Anno 117: Pax Romana's Hidden Gem Reveals Itself as a Stunning First-Person Mode.
Hold on — were you aware gamers have the option to enjoy the game Anno 117 in first-person? If you're thinking that, you’re just as shocked compared to my initial response when I discovered this secret option. I must step away from overseeing my civilization, entrust it to a trusted assistant, take a wagon, and go for a joyride through Ancient Rome.
Activating the First-Person Mode
As a city-building game, Anno 117 Pax Romana is typically played using a top-down camera. But, should you input a hidden code — such as “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “R” on a keyboard or “Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B/Circle, A/X” on a controller — you can explore the realm as a regular inhabitant. Given a comparable hidden feature appeared in the previous Anno title, I looked forward to test it in Ubisoft's newest game, though I was uncertain it would operate before I discovered myself stuck in a Celtic building (likely not meant to happen — this mode can be prone to glitches now and then).
Roaming the Streets of Rome
Once I crawled out, I wandered the busy roads of my city and visited stalls, alehouses, flower fields, and cockle pickers — it felt magnificent to observe all my hard work through a fresh lens. I noticed numerous fine points I might have missed when viewing from overhead: Doorway embellishments, an ass transporting a floral pail, poultry scattering about, folks chilling on their balconies… Simply noticing the shape of a window sill and the coating on a pillar is quite interesting to someone who doesn’t live in Ancient Rome.
Further Than Mere Wandering
Yet, the experience extends to the game's immersive perspective than strolling along the road. I felt particularly pleased when I found out that not only could I view crop lands, but also step into them. And even though I thought the building models would be off-limits, I was able to enter mud extraction sites, explore a prestigious Grammaticus building during active classes, and invade personal courtyards. Don’t try to open any doors (not even the creators have the budget for that), but it’s entirely possible meander across a cereal plantation, see citizens working with tools and burdens, and glance into any tiny hut provided the entrance is missing.
Appearance and Mood
Although I was fully prepared to observe my settlement depicted using primitive rendering, besides some crude animations and periodic inhabitants sitting inside seating instead of on a bench, the immersive perspective seems considerably improved over predictions. The meticulously crafted materials (particularly rock faces) are unexpectedly excellent within a game that's fundamentally a city-builder. You won't necessarily notice separate follicular elements, but you will see engravings on walls, sparks flying from torches, discoloration of masonry, eye details, and conifer needles. The night, featuring dancing flames and celestial bodies twinkling afar, is especially atmospheric, and feels much less frightening versus the earlier title, given that the populace appears unlike terrifying apparitions anymore.
Testing and Personalization
Since Anno 117’s super-secret first-person mode lacks official documentation, I opted to try different commands, and quickly discovered the abilities to leap, run, and adjusting the view — the zoom function permitting me to change from first-person to third-person mode and return. I then experimented with some number buttons and found I could alter my character’s appearance. Amber garment? Crimson attire? Sapphire and amethyst dress? Or — perhaps even better — full armor? You might hold a weapon and defense, or, personally chosen, equip a shooter's costume; when you press the action key, you’ll fire burning arrows into the sky. In case you’re wondering, it’s not possible to kill civilians (not that I attempted, naturally).
Humor and Citizen Interactions
But I wouldn’t wish to harm my citizens anyway, as they're remarkably entertaining. Only seconds after I landed first-person mode, I listened to a dad instructing his kid that “Owning a fox is prohibited and should you provide another poultry, your elder will punish you.” Appropriate response, paternal figure. A pleasant regional Celt then proceeded to praise my excellent cross-cultural strategies by labeling it “Perfect fusion,” meanwhile a grumpy senior female decided to threaten me: “Say that one more time, and they’ll never find your body.”
The Fun of Vehicle Use
At the moment I believed I uncovered all possible content within the game's immersive perspective, I experienced the pleasure of driving across historical settings. Totally unintentionally, I selected a carriage and quickly occupied the transport. Oxen, donkeys, even people-powered transports; you can control each one as desired. The donkey-powered transport, notably, moves quite quickly, although you shouldn't expect any GTA-like shenanigans — impacting citizens or additional vehicles cannot occur (again, not saying I’ve tried).
Battle Constraints
The sole aspect that let me down within the immersive perspective was learning about my exclusion from in combat situations. Sporting my soldier fit, I ran up to the enemy amidst fighting and tried to harm them, but was entirely disregarded. The proximate observation was nonetheless magnificent, and seeing opponents retreat, their limbs waving wildly, proved very satisfying, yet it would have been exciting to effectively strike targets using my fiery projectiles.