Reviews

• gamedeal user

  May 24, 2017

  great old scool game
• gamedeal user

  Feb 13, 2020

  If you like city-building strategies, then, most likely, you already know about this game. Because back in the days, [b]Constructor[/b] was almost as well-known as [b]Impressions Games[/b]' [b]Caesar[/b]. And, well, no surprise here. Back in [b]1997[/b], when this game was released for the very first time, [b]Caesar III[/b], which will dominate the genre for more than five years with its spin-offs ([b]Pharaoh[/b], [b]Zeus[/b] and [b]Emperor[/b]), wasn't there yet, while this game? It ended up capturing the cuteness and addictiveness of [b]Impressions Games[/b]' titles and also adding some humor to all that. [b]Constructor[/b] looks as charming as [b]Caesar III[/b], only it also comes with a very funny, easily recognizable character design and tons of in-built humor. Aside from intro and outro videos, there won't be any cutscenes here, but there'll be a lot of tiny GIF-like animations in pretty much every single game menu and, let's just say that those [i]are[/i] fun to behold. What's even more important is that they won't distract you from playing the game. You want take a second – you can check them for a quick smile. You don't have time for that – you can just ignore them, since they'll just keep being there. The balance between the gameplay and humor is pretty nice here. It's nothing like [b]Z[/b], in which most of the humor was in its cool cutscenes. And it's nothing like in [b]Tropico[/b], which heavily relied on texts. It's all about the menus here. Every single menu here is [i]fun[/i]. The only comparison I can find in my memory is [b]Starbyte Software[/b]'s titles. You know, those with [b]Carsten Wieland[/b] design ([b]Dime City[/b] and [b]Wet: The Sexy Empire[/b]). Only those came (no pun intended) with sex-oriented jokes, while [b]Constructor[/b]'s jokes are more social. [i]Anyway[/i], you've got the idea. It's a funny city-building game. Now, what's it all about? Long story short, you buy the pieces of land, you build stuff there and you hope to achieve one of the four goals (there's also a freeplay mode if you just want to keep having fun with no goal whatsoever). A little bit like it was in [b]BULLFROG[/b]'s legendary [b]Theme Hospital[/b], which was also released in [b]1997[/b] ([i]man[/i], it was an epic year...). There are four different kinds of materials to produce, you'll need to control the rent and taxes, you'll be able to use both the police forces and mobs, etc, etc, etc. Even though this game doesn't look like it, there's quite a lot of stuff here to control. For example, building the house for people to rent won't be enough. You'll need to actually upgrade its insides to make people more happy and give you more money as the result. And you can't just click the button to do that. You'll also need to call your workers to actually do the job. You'll even be able to produce and install certain gadgets. And, of course, you'll be able to sabotage your competitors' work. Because screw dem suckaz! All that comes with a pretty balanced gameplay. Which means that [b]Constructor[/b] is easy to learn, but it's really, [i]really[/i] hard to stop playing. The “five more minutes” effect is really strong with this one. Can't say that [b]Constructor[/b] is perfect, though. And my biggest complain here is... lack of a proper campaign. If you want a proper series of mission, like those in [b]Impressions Games[/b]' titles, then sorry, you won't find 'em here. Like... at all. You select the number of the opponents, you select the goal (financial domination, your tenants' happiness, etc), you select the difficulty, you select the world type and, well, that's it. You play the game until you either win, or lose. There's really nothing else about [b]Constructor[/b]. Doesn't feel nearly as bad as in some other games in the genre that don't have any campaign, since, let's just admit it, four different goals and a freeplay mode are somewhat enough to give you enough motivation, but still, it's hard not to hope for more. There [i]is[/i] more, though, since this game includes multiplayer (which is pretty awesome for this kind of game), but... multiplayer was never a proper replacement for a single player campaign. Sure, [b]Constructor[/b] has more single player content than our usual multiplayer -oriented strategies from back then, but... you know how it is. There's also another multiplayer-related problem in this game. And that problem is – the entire thing is in real time. And even though there's a pause button, it's not one of those “smart” ones. Which means that the pause button in this game is just that – a pause button. You won't be able to give your units any commands while the game is paused. And it's a pretty big problem since, like I've said, the game comes with quite a lot of elements. You'll need to care about a lot of stuff here. You goal (one of which will even come with the time limit), your tenants, your buildings' condition, your workers (every single group of workers should even be formed manually), taxes, education, police, mobs... All that will require your attention. At the same exact time. And there's always at least one opponent to make your life harder. And it's not like this game is slow. Sure, there's a button to make things even faster, but to make things slower? No such thing. This game feels like it was made by [b]Barry Allen[/b] for [b]Wally West[/b]. And it's not even polished well enough to make your life less miserable. All that while the time won't even stop when you'll interact with the menus. Because multiplayer. During the multiplayer it's not much of a problem (as long as you won't enable bots), but when you'll play against the computer... well, you can easily guess the problem. Humans are not computers and can't think about a million things at the same exact time. So... yeah. [b]Constructor[/b] is a bit too multiplayer-oriented, it feels a little bit lacking thanks to the lack of a proper campaign and it's sure a bit too rough here and there. Can't argue with all that. And yet, it's one of the best city-building games from nineties and, of course, one of the funniest ones. Did it age well? Well, kind of. I mean, despite all the cons, the single player mode is still fun. It's close to impossible to find real people to play with, though, and the fact that this exact version runs through [b]DOSBox[/b] doesn't make things any easier (good luck setting the network game up). So, it's like the best part of the game is long gone. Which makes playing [b]Constructor[/b] nowadays somewhat arguable decision. If you've played the game back in the days, though, it's sure worth it even today. Even if only for a couple of hours. Like I've said, the single player mode is still fun, no matter how much was it ruined by the multiplayer.
• gamedeal user

