Summary
One of the most important aspects of any game is the presentation itself. While that does not mean the game needs to have fantastic graphics, the look and feel has to be interesting enough to keep players engaged for hours on end. And even thoughCities: Skylines 2’s gameplay loop may be satisfying, its actual presentation leaves much to be desired. It may not completely ruin the experience, but some players may find it a bit jarring.
It seems like Colossal Order is trying to create an extremely realistic city builder withCities: Skylines 2, which sounds like an exciting prospect. The simulation aspect definitely feels improved because of it, but the art style also looks kind of bland. In the studio’s pursuit to emulate reality, it seems to have forgotten that one of the best parts of franchises likeSimCitywas the unique art style it offered. That is something that players do not get to see here, and some may be a bit wary about jumping into this new experience because of it.
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Cities: Skylines 2’s Art Style Holds it Back
Whenplayers launch upCities: Skylines 2, they will instantly see a landscape that is quite dull. The natural side of the map is mostly presented as a vast green field with various trees or shrubs dotting it. The field itself does not really look that realistic, as instead it looks like someone just painted green onto a flat plane. Increasing the graphic settings does not really make the map look any nicer, which is a shame. WhileCities: Skylineswas not known for its stellar art style either, the sequel should still look a good bit cleaner since it’s a 2023 release.
The map itself is not the only place thatCities: Skylines 2’s art style shows some cracks. As players build up their city, they will be met with a lot of gray and blue buildings. These buildings often look the same, with the colors are devoid of anything interesting and the cities themselves looking bland because of it. Even though it may be trying to replicate reality, it is not that interesting to look at for hours. And as the city grows, nothing about that presentation really changes.
These lackluster graphics lead to a city builder that just lacks character.Franchises likeSimCitydid not get popular solely due to their city building mechanics, as their art styles and unique flairs also helped. Most players can at least recognize what a Sim looks like or the fictional language that fills Maxis' titles. Additionally, titles likeRimWorldandPrison Architectwere able to make waves with their 2D art styles, and that is because both games felt unique. Nothing aboutCities: Skylines 2’s graphics feel that special. Instead, the art style leads to a pretty forgettable experience overall.
Eventhe originalCities: Skylinesseemed to have a bit more character than its sequel does. That game had brighter cities with more colorful buildings and things soaring through the skies.Cities: Skylines 2just gives players a concrete jungle of grays and blues that they can build to their liking, and it does not even have giant blimps to at least spruce up the cities a bit. While it may be too late to go back and completely change this style now, hopefully futureCities: Skylinestitles look a bit more distinct. If anything,Cities: Skylines 2’s DLC should at least toss in a few wild looking buildings to liven up the experience a bit more.
Cities Skylines 2is available now on PC with a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S version launching Spring 2024.
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