Metropolismania
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Metropolismania
| image = PS2-Metropolismania.jpg
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = Indi
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Media Factory|NA/EU|Natsume}}
| designer =
| series =
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|September 27, 2001|NA|October 17, 2002{{Cite web|date=October 17, 2002 |title=Metropolismania in Stores |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/17/metropolismania-in-stores |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}|EU|November 8, 2002}}
| genre = City-building
| modes = Single player
| platforms = PlayStation 2
}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Metropolismania 2
| image =
| caption =
| developer = Indi
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|D3 Publisher|NA/EU|Natsume}}
| designer =
| series =
| collapsible = yes
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|July 13, 2006|NA|August 28, 2007|PAL|April 10, 2008{{cite web |last=van Leuveren |first=Luke |date=March 23, 2008 |url=http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=10836 |title=Updated Australian Release List - 24/3/08 |website=PALGN |publisher=PAL Gaming Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328154607/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=10836 |archivedate=March 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}}}
| genre = City-building
| modes = Single player
| platforms = PlayStation 2
}}
Metropolismania (known in Japan as Machi-ing Maker) is a city-building game developed by Indi for the PlayStation 2. It was released for the Japanese market in 2001 and internationally in 2002. 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, Machi-ing Maker 3, was released for the PlayStation Portable by D3 Publisher exclusively in Japan which also contains a minigame in collaboration with the Japanese gameshow Run For Money.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/maching-maker-3|title=Machi-Ing Maker 3 x Tousouchuu|website=Wayback Machine|access-date=September 18, 2024}} Machi-ing Maker 4 was released November 2011 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.{{cite web|url=https://www.d3p.co.jp/matching4/|title=Machi-ing Maker 4|website=D3 Publisher|access-date=September 13, 2024}}
Gameplay
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
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
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| title = Metropolismania
| MC = 63/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/metropolismania/ |title=MetropolisMania |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513154757/https://www.metacritic.com/game/metropolismania/ |archivedate=May 13, 2024 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}
| 4P = 64%{{cite web |author=Marc |date=October 16, 2002 |url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PlayStation2/Test/3015/1458/0/Metropolismania.html |title=Test: Metropolismania |language=de |website=4Players |publisher=4Players GmbH |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707130311/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PlayStation2/Test/3015/1458/0/Metropolismania.html |archivedate=July 7, 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}
| IGN = 6.5/10{{cite web |last=Dunham |first=Jeremy |date=November 18, 2002 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/18/metropolismania |title=Metropolismania |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227064152/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/18/metropolismania |archivedate=December 27, 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}
| OPM = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-61-october-2002/page/n161/mode/2up |title=Metropolismania |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=61 |date=October 2002 |page=149 |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}
}}
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| title = Metropolismania 2
| GSpot = 6.5/10{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Lark |date=September 24, 2007 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/metropolismania-2-review/1900-6179799/ |title=MetropolisMania 2 Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212143405/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/metropolismania-2-review/1900-6179799/ |archivedate=December 12, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}
}}
Metropolismania received "mixed" reviews, while its sequel received "unfavorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. 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."{{cite magazine |author=Star Dingo |date=September 25, 2002 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/26364.shtml |title=Metropolismania Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214031708/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/26364.shtml |archivedate=February 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 29, 2016}}{{efn|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.}} 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.
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Notes
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/38818/metropolismania/}}
- {{moby game|id=/38819/metropolismania-2/|name=Metropolismania 2}}
Category:Kadokawa Corporation franchises
Category:PlayStation Portable games
Category:Single-player video games