Anno 117: Pax Romana is set to reintroduce a gameplay feature that may ring a bell for long-time fans of the city-building franchise. Reimagined with modern mechanics, the Hall of Fame will turn in-game achievements into lasting rewards that carry over between playthroughs, providing a powerful boost to new campaigns and sandbox sessions. In a recent blog post, the devs at Ubisoft Mainz elaborated on that progression system, dispelling any misconceptions and concerns about monetization within the upcoming city builder.
The Hall of Fame: enhancing replay value across different save games
If you’re one to dream of the glory of ancient Rome on the regular, Anno 117: Pax Romana might already be on your radar. As we described in our preview of the seventh entry in the Anno series, Pax Romana transports players back to a peaceful time of prosperity, innovation, and exploration.
The game puts governors in charge of building and overseeing the expansion of a series of cities across two initial regions, the sun-soaked land of Latium and the untamed province of Albion. In the latter, players can push Roman culture among the population, or stay true to the Celtic ways.
And with accolades or achievements completed across campaigns or sandbox playthroughs come huge rewards within the Hall of Fame. Earning Fame points, players can access permanent bonuses such as items, ornaments, music tracks, or player emblems. Once an entire upgrade tier has been cleared, the next one becomes available. While they tie in with an individual Ubisoft Connect account, these bonuses can be used in multiplayer, provided they are enabled by the host player.
A return to Anno’s roots in modern form
Despite its brand-new name, the Hall of Fame in Anno 117 might not be as novel as it seems. As detailed on the Anno Union blog, this feature combines various mechanics previously seen in past titles, from Anno 1404’s achievement rewards to Anno 1800’s golden tickets, which allowed players to purchase exclusive items such as skins and portraits in a dedicated Grand Gallery menu.
Similarly, players will spend Fame points to unlock rewards in Anno 117, which they can use in the starting region of their choice, whether in Latium or Albion. Discarding the notion that this system will bring microtransactions into the game, the developers stressed that Fame would remain a currency players can gain through gameplay only.
Manuel Reinher, Anno 117’s creative director, hammered home the idea that the Hall of Fame was designed to celebrate dedication, all without resorting to paid progression systems or forcing players to grind for rewards. What’s more, extra content will be added to the Hall of Fame postlaunch, further expanding how players can personalize each save.
Anno 117: the new landmark for Roman city builders?
The massive success of Anno 1800, which remains the fastest-selling Anno entry to date, has marked a significant milestone for the long-running franchise. After the disappointing sales of the futuristic Anno 2070 and Anno 2205 titles, the series’ return to its trademark historical setting paid off both critically and commercially.
With a direct follow-up to one of the greatest city builders out there, the devs at Ubisoft Mainz hope to recapture the magic of its Victorian era predecessor, and set a new golden standard for real-time strategy games in ancient Rome, despite some hefty competition. From city-building staples like Grand Ages: Rome to cult classics like Rome: Total War, the Roman empire has long stirred the imagination of game designers and gamers alike. Even the iGaming industry has picked up on that trend, rolling out creative slots like Arena of Rome and Glorious Rome.
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The long wait for Anno 117 is drawing to a close on November 13. Meanwhile, eager players can glimpse at some of its new features and buildings, as several content creators were given early access to the game. Incidentally, Anno Youtubers like Taka went deep into the inner workings of the Hall of Fame, breaking down the many bonuses and customization options to be unlocked in the upcoming Roman city builder.