Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Cultures offers a unique twist on traditional real-time strategy by emphasizing village life and resource management over sheer military conquest. Rather than fielding massive armies to crush opponents, you guide a small group of Viking settlers as they build homes, craft tools, and explore new lands. Each villager has skills that can be improved over time, from farming and fishing to blacksmithing and trading, creating a satisfying progression loop that rewards careful planning.

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The thirteen campaign scenarios present a mix of objectives—sometimes you’ll hunt for food to survive harsh winters, while other times you’ll undertake expeditions to locate comet fragments. These missions encourage exploration and interaction with NPC cultures like the Eskimos, Indians, and Mayans. The balance between scripted events and open-ended settlement building keeps the pacing fresh, with tutorials and beginner scenarios gently introducing new mechanics before you dive into more complex challenges.

Multiplayer support for up to six players on LAN or the Internet adds another layer of depth. While all players assume the role of Vikings, competitive and cooperative modes let you race to collect comet pieces or team up to overcome environmental challenges. The game’s interface and hotkey system are straightforward, though veterans of modern RTS titles may find the learning curve a bit steep at first. Overall, Cultures makes town-building feel both strategic and personal, as you watch individual villagers grow in skill and stature.

Graphics

At its original release, Cultures showcased colorful, isometric graphics that lent the world a quaint, storybook charm. The detail in individual buildings—wooden longhouses, thatched roofs, and windmills—is impressive for its era, and the changing seasons bring visual variety to the Nordic landscapes. Each culture you encounter boasts distinct architectural elements, from Mayan pyramids to Inuit sled-houses, enhancing the sense of discovery as you expand your settlement.

Animations are fluid for villagers performing daily tasks, whether chopping wood, forging tools, or celebrating around a bonfire. Although modern gamers may notice low resolutions and simpler textures, the art direction holds up with its cozy, hand-painted aesthetic. Weather effects—snowfall, rain, even the shimmering aurora borealis—add atmosphere without overtaxing system resources.

The UI prioritizes clarity over flashiness. Resource bars, building menus, and villager inventories are logically arranged, making it easy to track wood, fish, and iron supplies at a glance. Some menus can feel dated by today’s standards, and zooming in or out can interrupt the flow briefly, but the overall presentation remains charming and functional, reinforcing the game’s emphasis on management rather than spectacle.

Story

The narrative of Cultures centers on Bjarni, a young boy who has grown into a resourceful Viking adult. His story unfolds against a backdrop of environmental hardship: brutal winters have stripped his Greenland village of vital supplies, and hope dwindles. When a comet smashes into the sea, breaking into six fragments, the community sees a divine sign and rallies behind Bjarni to recover the pieces. This mythical premise drives the campaign across diverse regions and cultures.

Each of the thirteen scenarios builds on Bjarni’s personal journey, weaving in encounters with other societies. The interactions feel authentic—trade negotiations with Mayans, alliance-building with Inuit tribes, and cautious first contacts with Native American groups. Cutscenes and in-game dialogues deliver just enough context to make each culture feel alive, though they lean more toward functional exposition than deep character drama.

Beyond the main storyline, optional standalone scenarios offer side stories and challenges that flesh out the world. They explore themes of survival, cooperation, and respect for nature rather than conquest. This narrative focus sets Cultures apart from war-centric RTS games, inviting players to immerse themselves in a world where prosperity hinges on ingenuity and diplomacy as much as strength.

Overall Experience

Cultures stands out in the RTS genre by prioritizing community-building and exploration over all-out warfare. The pacing encourages thoughtful decision-making—do you allocate villagers to fishing to ward off famine, or train them as craftsmen to boost your economy? This measured approach can feel refreshing if you’ve grown tired of button-mashing battles, though it may test the patience of players seeking constant action.

The campaign’s variety, coupled with tutorials and beginner-friendly scenarios, makes the game accessible to newcomers. Multiplayer adds replayability, allowing for competitive races to gather comet fragments or collaborative village growth. While the graphics and UI reflect the game’s age, the solid core design and engaging progression systems keep you invested for many hours.

Whether you’re drawn by the charm of Viking lore, the strategic depth of resource management, or the allure of discovering new cultures, Cultures delivers an experience that feels both nostalgic and distinct. Its emphasis on cooperation—between villagers, with neighboring societies, and even among players online—creates a warm, immersive world that remains rewarding long after the comet fragments have been collected.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10