  Jun 28, 2017

  Worth it!
• gamedeal user

  Jul 3, 2017

  I loved this game, but sadly the vertical and horizonal sensitivities are different, so unless you can set them through your mouse, it's incredibly hard to play. I'm sadly asking a refund, will buy the new version instead.
• gamedeal user

  Feb 23, 2018

  I like old games and it has its own style. No doubt. But there is [b]NO TUTORIAL[/b] and only custom games moreover it is not very intuitive. Bad when it relies on trial-and-error. Btw Steamversion is good, no bugs. At some stages many of your tenments destroy themselfs simultaneously, even with happy tenent. I ask myself, why? There is no visible reason. To make the game more challenging? Nah. I do not understand the mechanics fully, because of this non introduction. And I have no patience to look for a youtube video. Started several games, but I can not recommend it.
• gamedeal user

  Jun 30, 2017

  i thought id try out this old game and omg the graphics is so so so bad.
• gamedeal user

  Mar 27, 2020

  Constructor is a DOS game from 97, where you control a mafia-oriented construction company. Although disguised as a building game, it is mostly a war of dirty tricks. After you build some houses and handle some tenants, the game becomes a mess of stealing properties, thugs wrecking havoc on the streets, gangsters killing foremen, and fake repairmen causing gas leaks. And it is BEAUTIFUL. There are 5 levels of houses and tenants, two tenants per level. Each tenant has different demands concerning their house and garden decoration, as well as money, lifetime and other stats. These tenants will provide moneys for the funs, but keeping them happy can be a pain. Besides those there are several undesireables, such as hippies, thugs, psychopaths, clowns and ghosts. The computer is merciless in this game. Even in the easiest difficulty they won't give you a break and you get flooded with all they got. Playing against 3 computers is not for the weak. You can also go multiplayer, but I never tested that. The controls are lacking, since you must click to do pretty much everything, but that's no show stopper. Funfact: this should not have the Windows symbol in Steam Store, since it is a DOS game. Ironically, it runs on DOSBox emulator which is Linux native (ported to Windows). Linux users can use Steam Proton to run Windows version of DOSBox to emulate Constructor... OR you can modify the launcher options and directly launch Linux's native DOSBox instead! Sadly no achievements or cards here, but there is a new HD version with the former ([url=http://steamcommunity.com/id/the_holysword/recommended/579020]see my review here[/url]). All in all the game aged a lot but it is still buckets of fun. The style is very unique and if you like it, there will be nothing similar in the market.
• gamedeal user

  Dec 25, 2017

  Great old game. Waiting for the 2nd part, Street Wars!
• gamedeal user

  Jan 9, 2023

  DISCLAIMER: This is a first impressions review, and NOT a full review

  Constructor Classic 1997 is a game developed and published by System 3 and is the original game in the Constructor series The game offers some nice graphics and a beautiful aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges The game does suffer with some repetitiveness at certain areas of the game but a fun game nonetheless and ends just at the right time Constructor Classic 1997 overall, however, is a fun game to play, yet sometimes repetitive and it does get boring if being played for a long time, but is a good simulation game to play in short bursts!

  RECOMMENDED :)

  REVIEW SOURCES: <*> None
• gamedeal user

  Jan 23, 2023

  Good times, good memories!