Populous

From Sega Retro


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Populous MDTitleScreen.png

Populous
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (US/EU), Sega (JP),
Sega Master System
TecMagik
Developer:
Genre: Simulation

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,0006,000 G-4057
Sega Mega Drive
US
701601
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E097SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Master System
EU
27014-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
025040

Populous (ポピュラス) is a 1989 computer simulation game by Bullfrog originally released for the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST .It was ported to the Sega Mega Drive internationally and Sega Master System in Europe. The American Mega Drive version does not have any TMSS support at all.

The Mega Drive Populous is said to have been the first game Electronic Arts released for the system (or indeed any Sega console).

Gameplay

In Populous, players play as a deity who controls land to affect peoples's lives in the hopes of crushing followers of another deity. The game is played from an isometric perspective, although unlike later attempts at simulations (such as Sim City 2000), there is no scrolling.

History

Legacy

Populous' sequel, Two Tribes: Populous II (a renamed version of Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods) was also released for the Mega Drive, as well as the more combat-orientated Power Monger.

Magazine articles

Main article: Populous/Magazine articles.

Artwork

Promotional material

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Master System print advert in The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) #1 (1991-05-xx)
also published in:
  • Raze (UK) #11: "September 1991" (1991-07-25)[5]
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Master System print advert in Raze (UK) #12: "October 1991" (1991-08-29)
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Master System print advert in Micro News (FR) #49: "Eté 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #2: "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (1991-09-13)
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Master System print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #1: "Octubre 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Master System print advert in Game Power (IT) #1: "Dicembre 1991" (1991-1x-xx)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
91 №38, p86[6]
94 №4, p34[7]
75
87 №1, p32-34[8]
92 №11, p144
90 №5, p62
87 №5, p10/11
91 №1, p79[9]
93 №2, p50-52[10]
96 №4, p30/31[11]
89 №2, p70/71[12]
93 №13, p30/31[13]
100 №23, p54
70 №5, p21[14]
65 №18, p66
85 №15, p122
Sega Mega Drive
87
Based on
16 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[15]
ACE (UK)
91
[6]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[16]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[17]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
84
[18]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
94
[7]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
94
[19]
Console XS (UK) PAL
75
[20]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
75
[21]
Game Mania (UK)
90
[22]
Game Power (IT)
82
[8]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[23]
Hobbytes (RO)
72
[24]
Joystick (FR)
92
[25]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
90
[26]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
63
[27]
MegaTech (UK)
91
[9]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[28]
Mean Machines (UK)
93
[10]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
91
[29]
Player One (FR)
96
[11]
Power Play (DE)
86
[30]
Raze (UK) NTSC
89
[12]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
93
[13]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[31]
Sega Pro (UK)
70
[14]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
65
[32]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
60
[33]
Supergame (BR)
80
[2]
Tilt (FR)
95
[34]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
78
[35]
Zero (UK)
85
[36]
Sega Mega Drive
82
Based on
32 reviews

Populous

Mega Drive, US
Populous MD US BoxBack.jpgPopulous MD US BoxSpine.jpgPopulous MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD US CartTop.jpg
Populous MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Populous MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Populous MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD JP CartTop.jpg
Populous MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Populous MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
Populous MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Populous MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
95 №0, p47-49
92 №118, p104-106[37]
94 №1, p149[38]
90 №1, p32-34[8]
90 №21
92 №3, p36/37[39]
94 №18, p189[40]
75 №2, p43
97 №11, p40/41[41]
90 №11, p28[4]
96 №21, p10/11
100 №23, p58
80 Sega Pro
80 №10, p30[2]
90 №24, p85
Sega Master System
90
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
69
[42]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
75
[16]
Consoles + (FR)
95
[43]
Console XS (UK) PAL
88
[44]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
92
[37]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
94
[38]
Game Mania (UK)
90
[45]
Game Power (IT)
90
[8]
Games-X (UK)
90
[46]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
92
[47]
Joystick (FR)
94
[40]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
75
[48]
Player One (FR)
97
[41]
Raze (UK) PAL
90
[4]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
96
[49]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[50]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[51]
Tilt (FR)
95
[34]
Video Games (DE)
88
[52]
Zero (UK)
90
[53]
Sega Master System
89
Based on
20 reviews

Populous

Master System, EU
Populous SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Populous SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
Populous SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Populous SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU

Populous SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Populous
  1. 1.0 1.1 File:ACE UK 40.pdf, page 165
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:Supergame BR 10.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supergame BR 10.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supergame BR 10.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
  3. File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 9
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 File:Raze UK 11.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 11.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  5. Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 83
  6. 6.0 6.1 File:ACE UK 38.pdf, page 86 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 38.pdf_p86" defined multiple times with different content
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 34 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 File:GamePower IT 01.pdf, page 34 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePower IT 01.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePower IT 01.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePower IT 01.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 79 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p79" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:MeanMachines UK 02.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 02.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:PlayerOne FR 004.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 004.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:Raze UK 02.pdf, page 70 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 02.pdf_p70" defined multiple times with different content
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:SegaPower UK 13.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPower UK 13.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:SegaPro UK 05.pdf, page 21 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 05.pdf_p21" defined multiple times with different content
  15. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 178
  16. 16.0 16.1 Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 152
  17. Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-08), page 35
  18. Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  19. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49
  20. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
  21. Famitsu, "1991-08-23,30" (JP; 1991-08-09), page 1
  22. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
  23. Hippon Super, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-03), page 90
  24. Hobbytes, "1/1994" (RO; 1994-xx-xx), page 31
  25. Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 144
  26. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 62
  27. Mega Drive Fan, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-08), page 91
  28. Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 26
  29. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  30. Power Play, "11/90" (DE; 1990-10-12), page 138
  31. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  32. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  33. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  34. 34.0 34.1 Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 75
  35. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 21
  36. Zero, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 122
  37. 37.0 37.1 File:CVG UK 118.pdf, page 104 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 118.pdf_p104" defined multiple times with different content
  38. 38.0 38.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 149 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p149" defined multiple times with different content
  39. File:HobbyConsolas ES 003.pdf, page 35
  40. 40.0 40.1 File:Joystick FR 018.pdf, page 189 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 018.pdf_p189" defined multiple times with different content
  41. 41.0 41.1 File:PlayerOne FR 011.pdf, page 40 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 011.pdf_p40" defined multiple times with different content
  42. Ação Games, "Setembro 1993" (BR; 1993-09-01), page 37
  43. Consoles +, "Tilt Hors-Serie" (FR; 1991-07-xx), page 48
  44. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
  45. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  46. Games-X, "12th-18th September 1991" (UK; 1991-09-12), page 36
  47. Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 36
  48. Micromanía (segunda época), "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 73
  49. Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 10
  50. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
  51. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  52. Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 84
  53. Zero, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 85