benchmark for the genre.

Is Cities: Skylines on PS4 Worth Playing Today?

Absolutely. Cities: Skylines on PS4 is a must-play for fans of city builders and simulation games. Its deep simulation, vast tools, and endless replayability offer countless hours of rewarding urban planning. Despite the release of its sequel, the original Cities: Skylines remains a fantastic and comprehensive experience on the PlayStation 4, allowing you to build the metropolis of your dreams.