Game:

Rome: Total War (2004)

Category:

Review

Duration: 23:29

1,651 views

26

I'm playing Winds of Trade, a maritime trading simulation by Hermes Interactive. The game features randomly generated maps that add to replay value. Adjustable difficulty settings change the frequency of pirate attacks, and varied victory conditions are also supported. Each map is dotted by colonies that produce specific goods that can be bought, transported to other colonies, and sold for a profit (hopefully). In addition, ships can be purchased, upgraded, or repaired, and captains with different buffs can be hired. Trading prices fluctuate realistically with supply and demand, though the interface could show regional prices on the colony warehouse screen for less clicking back and forth. More money can be earned by completing contracts for specific goods deliveries and purchasing stock in corporations. When pesky pirates are encountered, you can try to escape or engage in underwhelming turn-based battles. Overall, Winds of Trade is a fairly standard trading sim, although the use of random maps does give it some extended life.