Impressions Games has really put out a steady stream of solid city building games and Zeus: Master of Olympus is no different. The player takes the role of a leader given the task of leading his or her civilization to greatness. This is no small task as the regulation of trade, government, housing, resource distribution, diplomacy, and the military all fall squarely on the player's shoulders.

If this wasn't enough there are several Gods vying for your favor. Even though being in the player's favor would probably work to their ends, a good number of the gods like to play 'bad cop' and teach the player a lesson from time to time. For example, if Apollo is angry he will roam around your city cursing or destroying buildings while Hermes shuts down all land based trade and destroys a few resources, like sheep.

With the gods acting like the ultimate jerks, why would any one of them be worshiped? Fear could be a reason, but the gods are not without their mercy. If a player builds a temple to a god they receive a 'gift' from that god. For example, if a temple is built to Hades, he will loan you Cerberus (that big huge dog creature) to roam your city streets and protect them from harm. Other gods provide all sorts of different 'gifts', which leaves the player with many different ways to approach the situation.

Along with the powerful gods, Impressions Games has packed in a healthy dose of heroic possibilities and dangerous situations. Monster quests usually are the product of an angry god, or a god that has a desire to be filled. Mere mortals could never hope to complete these quests alone, so the aide of a hero must be enlisted. The act of drawing a hero to the city involves building a hero hall, and then meeting the requirements of the hero. These requirements are usually for resources and reflect what will be needed for him to help out.

Beyond the immortals and their silly little games lies a city that needs to prosper. The act of managing resources is pretty straightforward. Wheat farms, vineyards, olive groves, goats, and hunting lodges are vital in providing an adequate amount of food for your city. To keep the city squeaky clean and in good condition, fountains and maintenance sheds can be erected near homes. This also prevents the spreading of fires and the plague. The gathering of fleece, marble, and copper are essential in the creation of statues and armor, while the fleece is not only a good trading tool, but also a requirement for the evolution of common housing.

The citizens are still very hard to please and they will leave within a moments notice. Keeping a city populated not only requires the player to keep them well fed but culturally stimulated as well. After a hard day at the olive press 'Mr. Jones' would love nothing more than a trip to the theater, or perhaps to the local gymnasium to work out for his big debut at the coliseum. These different types of culture enrichments are not only what keep the city's people entertained and happy, but also produce the artists and athletes that represent the whole. As the game progresses many large Olympic and artistic events take place and each city sends its best and brightest to participate. If a city dutifully practices its performing arts, it will do well in these events. Otherwise they will prove poor competition for other countries.

If, in the event the performers do well, the reward is a monument. In fact there are many types of monuments that are given to the player as the city grows larger. The most common monument is the Happiness Monument, but there are many others. These structures not only allow the flaunting of great accomplishments but also drive up the desirability of the surrounding area, which in the end aids in the ultimate prosperity of the city.

The interactions with other cities can go beyond the simple act of trade or competition. As the city's population grows, and assuming its citizens are happy, the local military grows in size. These can be used in defense of the city, or to raid or attack other towns.

The game's structure doesn't vary too much from what was seen in Pharaoh. The single player game is laid out in a series of mission goals and quests laid out by the gods. Of course not everyone who plays a city building game likes to be on the clock, and Impressions' answer to this is a set of three game modes that allow the player to simply build to their hearts desire without any strict mission guidelines. These modes still contain quests, monsters, and gods, but it is much more free form.

What really sets this apart from anything Impressions Games has put out so far is its style. Zeus: Master of Olympus' visuals not only look clean, but the colors used are so alive and vibrant. Add this vibrant look to thousands of the city's citizens scurrying about accomplishing their tasks and the end result is a city that feels very much alive. In fact the entire game just seems to reflect an entirely new attitude towards city building games that I can't quite put my fingers on.

Despite my inability to pin down what really makes this title so special, it is easy to say that it is exactly this reason that I feel that it has actually one-upped the respected Pharaoh. Both games excel thanks to the wonderful base formula used to emulate the growth of a city, but with the addition of all the variables presented by the Gods, Monsters, and Heroes, Zeus: Master of Olympus pulls ahead. If you like city building games, go out and pick this one up. If you are new to city building games and are willing to give one a try, this would be the perfect title to start with.