I have just finished my second preview phase for *Anno 117: Pax Romana*, and surprisingly, I’m still not a master. I’m discovering that the *Anno* franchise has a way of humbling those who consider themselves connoisseurs of strategy or city-building games. With the game’s November launch approaching, I’ve invested another 10-15 hours into *Anno 117: Pax Romana*, and while I still wouldn’t call myself proficient, I’m eager to devote a hundred more hours.

To start, I played this game on both my [ROG Xbox Ally X](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/hardware/rog-xbox-ally-x-handheld/) in docked mode and my PC equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce 4080 GPU. I’m continually amazed by the breathtaking visuals of *Anno 117: Pax Romana*. Even though the [Xbox Ally X](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/hardware/rog-xbox-ally-handheld/) lacks some power, the game remains visually striking, but switching to PC for sandbox mode had me frequently zooming in to observe my little citizens at work. It doesn’t operate as smoothly on the handheld, yet it was more than adequate. If you have the chance to run *Anno 117: Pax Romana* at 4K, I highly suggest you do so.

I covered some fundamentals in my initial [preview of *Anno 117: Pax Romana*](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/previews/anno-117-pax-romana-hands-on/), so I recommend checking that out for more insights. You’ll find information about resource management, fulfilling your populace’s needs, and many of my early errors. In this preview session, I managed to engage more with the campaign and also enjoyed some time in sandbox mode, which has been incredibly enjoyable.

### “I am still in awe of how truly stunning Anno 117: Pax Romana is.”

Within the campaign, you are tasked with world-building while following a narrative, of course. You can choose to assume the role of Marcia Tertia, Decimus’s daughter, a reserved girl meant for marriage, or Marcus Naukratius, Decimus’s son, who finds himself working due to his rebellious nature. I chose to follow Marcia’s path, championing girl power!

Honestly, I was somewhat taken aback as I navigated the storyline in *Anno 117: Pax Romana.* I had anticipated some political elements, but there are sections that delve into pure soap opera theatrics! I won’t give away specific plot points, but it felt a bit exaggerated, and I’m not even far into the narrative yet. There’s a lot of intrigue surrounding Marcia’s storyline, and I am keen to uncover more.

However, it feels like the story is only partially integrated into the gameplay in *Anno 117: Pax Romana*. In Marcia’s case, there’s a quest that resembles someone repeatedly asking, “how about now?” Once you experience it, you’ll get what I mean. This occurs very early in the narrative, so hopefully, the quests will have greater significance as I progress. Only time will reveal that, and *Anno 117: Pax Romana* is sure to consume plenty of mine.

Sandbox mode is where I found myself wanting to invest the majority of my time in *Anno 117: Pax Romana*—and that’s not typical of me. Even without a defined story, the game still adheres to a clear progression path. You must collect wood to construct houses, which allows you to attract the initial group of villagers: the Liberti. After this, you need to satisfy their requirements to cultivate a thriving town, transitioning systematically from the lowest tier of villagers upward.

Houses upgrade to draw in new types of residents, the Plebeians. These individuals bring new needs, and the cycle continues. I had thought that playing through the campaign would offer the best learning experience, but in my case, sandbox mode accelerated my skills much quicker than the campaign in *Anno 117: Pax Romana.* In the same time frame spent on the campaign, I acquired about half the knowledge I gained in sandbox mode.

So, what did I gain from this? I suspect I’ve merely skimmed the surface. While I had a taste during my initial session with *Anno 117: Pax Romana,* this time I truly immersed myself in the game. During this period, I successfully established a town with hundreds of inhabitants and operations, built ships, explored new islands, initiated new settlements on those islands, and then mysteriously lost everyone on my first island because I forgot to pause. Lesson learned. We still have not

**Ambrosia Sky: An In-Depth Look at the Anticipated Sci-Fi Game**

Ambrosia Sky, an exceptional title presented at the Summer Game Fest 2025, has intrigued gamers with its captivating mixture of disaster recovery and survivor’s remorse. Created by Soft Rains, a Toronto-based Canadian studio, in partnership with BC’s Blackbird Interactive, the game pledges a gripping storyline along with a visually remarkable art aesthetic. With the recent unveiling of its narrative trailer, players are keen to connect the dots of this fascinating game.

**Release and Format**

Ambrosia Sky is scheduled for a launch in a three-part episodic format, with Act 1 debuting on November 10, 2025. This arrangement enables players to immerse themselves in the narrative gradually, engaging with the developing story and changing gameplay mechanics.

**Concept and Influences**

The idea behind Ambrosia Sky sprouted from the team’s fascination with job simulations and narrative richness. The preliminary concept centered around a cleaning mechanism, highlighting the eradication of hostile fungi. Influenced by sci-fi elements and contemporary issues such as food shortages and extraterrestrial agriculture, the team fashioned a distinctive backdrop incorporating outer space and fungal proliferation.

**Narrative and Mechanics**

The storyline centers on Dalia, the main character, who returns home to restore order following a catastrophic fungal disaster. The plot delves into the experiences of those impacted by the calamity and Dalia’s individual path of healing and survivor’s remorse. Players will navigate the story through voice-acted dialogues and discovered narratives, revealing the background and characters of the environment.

