Populous (video game)

Populous
European cover art by David John Rowe[2]
Developer(s)
Bullfrog Productions
    • Infinity (PC-98, X68000, SNES)
    • Alfa System (PC Engine)
    • Code To Go (Master System)
    • Enigma Variations (Game Boy)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)
Composer(s)
SeriesPopulous
Platform(s)
ReleaseMarch 1989 (Amiga)[1]
April 1989 (Atari ST)[1]
Genre(s)God game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Populous is a video game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts, released originally for the Amiga in 1989, and is regarded by many as the first god game.[3][4][5][6] With over four million copies sold, Populous is one of the best-selling PC games of all time.

The player assumes the role of a deity, who must lead followers through direction, manipulation, and divine intervention, with the goal of eliminating the followers led by the opposite deity. Played from an isometric perspective, the game consists of more than 500 levels, with each level being a piece of land which contains the player's followers and the enemy's followers. The player is tasked with defeating the enemy followers and increasing their own followers' population using a series of divine powers before moving on to the next level. The game was designed by Peter Molyneux, and Bullfrog developed a gameplay prototype via a board game they invented using Lego.[7]

The game received critical acclaim upon release, with critics praising the game's graphics, design, sounds and replay value. It was nominated for multiple year-end accolades, including Game of the Year from several gaming publications. Retrospectively, it has been considered one of the greatest video games of all time. The game was ported to many other computer systems and was later supported with multiple expansion packs. It is the first game in the Populous series, preceding Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods and Populous: The Beginning.

  1. ^ a b "The World of Computers". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. 13 January 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 21 March 2024. Electronic Arts announced the release of "Populous" from its UK artist group Bullfrog...The game will be released in Amiga format in March and for the ST in April.
  2. ^ Bigwood, Matt (26 March 2023). "Retro museum to host talk by pioneering 80s TV show artist". Stroud Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ Edge Staff (1 November 2007). "50 greatest game design innovations". Edge. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "IGN Hall of Fame: Populous". IGN. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  5. ^ Ernest Adams (2008). "What's Next for God Games". Designer's Notebook. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  6. ^ "75 Power Players". Next Generation. No. 11. November 1995. p. 51. ISSN 1078-9693. Its first title, Populous, created a whole new genre, the 'God' game.
  7. ^ Candy, Robin (September 1989). "Bullfrog: Ribbeting Stuff". The Games Machine. No. 22. pp. 75–76. ISSN 0954-8092.