Gold of the Americas

Gold of the Americas is a game which I knew nothing about. It was released for the IIGS by The Strategic Simulations Group in 1991, based on the Macintosh original.

It is a far more graphical strategy game than SSG's previous IIGS releases, Halls of Montezuma and Panzer Battles, as well as being different in terms of game play. While Halls of Montezuma and Panzer Battles were tactical military simulations, Gold of the Americas involves not only troop deployment but also resource and trade management. And rather than determine the outcome of petty wars, Gold of the Americas lets you determine the fate of a continent over hundreds of years.

The game is played entirely from the mouse, as players (up to four human or three computer) take turns in making acquisitions and managing their resources. I found managing acquisitions confusing at first, as you basically balance money between your resources rather than just allocating determined amounts of money. When ending your acquisitions turn, you then control your resources, sending out explorers and accompanying troops to discover riches to begin. Later, you will develop colonies, where of course, you need to supply the colonists to keep a settlement from ruin. Having the sea well controlled by your warships should allow safe passage of trading vessels.

I have only played no more than half an hour's worth of Gold of the Americas, as purely strategical games such as this don't maintain my interest. SSG was finally on the right idea in trying to win over non-strategy game players by making the game more visually diverse, but the graphics aren't ground breaking by any means. Additional sound effects would have improved the experience as well. Anyway, strategy buffs should find comfort in another IIGS strategy game.