**Artistic Design and Spiritual Themes**

Ambrosia Sky showcases a comic book-inspired artistic approach, drawing influences from artists such as Matias Bergara and Killian Eng. This artistic decision harmonizes with the game’s universe, populated by lifeless space entities and sentient fungi. The game also weaves in aspects of spirituality and folklore, delving into themes of significance and humanity’s role in the universe.

**Gameplay Features**

Dalia’s primary instrument is a customized cleaning apparatus, employed to disperse cleaning solutions and confront assorted challenges. Players can enhance this device, boosting its functionality and creating unique upgrades from gathered fungal varieties. The game’s genre has playfully been termed a “Metroid Grime,” combining exploration, problem-solving, and storytelling.

**Player Engagement**

The creators aspire for players to encounter moments of reflection and affinity with the game’s universe. Through the surroundings, soundscapes, or storyline, Ambrosia Sky strives to deliver an extraordinary and engaging experience.

**Final Thoughts**

As the release approaches, Ambrosia Sky is set to provide a substantial and immersive gaming adventure. Players can anticipate discovering its complex world and solving the enigmas within its narrative. Act 1 of Ambrosia Sky will be accessible on November 10, 2025, and the game is presently showcased in Steam Next Fest until October 20, 2025.

Final Fantasy has established a legacy of exceptional performances throughout the years, from the dramatic Flair reminiscent of Game of Thrones in Final Fantasy XVI to the darkly humorous style of Stranger of Paradise. However, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles offers a truly distinctive chance – an opportunity for Square Enix to further polish one of the most cherished RPGs ever. Undertaking such a monumental task alone is challenging, but for an actor stepping into the roles of 28-year-old characters, now fully voiced for the first time, it presents its own set of difficulties.

“I can’t say it’s difficult, but knowing that Delita was such a cherished character, and with the franchise’s vast popularity, I felt a real duty to honor him,” shares Gregg Lowe, the voice actor portraying Delita Heiral. “Another challenge lies in his moral ambiguity. He’s a very intricate character, unlike any I’ve portrayed before. I’ve played several villains, some quite straightforward – but Delita isn’t.”

Lowe is among a talented group of actors brought on to give new vitality to Final Fantasy Tactics, taking on what is arguably the most significant character in the game. The British-Canadian actor has lent his voice to various games previously, including Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Lies of P. However, he states that Tactics was a vastly “new” experience for him, mainly due to its intricate and ambitious narrative.

“I consider this Delita’s tale, in some ways. He’s a tragic protagonist but might also be perceived as a villain.”

Interestingly, Lowe wasn’t particularly well-versed in Final Fantasy prior to landing the role and had never even heard of Tactics specifically – yet he quickly mentions that after this role, he would eagerly welcome the chance to collaborate on Final Fantasy projects again, partly due to the enthusiasm of everyone involved in the game and the encouraging fan community.

Given the game’s rich history, Lowe chose not to delve deeply into researching the original game and instead approached it from a brand-new angle – fully adopting the revised script.

The PSP edition of Final Fantasy Tactics, The War of the Lions, was widely recognized for its Shakespearean old-English style. Although capturing that “essence” wasn’t the main objective for the actors, it did subtly influence portions of this new version in The Ivalice Chronicles.

“There wasn’t a directive to make it Shakespearean, but I think the writing already has a specific rhythm to it,” notes Lowe, “The language is quite unique, similar to Game of Thrones; it evokes that atmosphere. The writing in this game is phenomenal, and the localization and translation processes were excellent. We didn’t turn it into Shakespeare, but it certainly resonates in the text itself.”

This comparison is simple to draw, as Final Fantasy Tactics expertly blends grand fantasy with tragedy, offering a narrative rich with ethos and meaning. Delita is particularly compelling due to the varying aspects of his life and personality that are revealed; at times, he acts as a supportive figure to the main character Ramza, while at others, he represents an antagonistic force.

“We aimed to avoid going overboard in making him sound overly youthful or significantly older, but we sought to inject some youthful enthusiasm into his voice,” explains Lowe. “The most notable transformation with Delita is that as he matures, he grows considerably more cynical and detached. I focused on minimizing excessive expression, allowing the weight of his emotions to come through in a cold and calculated manner. We intended to portray that through his voice, steering clear of being too theatrical with his delivery.”

“Delita reaches a breaking point in that moment, setting him on a trajectory that will define his story, life, and ultimately his downfall.”

Delita’s moral complexity has sparked discussions among fans regarding his role in the narrative for decades. While Lowe consciously avoids categorizing the character as simply a hero or villain, he perceives Delita as a richly nuanced “gift” of a character.

“He has this Machiavellian ascent to power, but in doing so, he loses everything around him. His thirst for vengeance blinds him as he strives to right the world in his mind. And there’s this voracious appetite for power. It serves as quite a lesson, doesn’t it? That yearning for power can ruin everything and everyone in its path,” asserts Lowe, “I believe this narrative encapsulates Delita’s journey in some sense. He’s a tragic protagonist but could likewise be viewed as a villain. And, like any compelling antagonist, he truly believes he’s acting for the greater good. That’s something we wanted to compellingly convey.”

Nailing the appropriate tone for Delita was a significant challenge, primarily due to his crucial role in the intricate puzzle of Final Fantasy Tactics’ storyline. Beyond Ramza, Delita is arguably