Version - It's mainly irrelevent but I had the Amiga and ST versions
(although again many others were available!)
Released by - Electronic Arts
Written by - Bullfrog
Available from - Not legal to download freely
Main Coding - Peter Molyneux
Other versions - PC, Megadrive/Genesis, Master System/Game Gear, Gameboy and again god knows what else!!

Strategy games had, until the release of this, been a pretty aquired taste. There were some excellent ones but until Populous, nothing had been referred to as a 'God' game. The usual aspect of a 'God' game was that although you usually had your own 'side', you didn't command people. Instead the people would respond to your actions. The idea was to wipe out all traces of your opponent from the isometric viewed map.

You would normally start off with one person who would wander around aimlessly until he finds a good flat piece of land. At this point he would build a dwelling and breed. Dependant on the amount of good flat land around the dwelling, this building would improve and the reproduction rate increase. Once there is enough reproduction, a new fellow would emerge from the building to start a new dwelling usually nearby. This is the main basis of the game.

The role you play is of some sort of omnipotent being with control over the environment limited to the energy linked to the amount of offspring being produced. You begin with only with enough energy to raise and lower land but once a level indicator moves to a new icon, you could start earthquakes, lay quicksand in your opponent's area along with the creation of a death knight who would head off toward the enemy wreaking havoc amongst their towns and folk. Each action though requires some of your aquired energy so at the beginning you could spend a long time waiting after moving too much land. And your actions, with the exception of placing markers for the people to migrate to and the laying of natural disasters for the enemy, is limited to only if one of your people or their flag is visible. Expansion is the key along with the strategic placing of buildings (you can't place them directly but you can 'influence' your people.

This is one of those games that you'll suddenly get the urge to play for a couple of minutes. Then, all of a sudden, a few hours have passed. The mouse clicking gets quite hectic as you try to remove land from under the feet of your opponents people leading them to a watery, but satisfying, grave. A modem mode was available and take it from me, it's excellent fun and may obscenities are exchanged during the conquest. The graphics are perfectly adequate and despite occasional slowdown on busy screens, maintains a healthy screen update on ST and Amiga versions.

Two sequels have been written. Populous II came out on Amiga and PC. A new Populous has recently been released for the PC but I haven't had a chance to play it yet. However if you can, get hold of this. I'd be surprised if, once you've worked out the rules, you don't like it. But then again, exceptions prove rules!

Rob