I guess this was sort of inevitable - no I don't mean Kairosoft releasing a new game, but rather a game from Kairosoft that touches (if only tangentially) on actual city management games like Sim City. Any real similarity between the classic Sim game and Oh! Edo Towns is only minor, so what does the latest game from the Japanese powerhouse developer have to offer?

If you've delved in to their previous games of Hot Springs Story and High School Story you'll get a good sense of deja vu as you accumulate resources from your citizens to be spent on structures that help to turn your town in to a tax-revenue generating machine. Thankfully the familiar 'combo' system of having structures of a similar type providing substantial bonuses feels a lot more logical (an easy early one to 'find' is the bath house, bucket store, and an environmental flourish). Larger effect areas around individual structures also mean you're not limited to creating bizarre clumps of buildings that feel artificial; it's nice to add that flair of individualism to your town.

Eventually your small town will rise above others in the country, attracting not only more citizens to work, but also artisans, royalty and even the odd tourist or two. Learning how to efficiently design your city to suit the three available scenarios can take some time and the usual benefits of having finished the game already (such as unlocking the 'faster' time speed) mean you'll get at least a few playthroughs before putting it down again.

It is unfortunate though that fans may feel a bit burned out at this point, especially if they've played the precursors to Oh! Edo Towns already. This doesn't diminish the fun of the game too much, but neither does it present much variety for returning fans. Definitely worth picking up if you're yet to delve in to a Kairosoft game, but still far from the best example in the genre.