Anno 117: Pax Romana's Hidden Gem Turns Out to Be a Breathtaking First-Person Perspective.
Wait — did you know gamers have the option to enjoy Anno 117: Pax Romana using a first-person camera? Should that be your response, your surprise matches compared to my initial response the moment I learned this secret option. Allow me to temporarily abandon my empire’s management, leave it in a trusted assistant, borrow a cart, and go for a joyride across the Roman world.
How to Access the First-Person View
As a city-building game, Anno 117 Pax Romana is normally experienced from a bird's-eye view. Yet, when you input a hidden code — such as “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “R” on a keyboard or “Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B/Circle, A/X” on a controller — you gain the ability to walk the empire as an ordinary Roman. Because an analogous secret appeared in Anno 1800, I was eager to test it in Ubisoft's newest game, yet I had doubts it would work prior to being submerged in a structural glitch (which probably wasn’t intended — this option can be somewhat unstable occasionally).
Discovering the Ancient Streets
Once I crawled out, I wandered the busy roads through my metropolis and visited stalls, alehouses, blossom gardens, and shellfish gatherers — the experience was splendid to witness my diligent efforts from a brand-new perspective. I noticed a variety of intricacies that would escape notice from above: Front door decorations, a beast of burden holding a blossom container, poultry scattering about, citizens lounging on their terraces… Even just observing the design of a windowsill and the coloration on a post is quite interesting for those not residing in classical times.
More Than Just Walking
Yet, the experience extends to the game's immersive perspective aside from meandering through streets. I became extraordinarily excited when I found out that not only could I view crop lands, but also step into them. And although I’d assumed structures would be inaccessible, I could walk onto earthen quarries, investigate a respected schoolhouse while lessons were in session, and intrude into private gardens. Avoid attempting to open doors (not even the studio allocated resources for that), however, you can definitely stroll around a barley farm, watch folks shoveling and carrying sacks, and glance into any tiny hut provided the entrance is missing.
Appearance and Mood
Although I was fully prepared to observe my settlement depicted using primitive rendering, apart from certain rough movements and sometimes citizens positioned within a bench rather than on a bench, first-person mode looks far superior to anticipations. The intricately designed surfaces (especially stone surfaces) shouldn't logically be this impressive for a title that remains primarily overhead. You won't necessarily notice any individual strands of hair, yet you will notice writings on surfaces, sparks flying from torches, brick decoloration, eye details, and evergreen foliage. The night, featuring dancing flames and celestial bodies twinkling afar, creates a particularly moody setting, and proves significantly less intimidating compared to Anno 1800, now that the citizens don’t look like nightmarish entities anymore.
Discovery and Modification
Because the game's hidden immersive perspective lacks official documentation, I chose to test various actions, and quickly discovered the options to jump, sprint, and zoom in or out — the last option enabling me to change from first-person to third-person mode and revert. I subsequently tried pressing some number buttons and learned I could modify my character’s appearance. Amber garment? Red toga? Sapphire and amethyst dress? Or — maybe superior — complete battle gear? You can wield a blade and protection, or, personally chosen, equip a shooter's costume; if you activate the engage command, you shoot flaming projectiles upward. In case you’re wondering, eliminating citizens cannot be done (though I didn't test this, obviously).
Amusement and Inhabitant Dialogues
However, I had no desire to injure my people, because they’re way too funny. Shortly after I activated first-person mode, I listened to a dad instructing his kid that he “Can’t have a pet fox and if you feed it one more chicken, your grandmother will be furious.” Understandable stance, father character. A friendly native Celtic person then began complimenting my outstanding integration methods by labeling it “Perfect fusion,” while some cranky old lady chose to intimidate me: “Say that one more time, and they’ll never find your body.”
The Joy of Joyriding
At the moment I believed I had found everything available in Anno 117: Pax Romana’s first-person mode, I experienced the pleasure of driving through classical settlements. Totally unintentionally, I selected a carriage and was promptly seated on the box. Bovines, equines, even human-pulled carts; you may operate any of them freely. The ass-drawn vehicle, specifically, moves quite quickly, although you shouldn't expect any GTA-like shenanigans — colliding with pedestrians or other carts is impossible (once more, not admitting any attempts).
Battle Constraints
The sole aspect that let me down regarding the first-person view was finding out I couldn’t partake in any fighting. Equipped in warrior attire, I approached opposing forces in the midst of battle and tried to harm them, only to be ignored completely. The front-row seat remained quite impressive, and seeing opponents retreat, their arms flailing about, proved very satisfying, though it might have been amazing to successfully impact objects via my incendiary bolts.
