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Metropolismania

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Metropolismania
North American cover art
Developer(s)Indi
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: September 27, 2001
  • NA: October 17, 2002[1]
  • EU: November 8, 2002
Genre(s)City-building
Mode(s)Single player
Metropolismania 2
Developer(s)Indi
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: July 13, 2006
  • NA: August 28, 2007
  • PAL: April 10, 2008[2]
Genre(s)City-building
Mode(s)Single player

Metropolismania (known in Japan as Machi-ing Maker) is a PlayStation 2-only city-building game developed by Indi. The object of the game is to interact with NPCs in order to populate various towns. A sequel was announced by Natsume Inc., titled Metropolismania 2 (Machi-ing Maker 2: Zoku Boku no Machi Zukuri in Japan). The title was released on August 28, 2007 in North America and in Japan on July 13, 2006 by D3 Publisher. Another sequel, Metropolismania 3, was released for the PlayStation Portable by D3 Publisher but in Japan only which also contains a minigame included in collaboration with the Japanese gameshow Run For Money.[3] Several titles under the name "Machi-Ing maker" have also been published for the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 3. Machi-ing Maker 4 was released November 2011 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.[4]

Gameplay

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There are various goals to complete in each of the five main scenarios. Goals always involve growing the town to a given population, and often ensuring that a percentage of the buildings are of a certain type, i.e. businesses, farms, or amusement facilities. There are also side stories that occur within each scenario, sometimes including bizarre instances involving smuggling rings, a cult, and even aliens. When all requirements for the scenario have been met, the player's boss will call to congratulate them and send a letter of resignation, allowing the player to move on to the next scenario.

Gameplay also centers heavily on interaction with the in-game characters. Each character has a friendship meter that increases or decreases based on interactions such as "gossip" and giving gifts. Relationship statuses are: "stranger," "know the face," "acquaintance," "friend," and "best friend." Introducing new citizens or solving complaints is often based on good friendship status with these characters.

Characters

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There are several categories of characters in the game. Visually, characters within a category may have some variation, from the color of their hair to their clothing. Knowing personality types also aids the player in the game as certain conversational or "gossip" items more quickly increase the friendship meter.

For Metropolismania 2, there are universal categories of character personality types in the game. Just as in the original, characters within a category may have some design variations, like clothing or hair color, but respond to specific "gossip" topics similarly.

Reception

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Metropolismania received "mixed" reviews, while its sequel received "unfavorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][9] GamePro said that the former game was "worth a visit for anyone whose ideal night of TV involves [a] The Simpsons episode where they go to Japan followed by two Iron Chef episodes back-to-back. It is, however, potentially baffling to anyone else."[14][a] In Japan, Famitsu gave the latter game a score of one six, two fives, and one four for a total of 20 out of 40.[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ GamePro gave the first Metropolismania game two 2/5 scores for graphics and control, 2.5/5 for sound, and 3/5 for fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ "Metropolismania in Stores". IGN. October 17, 2002. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  2. ^ van Leuveren, Luke (March 23, 2008). "Updated Australian Release List - 24/3/08". PALGN. PAL Gaming Network. Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Machi-Ing Maker 3 x Tousouchuu". Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "Machi-ing Maker 4". D3 Publisher. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "MetropolisMania". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Marc (October 16, 2002). "Test: Metropolismania". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (November 18, 2002). "Metropolismania". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Rybicki, Joe (October 2002). "Metropolismania". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 61. Ziff Davis. p. 149. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "MetropolisMania 2". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Gantayat, Anoop (July 10, 2006). "Gaming Life in Japan". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Anderson, Lark (September 24, 2007). "MetropolisMania 2 Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Clements, Ryan (September 7, 2007). "Metropolismania 2 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  13. ^ Rositano, Joseph (May 11, 2008). "Metropolismania 2 Review". PALGN. PAL Network. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  14. ^ Star Dingo (September 25, 2002). "Metropolismania Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
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