"Take 150 grams of business acumen, 1/3 litre of culinary creativity, a pinch of malicious pleasure and good connections to the underworld and you could be the next Pizza Godfather in Software 2000's Pizza Connection 2."
Budding restauranteurs attempt to obtain global culinary domination with PIZZA CONNECTION 2 from Software 2000, to be released Feb 2001through Virgin Interactive on PC CD-ROM.
Like its critically-acclaimed predecessor, Pizza Connection 2 puts you in control of building your own pizza empire. Your choice of staff or the way you put your menu together could make the difference between success and bankruptcy. The toppings and furnishing styles that you devise must then prove themselves in the market. You cannot afford to handle your rivals with kid gloves, either. Aggressive advertising serves as a legitimate attack on your rivals in the same way as your excellent choice of location, pricing, and quality management. You can also walk the shady paths of a dubious career- and even set up your own criminal organisation. But, take care, because the good citizens will defend themselves from criminals by shopping them to the cops!
The intuitive surface, the two-click menu system and the comprehensive manual set-up make for a user-friendly navigational interface, which makes PIZZA CONNECTION 2 much, much more than just a successor too. The graphics are beautifully realistic and atmospheric (as opposed to the colourful comic-style of its predecessor Pizza Syndicate) giving the game the look and feel of an exciting and authentic business simulation. And remember, in the fight for the Pizza empire, the Mafia are never too far away.
The competition - in the form of up to seven computer opponents - must be beaten. The restaurant needs to be nicely decorated; pizzas are backed; gourmet chefs compete in contests; clever advertising actions are planned; the direct line to the police and the authorities must be kept well greased; competitors branches are angered by targeted attacks with cockroaches, rats and trouble-making punks.
Observe the bustling activity in the streets to find inspiration as to the most suitable spot for the opening of a branch. In PIZZA CONNECTION 2, players can build on almost any plot of land in town. This simply means whoever lived there before will have to move. During the course of the game, old buildings will often be pulled down and replaced by new ones. This does not only alter the town's appearance, but also the comings and goings of immigrants and emigrants. In order to stay in business, gastronomes must keep an eye on the characteristics of their customers. Of course, the mayor's "earned" approval is not exactly unimportant in this context.
Cities are subject to constant change and continuously present the pizza empire with new challenges. A dynamic mission system and ten global campaigns ensure additional gaming excitement where, in principal, everything goes - providing you don't get caught that is!
The more fluent animations in the pizza branches were achieved by enabling all the characters to move in eight directions. An underground network makes the people of the town be on time when they start work without any queues. And when night falls, the cities are shining with the street lanterns and illuminated facades in PIZZA CONNECTION 2.
Campaigns have changed totally. Three main targets must be completed in order to conquer a town and reach the next one. First of all, players are given the opportunity to accept or decline missions. The mission's type depends on the method of playing and on previous successes: the stronger a player character is, the more demanding and lucrative the missions become. However, once a mission has been accepted, its aims should be achieved, because failed assignments will be punished.
Pizza baker or pizza godfather? In the beginning, players define their characters with six different characteristics that will influence the rest of the game. The pizza bosses' experience and strength will develop according to their characteristics. In each branch up to 20 employees look after the welfare of the guests, whilst delivery boys take care of the delivery service.
Mafia wheelings and dealings are an unavoidable part of the simulation.
Whatever angers the competition revives the business. This means that half-legal or even criminal activities are part of a company's economic success. Shrewd pizza godfathers bribe, steal or even kidnap the competition's employees. Couriers are hired to sneak rats, cockroaches, woodworms or even stink and highly explosive bombs into the opponent's branches.
From headquarters level four onwards, heavy boys become active. First of all, thugs will be hired to devastate entire facilities. Later there will be real gangsters having shoot-outs with guards or even taking on the local police. These crooks can receive further training to increase their fighting strength. It is absolutely vital in PIZZA CONNECTION 2 to know the exact whereabouts of the nearest police station. Police squads become involved in any small robbery. The further the police station is from your target, the less chance the cops have of catching the miscreants. A highly developed headquarters will at last enable players to destructively attack an opponent's HQ. First let your gangsters clean up the building. Then have a courier smuggle a bomb in - in a matter of moments, the enemy HQ will be history!
PIZZA CONNECTION 2 combines all the best from various genres including RPG, strategy, colonisation and management simulation. The game's unique gameplay makes it both entertaining and demanding.