6. ...But It's Also Totally Crazy
That said, Maxis are acutely aware that their game is supposed to be
fun, and so it never mires itself in overt self-seriousness. For all of the financial and infrastructural issues that might abound, it's the disasters that tend to be just about everyone's favourite aspect of these games, and boy, this game really delivers in spades. There's nothing quite like watching an alien invasion unfold before your eyes, or a meteor strike level half of your most prized buildings, or my personal favourite - and probably the most ridiculous of the lot - a zombie apocalypse. The race to assemble resources to combat the mayhem makes for one of the most ludicrously exciting, even tense experiences you're ever going to have playing a simulation. Thanks to the flashy new visuals, there's an even more epic feel to what's taking place than before. In fact, my complaint in this area is that the disasters don't happen enough; they're randomly generated, and too often I'll go too long without having to deal with any, but then you'll get a lucky streak and have to deal with three in quick succession. When it rains it pours, right?