Yoot Tower (PC)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.0 stars Mediocre
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 4.0 (2.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Calvin Ko
• Reviewed on: 05/05/1999
• Updated on: 05/02/2000
• Released on: 03/31/1999

Yoot Tower - billed as the sequel to SimTower - is actually no more than a rehash. As in SimTower, you play the role of a building developer. You begin with a piece of land and several million dollars, and your goal is to develop your tower into a five-star building.

The generic city of its predecessor is replaced with three scenarios. You have the choice to build your tower in Tokyo, Waikiki, or Kegon Falls. Each scenario requires different strategies for you to succeed. Tokyo requires you to build office space to generate more money and people, while in Waikiki you need hotel rooms and shopping to succeed. All the scenarios share several facilities, such as restaurants and shops. Many of the facilities from SimTower have returned unchanged, like offices, hotel rooms, security stations, and medical centers. Yoot Tower augments the standard facilities with "plug-ins," facilities that are unique to each scenario. Waikiki, for example, has ship docks, whereas Kegon Falls has a Shinto shrine. Although these plug-ins are supposed to allow for new scenarios, there is no way to create your own. Updates are only available through the Yoot Tower web site.

Gameplay has changed very little from SimTower. The basic premise of the game is to build the best skyscraper and keep your tenants happy. To build the best skyscraper you need more tenants to move in, or you need to make VIP guests happy. In order to keep your tenants and attract more, you need to design an efficient transportation system. These are the elevators, escalators, and stairs. You need to have enough elevators spread throughout the building, because if tenants have to walk too far to their destinations, they'll complain. If you can satisfy your tenants and VIPs, you will be awarded extra stars and new facilities.

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