Sure thing, here it goes:
When that Roman Empire meme took off back in ’23, you might’ve thought it’d fade away. But nope, turns out folks really do ponder about Rome, yeah, all the time. So, Ubisoft Mainz jumps on that bandwagon with Anno 117: Pax Romana. Imagine turning that obsession with Rome into building your own empire. Wild, right?
Manuel Reihner, who’s pretty much the brains behind the game, chats with IGN and goes on about how everyone, fans and devs alike, have been dreaming of Rome. Because who wouldn’t? It’s everywhere. Like, all the time, in our brains.
So, Tuesday rolls around, and bam, gameplay showcase. They fancied it up all nice, set in Rome’s Gardens of Sallust. Hold up, those gardens were once Julius Caesar’s hangout. Seriously, Caesar’s own stomping grounds, no joke.
From what’s been dished out so far, Anno 117’s looking spicy—a real standout in this Anno series gig. Anno 1800 got its love set in the Industrial times. But then they tried Anno 2070 and 2205 and… well, less said about those the better. But now we’re going back. Way back, 1,683 years to be exact.
Oh, and guess what, you can build things diagonally now. No more of those rigid 90-degree angles. Streets that look like actual winding roads, finally! And it’s not just about looks. Building diagonally actually lets you play around with new fancy strategies for your cities.
By the way, production buildings now affect their surroundings, like they got their own vibes that change how your city lives and breathes. It’s a whole new puzzle, less “building by numbers,” more fun. Plus, new tech trees, citizen upgrades, all that jazz. Choices, choices. Fight or be diplomatic, it’s your call. And the faith system? Totally malleable. Keeps you on your toes.
Anno 117: Pax Romana drops later this year on all the big consoles and PC. Until then, keep thinking about Rome, or don’t. Up to you, really.
