Archimedes II: Some Like It Hot

[b]Note:[/b] A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^ [h1]A fun time management game where you have to use resources carefully and build efficiently. XD[/h1] [h2]Introduction[/h2] [i]Archimedes II: Some Like It Hot[/i] is a time management game developed by Zoom Out Games and Jetdogs Studios and published by Jetdogs Studios. It is the sequel to [i]Archimedes: Eureka[/i] although you don't need to have played it before diving into this game. As Archimedes is working on his latest invention, he discovers that Syracuse, his hometown, is in danger and Hercules enlists his help to stop the impending disasters. Can Archimedes (and Hercules) save Syracuse? :o As for the gameplay, it consists of 60 levels and the default difficulty setting. In each level, you have a list of tasks to complete and depending on how quickly you complete them all, you can earn up to three stars. The tasks vary from building residences to feeding cyclops. Resident buildings will earn you coins while facility buildings, such as sawmills and markets, will produce resources, like wood and food, that are needed to construct residences or have other benefits. In some levels, farms and gold mines are already available, so you simply need to send workers to them. Also, you can hire additional works with food and build statues to increase the elegance (aesthetic value) of the land. Plenty of Steam achievements/in-game trophies are available, but achievements won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game". [h2]Review[/h2] When I first saw this game out on other gaming portal sites, I was surprised to learn that there was a sequel since the first game came out around 8 years ago. Being a time management fan, though, I definitely wanted to play it, and thanks to a very awesome friend, I got the chance to try it out. ^^ [h3]Story and Gameplay[/h3] There isn't much of a story here. Archimedes is called upon by Hercules to save Syracuse, and as Archimedes is a famous inventor, his creations may very well help. The story is barebones, but it's enough to move the game along. I will say, though, that there is a teaser in the final cutscene and then a few words by the developers about there being future games in the series, so I can't help but get excited. Of course, the gameplay is the main focus. Having only a default difficulty level is a bit disappointing since I'm sure there are those who either want a more relaxing or challenging experience. The default mode makes beating all the levels quite doable, though, and it isn't too much of a challenge to get 3 stars on almost every level, especially since there is a guide in the game to help you out. As is the case with these Greek-themed games by the developers, there are developers' records in the levels. While the ones in the [i]Hercules[/i] series can be quite daunting, the ones here are more on the easier side. There's even an achievement for beating 10 developers' records, which is very doable. (However, I am speaking as someone who has played a lot of time management games.) Still, the gameplay is quite fun, and I like these kinds of time management games where you have to construct buildings that produce resources and such. This is one of the more old school TMs, so there aren't too many of them being developed nowadays. As for achievements, they are all obtainable. However, a few might require that you grind/replay levels, which can be a bit tiring. The one achievement that I didn't like was for getting 1000 elegance points in a level since none of the levels have it as a requirement and it can take a bit of time. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3730021712 [h3]Art and Music[/h3] The art has a fun, cartoony style. I like the design of the backgrounds and the use of colors. The residences look a bit on the artificial side, but that might just be my personal take. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3730021804 As for the music, I recognized most of the tracks from the [i]Hercules[/i] games. From what I could tell, perhaps only one or new tracks are new, so it's a bit of a letdown that the music is more recycled. Still, the tracks have that fun, adventurous vibe to it, which makes playing the levels enjoyable. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Would I recommend [i]Archimedes II: Some Like It Hot[/i]? If you're a time management enthusiast like I am, you liked [i]Archimedes: Eureka[/i], and/or you enjoy getting pretty obtainable achievements, then I think it's worth taking a look. For the asking price, it might be slightly on the pricey side, especially if you're just looking to play all the levels once and not go for 100% achievement completion. Of course, you can wait for a sale. To wrap things up, I'm happy that I got around to this game, as I was in the mood to play a TM and this game had no reviews, so I hope it gets some attention. ^^ [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]