First, the point I like about the game:
- It looks gorgeous, not just for a strategy game but in general. I really like the lighting and everything.
- It feels way more lively with all the people running around and nice animations of buildings.
- They introduced a new element: different isles with different resources, which forces you to expand into different settlements, and manage trade routes
- It runs very stable. I had no bugs or crashes during my time playing.
- The German voice over and localization was very solid.
- The Expeditions are more interactive.
Which brings me to the negative points:
- The Expeditions got very repetitive and annoying after just 6 hours of playing. Especially driving around with your bus in hope of finding an expedition and only finding loot sites which are not worth it most of the time.
- The game now has a ANNO feel to it, with the different isles and more emphasize on the production chains. Materials are no longer a problem of how many people you assign to them but a more space problem, because every Resource now has its own building and production chain. I'm not a big fan of that, but this is a me problem.
- It's very much, more of the same as in the first game (which I like) but with less functions: Power is not a thing (yet). No more Raider who attack you. No traders from outside. Fewer events in general.
- Very essential buildings, like farms for example, are locked behind a lot of research and resource farming.
- The UI feels a bit more clunky and doesn't give you a good overview over the resources you have. Warnings aren't as prominent. Management of your settlers feels a bit off. Buildings don't reserve space for paths anymore. Just little quality of life things that add up and make the game less enjoyable.
