Pharaoh Official Expansion: Cleopatra

This add-on installs over the original Pharoah game and includes about fifteen new missions spread over four different campaigns. The wonderful part is the inclusion of tomb building in the Valley of the Kings and famous landmarks like the Great Library at Alexandra and one of the lost wonders of the ancient world - the Lighthouse at Alexandra.

For those that felt missions from Pharoah took too long because the pyramid building process was slow, you now have the option to allow the gods of your city to help speed up the building through blessings, which can shave hours off some games, but only if you keep the gods happy. If not the programmers have added new ways for the gods to punish you for not giving them their due respect. Plagues of frogs infesting your houses, locust destorying your fields, hail storms killing your people and the Nile turning to blood are beautifully done and make game play a joy.

The new missions are more challenging then the older Pharoah missions which may be the only draw back to individuals that found some of the original missions hard to complete.

This expansion also includes the campaign editor that was released earlier this year via the web; new industries such as paint and lamp makers; new statues; new and more difficult enemies to fight; scorpions, loins and asps to deal with, and a number of new material to import/export and use to meet the goals of city building. A few new buildings are also included, my favorite being the Zoo which if kept supplied contains a number of animated animals for your citizens to enjoy.

Probably the nicest feature that old Pharoah players will enjoy in the ability to play any mission in any order you choose. For those that may have gotten stuck on a difficult mission, you'll now be able to skip over it and continue with the game.

This expansion will provide you with dozens of hours of added enjoyment to your original Pharoah game.


A new face of power   October 19, 2002
 18 out of 18 found this review helpful

Don't play Pharaoh by itself! Although I love the game dearly, it is 50 times better with the Cleopatra expansion pack... I don't know how I ever played the game all night without it!

A lot of expansion packs usually aren't worth 1/2 of the selling price but Cleopatra is worth it's weight in gold. It gives you the option of playing individual missions out of order, new monuments (like different sized tombs, the massive rock sculptures of Abu Simbel, and even the great light house of Alexandria), new industries (henna farms to make paint, oil importing to make lamps, zoos, and chariots) and new enemies like tomb robbers and the Roman infantry!!! There are also plagues that strike randomly like locusts which eat your entire harvest, the nile turns to blood, hailstorms and a swarm of frogs. That also means there are more cheat codes to afflict on your city (fun, fun, fun)! They've even added more beautificatoin choices... because you know you're tired of only 2 choices per statue size.

If you're thinking about getting Pharoah, it really is a great city building/ stragegy game. It's a lot like Zeus and the gods even have a hand in making or breaking your city. If you already have Pharoah (or will be getting it), you MUST also get the Cleopatra expansion. You'll be thankful you did.


A Marvel!   July 21, 2002
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I have been hooked to many computure games, but none like the City Building series. Pharaoh was a game of excellence, the graphics are amazing! I plan on majoring in architecual design and this game along with others like it constantly fill my brain with ideas. The Cleopatra expansion is one of the most complete expansions I have played yet. If you are going to get a game I would reccomend either Zues and the expansion pack Posiedon or Pharaoh and its expansion Cleopatra. I would not however waste your money on any of the Ceaser series. I complement the producers and creators for their magnificent job at gaming.


Good expansion pack   April 1, 2002
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Cleopatra makes an excellent add-on to Pharaoh. The added depth it gives the game is nice. Now you can add a zoo to your city in some scenarios, which can be required to give your city the culture rating it needs. There's a henna farm, which can be turned into paint that you use in the monuments. You can build new monuments, and face new challenges.

I haven't made it through the entire expansion pack, but the additions it has made to the game so far have been nice. If you're not a fan of added complexity, I wouldn't recommend getting this.


About Cleopatra   December 23, 2001
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Of all the games I've played, Cleopatra is by far the best. I like how it combines military strategy, city building, and actual historic events into one game. I've been glued to it for weeks now and I see no signs of letting up. I'm always on a quest to build the perfect city.