This is a single player game with building and management simulation combining to cast you in the role of a Vegas tycoon. You can choose Sandbox Mode or Scenario Mode and with nine scenarios in all and several sandbox maps there is plenty of content here to keep you busy.
In Sandbox Mode the developers have given you a host of options so you can set up the game exactly as you’d like; customising settings like your starting cash, number of people, disasters and events. Set on the Las Vegas strip there are various plots of land available and you can purchase an empty lot and get building. The bulk of the game is divided between your lot building overview map where you can place a surprising array of buildings from obvious basics such as the casino and hotel to nightclubs, ice cream parlours, shops, magic shows, lap-dancing bars, wedding chapels and a lot more. Then you can enter the casino to place individual card games, roulette wheels, craps tables, slots and amenities like garbage cans and buffets. You also have to hire staff to take care of the patrons and decorate the place with plants, statues, lights and furniture.
The scale is amazing and allows you to micromanage every aspect of your resort. If it all seems a bit overwhelming there is a tutorial mode which kicks off the Scenario Campaign and teaches you the basics. The scenarios gradually ramp up the challenge and give you various problems to deal with. The most important facet of your resort construction is placement and you have to focus on placing things in optimum spots as they will impact on each other in negative ways if you aren’t careful and this will discourage the people from flocking in.
This may sound like a strange complaint but I found there was too much going on with this game and it proved to have an extremely steep learning curve. In order to turn a profit you have to get it right first time and the lack of a cancel option when I built something in a daft place left me having to sell it at a loss and made accumulating cash very difficult at first. When you begin to get the hang of the basics it does get a bit easier, but trying to ensure you are dealing with everything in your empire that requires attention feels like hard work.
