Here’s a question. What do James Cook, Marco Polo, Francis Drake and Christopher Columbus have in common? Points if you get this one, though you might be able to figure it out just by the inclusion of Columbus. The answer is that they were all pioneering explorers in their respective centuries. Comprised of two Italians (Polo and Columbus) and two Englishmen (Cook and Drake), these four are responsible for some of the most progressive geographical discoveries and expeditions ever undertaken. But that’s not all they have in common. All four are also playable characters in Michael Gifford’s adventure extravaganza game New 7 Wonders of the World, out now for iOS.
Gifford has created an epic journey that harkens back to much-loved boardgames of old, such as Monopoly and Risk. You play as one of the four intrepid explorers and begin a quest which will see you visiting all of the Seven Wonders of the World in rapid succession, battling against other players as you go. These players can be your family and friends or CPU opponents; the game can support up to four players simultaneously. There’s a neat multiplayer competitive aspect that many current iOS games lack. These days, with most smartphone games, you’re either playing against yourself or some unseen opponent half a world away. Ironically, for a game that takes place all around the globe, having the intimacy of playing with real people sitting next to you is one of its major strengths.
There’s questions to answer as you navigate the virtual board, as well as money to be earned and points to be accumulated. The game also throws in some general knowledge, so players can learn some interesting facts about the cities and countries they visit, adding another layer to a deceptively simple gaming experience. Players start from one of six cities, Sydney, Tokyo, London, Cape Town, Moscow or New York, none of which are conveniently located near a Wonder. You have to roll the virtual dice to decide the amount of steps you can take towards the ancient sites, and you’ll have to buy plane tickets and the like to get you across the ocean to the next Wonder.
It’s a tried and tested system that works just as well in New 7 Wonders as it does in classic boardgames like monopoly. Random events can crop up on certain squares (for example, you can get an express ticket to the Colosseum in Rome and jump the rest of the spaces) giving the game a nice little unpredictable feel. For those who feel the dawn of the smartphone gaming era is a little shallow and one-dimensional, you’d do well to check out this multi-faceted exploration game and get your friends in on the action too.
Get trekking to the App Store to start your globetrotting adventure today!
