Pax Augusta is a city-builder that challenges us to build a Roman city. A classic title on paper, reminiscent of the legendary Caesar 3, but there's an interesting twist: never has a video game been so remarkable in terms of historical accuracy. An obsessive sense of detail that is the fruit of the work of a single enthusiast. We played it, here's what it's worth.
Historical city-builders have been making a comeback in recent years: Nebuchadnezzar, Memoriapolis, Pharaoh a New Era, Builder of Egypt, and soon Anno 117. The latter is scheduled for release this year and will invite us to build our own Roman colony. No need to wait to get started, since a video game that has just been released offers the same thing: Pax Augusta. It has a little something extra compared to the competition: a historical accuracy that is astoundingly precise.
Pax Augusta puts us in the shoes of a young Roman aristocrat at the beginning of the Principate of Augustus (31 BC). We are sent to Gaul with a mission: to build one or more prosperous colonies. It's up to us to establish ourselves, build our city and make it shine for the glory of Rome. There are several modes: you can follow a story where you evolve your character over the years, or simply build your colonies as you wish.
A game that focuses on historical accuracy
The gameplay is very classic. We map out our streets, build our houses, ensure their water and food supply, and manage their attractiveness. Then, we must earn money, establish trade links with neighboring settlements, and produce our own resources (wood, stone, iron) to attract as many residents as possible. A city-builder like so many others, in short, and which will remind the most nostalgic of the legendary Caesar 3. Except that Pax Augusta stands out for the crazy historical accuracy it demonstrates.
We had praised Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 on the respect of the period being staged, but Pax Augusta goes even further. The unstated goal of the game is not to be fun, but rather to be a historical reconstruction tool. All the buildings are faithful to reality, based on writings or archaeological excavations. There is no improvisation in the models of the insulea (buildings), domus (villa), arenas, forums, markets, crowded streets or brothels. Each of these buildings has or could have existed two thousand years ago.
An almost scientific obsession that is felt when you walk around the city, whether in the decor (full of colors, which contrasts with the faded vision of Roman Antiquity), in the clothes of the inhabitants, in their behavior or even in the sound environment. We could almost use the game as an example to show students what a Gallo-Roman city looked like in the 1st century, the precision is so crazy. We enjoy watching our citizens stroll around the forum, admiring the painted sculptures of the amphitheater, the colorful facades of the popinae, seeing the hierarchical social classes in the stands of the arena, scrutinizing the lives of the inhabitants of the insulae…
An admirable work of reconstruction that is even felt in the gameplay, since the player must pay attention to the festivities (by establishing a calendar on the forum), choose a protective deity or even build according to Roman logic around the Cardo and the Decumanus.Interesting point: no war mechanics or battles. Pax Augusta takes place in a pacified Gaul and the game is just as much. Respect for the context, again.
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Developer, historian, scientist
Pax Augusta is the work of one man, Roger Grassmann. This Swiss developer, obsessed with the Roman Empire since childhood, designed the game in his spare time. He had only one mantra: to make the most realistic city-builder possible. To achieve this, he worked hard to collaborate with historians and archaeologists, even going so far as to base the plans of the virtual buildings on the very real ones found during excavations. Even their construction animations are scientifically accurate! A passion project, therefore, which results in an extraordinary game, undoubtedly the most "realistic" ever designed.
But this status of a passion game created with the means at hand is quickly felt in the gameplay. Pax Augusta is indeed complex, perhaps a little too much so, with layers and layers of rules, laws, and constraints that are added as we play. Even more, we deplore a very austere interface that will put off the less courageous. The lack of polish also makes the project feel "amateurish," as do the too many bugs and some very strange balancing (it's not uncommon to suddenly find yourself broke without understanding why). And then, it must be said, it's not very pretty. However, Grassmann promises very regular monitoring in its roadmap. Pax Augusta is bound to improve with age like fine Gallic wine.
Despite its flaws, Pax Augusta is a title worth a look if only for its radical proposition. Even more, it is a sincere game that stems from the passion of a single developer who has brought his vision to life. A curious object for city-builder fans, and a fascinating title for fans of Roman history. If that's you, you'll easily overlook its awkwardness.
Pax Augusta is available on Steam for 25 euros, and was released in version 1.0 on April 19th.
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