Songs of Syx Review | Deranged Edition™

Summary

In this humorous and detailed review, the narrator explores the complex dynamics of 'Songs of Syx,' a city-state simulator that challenges players to build and maintain a thriving civilization. From managing diverse races with unique traits to engaging in economic warfare and creative problem-solving, the game offers a blend of city-building and moral ambiguity. The review highlights the game's expansive tutorial, intricate mechanics, and the player's journey from a struggling settlement to a dominant empire, all while maintaining a light-hearted and satirical tone.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The game 'Songs of Syx' is a complex city-state simulator that has been in development for around seven years.
• 🕹 Despite being a tutorial, the starting location 'Jakaton' offers a challenging scenario with limited resources and strategic positioning.
• 🌾 The player begins with a small population of Cretonians, a peaceful and vegetarian race, and must establish an agricultural operation to avoid starvation.
• 🍎 The game includes a detailed simulation of seasons and the growth of food resources, with the potential for infestations and failures.
• 👶 The population grows through childbirth, with a unique game mechanic where the passage of time is measured in days and seasons, affecting the growth of citizens.
• 🎨 The game features a sponsor, Displate™, offering metal posters with tactile features, showing the integration of real-world products into game content.
• 🤝 The city's success hinges on the happiness of its citizens, with a nuanced simulation of individual needs and desires based on race.
• 🧬 Research and knowledge are passed down through generations, with the game emphasizing the importance of maintaining and preserving knowledge.
• 🏰 The player can manipulate various aspects of city management, including the use of slaves, crime enforcement, and trade to maintain economic stability.
• 🌍 The game world is rich with different races, each with unique characteristics and societal roles, affecting the player's strategic decisions.
• 🏹 The player can engage in warfare and diplomacy, using various strategies to expand their influence and control over the game world.

Q & A

What is the game 'Songs of Syx'?

Songs of Syx is an ambitiously made, self-styled city-state simulator that has been in development for over seven years. It allows players to manage a city and its inhabitants with various races and resources.

What is the starting situation for Jakaton in the game?

Jakaton is the default starting location for the tutorial in Songs of Syx, named after the developer. It has no mountains or natural resources, a few trees, a small lake, and is surrounded by four neighbors, making the initial conditions challenging.

Who are the Cretonians in the game?

Cretonians are peaceful, vegetarian pigmen in the game who have no aspirations beyond living in the dirt and farming crops. They are the starting population for Jakaton.

How does the game handle the growth of the local population?

The local population in the game grows through childbirth at the local nursery. A baby becomes a child after 16 days (which is equivalent to one year in the game), and a child becomes eligible for labor at four years of age.

What is the significance of the nursery in the game?

The nursery is important for increasing the local population. However, the player discovered that infant mortality has no effect on the happiness of the population, which is a darkly humorous aspect of the game's mechanics.

What is the role of the Displate™ sponsor in the video?

Displate™ is a sponsor that offers unique metal posters designed to capture various passions, such as Elden Ring™, Star Wars™, Warhammer™, or Call of Duty™. They introduced a new tactile poster collection called Textra™, which adds texture and 3D contours to the posters.

How does the game handle race relations and their impact on the city?

The game simulates race relations by assigning different traits and predispositions to various races. Some races don't get along, some are prone to crime, and others control educational sectors. These factors can significantly affect the city's happiness and stability.

What is the economic system like in Songs of Syx?

The game features a dynamic economy with fluctuating trade prices based on supply and demand. It encourages self-sufficiency but also allows for profit through trade, provided that the player diversifies their trade partners to stabilize their economy.

How does the player deal with crime and public order in the city?

The player manages crime and public order by making arrests and increasing coverage with law enforcement. However, the player discovered that certain races, like the Dondorians, were more prone to indecent exposure, leading to humorous situations.

What strategies does the player use to increase happiness and manage the city?

The player experiments with various strategies such as providing alcohol, satisfying food preferences, and introducing fine dining. Eventually, they find that ensuring basic hygiene through bathhouses and proper city planning significantly improves citizen satisfaction.

How does the game handle war and diplomacy?

The game allows for war and diplomacy through negotiations, declarations of war, and peace treaties. The player can use economic strategies like 'economic hyperwar' to manipulate enemies and gain advantages, or use a 'shotgun diplomacy' approach to force favorable terms.

What is the significance of the ending of the video where the player declares a royal decree to arrest everyone?

The ending signifies the player's loss of interest in the game after achieving total dominance. It is a humorous and chaotic way to end the game, showing that even in a simulated world, absolute power can lead to absurd outcomes.