Anno 117's Pax Romana's Hidden Gem Reveals Itself as a Impressive First-Person Perspective.
Wait — did you know it's possible to experience the game Anno 117 from a first-person viewpoint? Should that be your response, you’re just as shocked as I was upon finding out this concealed mode. Allow me to step away from managing my empire, entrust it to a trusted assistant, take a wagon, and take a spin around the classical city.
How to Access the First-Person Feature
As a city-building game, the game Anno 117 is normally experienced using a top-down camera. However, if you enter a secret combination — such as “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “R” using PC controls or else “Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B/Circle, A/X” with a gamepad — it becomes possible to roam the empire as an ordinary Roman. Given a comparable hidden feature was part of Anno 1800, I was eager to try it out in Ubisoft's newest game, yet I had doubts it would work prior to being submerged in a structural glitch (likely not meant to happen — this option can be prone to glitches now and then).
Discovering the Ancient Streets
Upon freeing myself, I walked the bustling streets of my city and toured markets, breweries, floral patches, and seafood collectors — it felt magnificent to observe my diligent efforts through a fresh lens. I noticed all kinds of details I might have missed from the top-down view: Entryway ornaments, an ass transporting a floral pail, fowl roaming freely, citizens lounging on their terraces… Even just observing the design of a windowsill and the coloration on a post is quite interesting to someone who doesn’t live in Ancient Rome.
Beyond Simple Strolling
Yet, the experience extends to the first-person feature in Anno 117 beyond simply walking the paths. I was especially delighted when I found out that not only could I view farming fields, but also step into them. And despite my expectation interiors would be restricted, I was able to enter earthen quarries, explore a prestigious Grammaticus building while lessons were in session, and even trespass into people’s gardens. Avoid attempting to open doors (not even the studio have the budget for that), but it’s entirely possible meander across a cereal plantation, observe people digging and transporting bags, and take a peek inside any small shack provided the entrance is missing.
Appearance and Mood
While I was completely ready to observe my settlement depicted in PlayStation 1 graphics, besides some crude animations and periodic inhabitants sitting inside seating as opposed to atop a bench, the first-person view appears far superior to anticipations. The highly detailed textures (notably masonry elements) really have no business being this good for a title that remains primarily overhead. You may not see specific hair details, but you will see writings on surfaces, sparks flying from torches, brick decoloration, iris elements, and evergreen foliage. Evening, with glowing light sources and stars shining in the distance, creates a particularly moody setting, and feels much less frightening compared to Anno 1800, now that the citizens don’t look like nightmarish entities anymore.
Discovery and Modification
Given the covert first-person feature doesn’t come with an instruction manual, I opted to try different commands, and promptly found the abilities to leap, run, and changing perspective — the zoom function permitting me to change from first-person to third-person mode and return. I subsequently tried pressing various digit inputs and discovered that I could change my representative's visual design. Golden robe? Ruby clothing? Azure and violet outfit? Or — maybe superior — complete battle gear? You may carry a sword and shield, or, preferably, wear an archer's uniform; when you press the action key, you’ll fire burning arrows into the sky. In case you’re wondering, eliminating citizens cannot be done (not that I’ve tried, of course).
Humor and Citizen Interactions
Yet, I didn't want to damage my population, as they're remarkably entertaining. Only seconds after I landed the immersive perspective, I heard a parent advising their offspring that “Owning a fox is prohibited and should you provide another poultry, your grandmother will be furious.” Appropriate response, paternal figure. A friendly native Celtic person then began complimenting my brilliant Romano-Celtic policies by labeling it “Perfect fusion,” while some cranky old lady opted to menace me: “Say that one more time, and they’ll never find your body.”
The Fun of Vehicle Use
Just when I thought I uncovered all possible content in the title's first-person feature, I experienced the pleasure of driving through classical settlements. Totally unintentionally, I selected a carriage and quickly occupied the transport. Oxen, donkeys, even people-powered transports; you may operate any of them freely. The donkey cart, in particular, is pretty fast, though you shouldn’t imagine Grand Theft Auto-style mischief — you can’t drive into people or other wagons (again, not saying I’ve tried).
Fighting Restrictions
The sole aspect that let me down within the immersive perspective was finding out I couldn’t partake in combat situations. Equipped in warrior attire, I ran up to the enemy in the midst of battle and tried to harm them, only to be ignored completely. The close-up view was nonetheless magnificent, and seeing opponents retreat, their limbs waving wildly, felt highly gratifying, but it would’ve been cool to effectively strike targets using my fiery projectiles.
