Seasun Games studio has released a new trailer for Ballads of Hongye, an ancient Chinese city building simulator that is very much focused on dealing with various natural disasters and the distribution of refugees who are important to find a place in the city.
The trailer presented shows the standard routine of setting up a large settlement – and, moreover, at different times of the day and even in different seasons of the year. The unique design of ancient Chinese buildings immediately attracts attention. Everything is very detailed, dazzling in color and surprising by the elaboration of individual objects.
According to the local plot, the emperor ignored the Hongye settlement for a long time, so the protagonist was assigned to revive it. Ensuring profits and steady growth is the key to Hongye’s revival. Every choice the player makes will affect the fate of the town: a small decision made in a split second can lead to a completely unforeseen event. The player must comply with council requests, manage his advisors, lead his people, and continually develop and use his lands to prosper while fighting natural disasters and urban problems.
“Take advantage of production chains, use your advisors, make decisions about your investments, and build your way to victory. Keep your people happy, your coffers full and your cities safe, because a strict council is sure to appreciate you for everything you do! But as you develop the Hon’ble, you may notice that a force is working against you, and all is not as it seems. You can go deep into the conspiracy and find the truth for yourself and your people. What will you sacrifice to revive Hongye? Will you be a formidable leader or will you be respected through love and admiration? The choice and the stage is yours! “,” reads the official description of the game.
Successful management of entrusted lands will require investment, resources, and money, so the city planner will have to sign an agreement with several review boards. “If you want the land, you must devote your heart and mind to it. As you progress, you will acquire blueprints, gain new abilities and develop new strategies,” the developers clarify.
The division into seasons makes practical sense here; it’s not just a nice visual feature. Product yields are different for each season, so when choosing a randomly generated building plan that determines the player’s agricultural and industrial results during trials, everything has to be planned carefully.
The four seasons bring different environmental conditions to Ballads of Hongye, changing the landscape and potentially causing natural disasters. Pests, droughts, famines, fires, floods–anything can derail hard work if proper precautions are not taken in time. “Hone your safety infrastructure and fight back against natural disasters. Be the shield your people need you in and avoid disasters. Management and Leadership.”,” the authors conclude.
Another important mechanic in the construction of the ancient Chinese city is the consultants. It is important to help them hone their skills and meet their needs. In turn, they will help the player with management, planning, and expenses. Keep in mind that other counties are also desperate for good advisors, so they may try to poach your advisors from you by offering higher salaries or other promises. You can keep your pool of advisors by openly negotiating, making deals, or winning salary contests.
Ballads of Hongye is due for release this coming fall, with only PC among the target platforms.