Previewed: May 7, 2007
Previewed by: Megan Dyer

Publisher
Enlight Software

Developer
Enlight Software

Release Date: May, 2007
Genre: Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB: Everyone

Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)

Sounds like a lot of fun for a kid, huh? I mean, what kid doesn't enjoy the circus? With acrobats performing amazing, often death-defying acts, large, exotic animals prancing around in sequined hats and ruffles while they perform tricks, trapeze artists flying through the air without nets, jugglers setting things on fire and throwing them around, junk food and overpriced animal balloons, what's not to love? Besides clowns, of course.

Well, all of that stuff is well and good to see in person, but it's difficult to make those same feats seem as impressive when pixilated computer characters are the ones performing such things on a screen. Part of the fun about the circus is seeing real people in flashy outfits perform real tricks that they spend years training for. The key to making the circus as exciting on the computer screen is good graphics, something that Circus Empire could probably improve.

There are plenty of bright colors, which I liked, and lots of variety in circus performer designs, costumes, tricks and arenas. The circus in the Orient has pagoda type buildings and the circus in Europe has more of the classic circus setting. Animation lines are crisp, but simple, and while the bright flashy colors are eye candy for any kid, the framerate can be a bit jumpy and transitions a little awkward.

Circus Empire allows players to micromanage the circus as well as put together shows, and of course, watch the results, as players are naturally going to want to see the fruits of their labor when they watch the show. Personally, I found watching the performances to be a little disappointing. When a performer juggles for example, the objects being juggled appear out of nowhere. Entire trampolines, high wires, stilts and other props just suddenly appear, and the performer goes on to awkwardly perform the stunt. If watching a performance gets old, you can fast forward time or just skip the performance parts all together and get back to micro-managing your circus.

Lack of appropriate sound, like applause and cheers from the audience, make it seem a bit dull. Thankfully, there is a variety of music ranging from typical circus music to calmer, smoother tunes. Performers do make sounds that somewhat resemble words (in some language or another) and the clown, Pepe...dear God, that clown. If you enjoy listening to one of the most psychotic laughs I've ever had the displeasure of hearing, along with fart sounds to accompany every time he bows to the audience, Pepe will deliver. It doesn't help that Pepe has a freakishly large smile painted on his face, which never, ever leaves.

I have to say, I give Circus Empire credit for having the guts to portray clowns accurately and realistically. Instill a good and healthy fear of clowns in them young, I say. All joking aside, Pepe is sincerely creepy. You've been warned.

Circus Empire is a story driven game that starts with a disgruntled banker making a huge 180 in his career, leaving his humdrum job to work at his uncle's circus. His uncle almost immediately hands his failing circus, complete with a grouchy, thieving, alcoholic clown (Oh, that Pepe!) over to his nephew while he goes on vacation. A talking dog with stage fright teaches the new manager how to put on a show, manage employees, take care of performers, remodel and clean the circus area.

Players will get to decide how they want to treat their performers in every areas of their lives, including diet, which affects mood and performance, vacation and rest time, skill training, and pay. Each performer has their own unique temperament and personality, so players must pay attention to each performer according to his or her specific need. Other things to manage are finances, which include salary for employees and performers, advertising, building upgrades and other things such as lighting, performer costumes, music and so on.

When players create a successful show, they gain more revenue from patrons who come to the show, and can then expand their circus to be bigger, flashier and more entertaining for the audiences. The key of course, is creating circus performances that are successful. Including tricks that performers have trained in well enough to know inside and out leads to less of a likelihood that the trick will fail or the performer will injure themselves, causing a scene in front of the audience. Also, players will have to pay attention to how happy, tired and stressed the performers are, so they don't mess up due to exhaustion or unhappiness, and perhaps in Pepe's case, violent drunkenness.

The micro-management Circus Empire is pretty straightforward, which is crucial to a kid's game. Often, simulation games can get too confusing too quick, especially when the target audience for the game is five to eleven years of age. Circus Empire is relatively streamlined however, with menu screens laid out easily and sensibly. If a player gets lost, it's pretty easy to find where you need to be again, and the show can go on.

Altogether, Circus Empire is a simulation game with a micromanagement system that was put together with a child audience in mind, which is nice to see. I've played other simulation games that were aimed at children that I had a hard time trying to figure them out myself. Circus Empire is an exception in this aspect. The storyline is interesting enough to keep a kids attention, and while I think the area of actually watching performances could be improved, Circus Empire could very well be a title to pick up for the little ones.

And just as a heads up, I was kind of surprised at the mild swearing, fart noises and creepy alcoholic clowns that is in Circus Empire. It's nothing terribly shocking or scandalous, but just be warned that those elements really are in Circus Empire, if it's all the same to you.

While we look forward to the final release of Circus Empire on the PC check out our great screenshots.