Grepolis: Explore the World of Ancient Greece!

You are fascinated by the culture of ancient Greece? Do you to this day recall the hours spent reading „Iliad” Whether „Odyssey” Homer's? Or perhaps you are inspired by the story of how three hundred brave Spartans faced a Persian army of many thousands? If you answered positively to at least one of these questions, then I have good news, because Grepolis may be the game just for you!

BEGINNING MY ADVENTURE WITH GREPOLIS

My introduction to "Grepolis" was serendipitous. I stumbled upon it while playing another game that offered virtual currency for building and developing your city. Initially, the gameplay didn't strike me as particularly engaging, but I soon appreciated its simplicity. The first few hours in the game pass slowly and calmly, as we begin with a small polis and basic buildings. Our mission is to expand it, build new structures, develop our army, and eventually construct a war fleet at the port.

For me, the game really picked up steam after my city was attacked for the first time by a more experienced player. Miraculously, I managed to defend myself, and this prompted me to join an alliance almost immediately. This decision opened up the most exciting aspects of gameplay. By aligning myself with other players, I could participate in the political life of the game world, forge alliances, declare wars, and support each other in future conquests and defenses. This was a turning point that led to the spread of my influence across other islands. Before I knew it, I was hooked.

CHOOSING BETWEEN ZEUS AND HADES

The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced not only by the history of ancient Greece, but also by its mythology. In addition to traditional units like hoplites, cavalry, and slingers, there are also mythical creatures such as jellyfish, griffins, and my personal favorite, the red-haired erinyes in formation. Players get to choose one of six Olympic gods to support the development of their city by casting spells and providing resources. However, choosing a city patron is not the most important decision as it can be changed at any time. Unfortunately, switching from Hera to Zeus, for example, means saying goodbye to harpies and jellyfish.

Heroes are also a key feature that adds to the game's atmosphere. Players can assign characters with battle skills or above-average wisdom to their cities. Leonidas is a great choice for defense while Andromeda is useful for increasing raw material production, which is necessary for strengthening and expanding a city's influence. Hero development is achieved by completing island missions to gain coins.

A TOUCH OF TECHNOLOGY

In terms of audio-visuals, "Grepolis" has a simplistic yet appealing graphics design. The game does a great job in showcasing the progress of the player's city development. As you upgrade your buildings, you can see the transformation of small and plain structures into magnificent structures with red roofs and decorative columns. The game's interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, with a classic window-based design. Communication with other players is possible through the in-game forum using familiar BBCode, while a chat feature is also available, although not often used. The game's soundtrack adds to the immersive experience, featuring atmospheric and melodic music.

Similar to most browser games, "Grepolis" has a mobile application that works well enough, although the interface can feel a bit cramped at times. The app is generally stable, with only occasional glitches that are not too disruptive. The developers of the game consistently provide updates, showing that they care about their users and improving the app's performance over time.

FUN ON THE GROUND

One positive aspect of the game is that it doesn't demand players to be fully committed. The more time players spend on the game, the faster their cities will develop. However, those who don't have the luxury of spending all their time in front of a computer or smartphone can still participate by logging in periodically to collect resources and manage building and recruitment queues. Another pleasant surprise is the peace period during Christmas and New Year's Eve, during which players cannot attack each other. The game's creators evidently care about the well-being of their players.

The main downside of "Grepolis" is the presence of microtransactions. The game features a virtual currency called gold, which allows players to access features that make gameplay easier. Gold can be used to speed up construction, recruitment, or technology discovery, as well as to reduce the need for raw materials and expand the player's inventory. While there are numerous opportunities to spend gold, the currency is expensive, which can become a problem for young players who frequently ask their parents for phone recharges. However, with a reasonable approach, microtransactions need not become an integral part of gameplay.

In summary, "Grepolis" is an addictive game that does not require total commitment. It offers a basic strategic thinking challenge and a simple gameplay experience without overwhelming graphics. As the effects of players' development become visible in their mini-empires, it becomes increasingly difficult to tear oneself away from the game.