Populous: The Beginning

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Summary

Populous: The Beginning is a strategy and god-sim video game, marking the third installment in the Populous series, developed by Bullfrog Productions in 1998. The PC edition launched on November 30, 1998, while a PlayStation version followed on April 2, 1999. In contrast to previous games in the series, where players acted as a god guiding devoted followers, The Beginning introduced a bold new direction by casting the player as a shaman who personally commands her tribe in battle. Over the course of twenty-five campaign missions, players lead their people through a vast solar system, conquering rival tribes and discovering new magical resources, with the ultimate aim of the shaman achieving divine status. Populous: The Beginning was the first in the series to feature genuine 3D computer graphics. Bullfrog delayed development for four years after Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods to allow technology to evolve enough to realize their vision for a fresh and distinct entry. The developers aimed to enhance the series by introducing terrain deformation and manipulation, along with intelligent villagers who automatically perform tasks, adding a new layer of gameplay. The game was originally titled Populous: The Third Coming before being renamed before the beta release. The gameplay of Populous: The Beginning diverged significantly from its predecessors and earned a range of reactions. Critics praised the impressive visuals but criticized the AI and the game’s uncertain identity, caught between real-time strategy and god-sim elements. GamePro's Peter Olafson noted that while Populous: The Beginning was not a poor game—indeed, a solid one—it was a different experience, lacking the defining essence that made the original Populous stand out.

Storyline

Populous: The Beginning is set prior to the first two games in the series. The player takes control of the Blue tribe, facing off against three rival tribes that dominate the majority of the solar system. As a Shaman, the player's goal is to ascend to godhood, which can only be achieved by defeating all enemies in the system. The journey begins on the planet farthest from the sun, with the player advancing through each planet in order. During the campaign, the Shaman can acquire new abilities and magic to overcome enemies who are often far stronger. Success can be achieved by either defeating the opposition or, in some cases, completing special objectives. The player loses if the Shaman is killed with no followers remaining, if the Shaman dies without a circle of reincarnation, or if time runs out on timed levels. After repelling the other tribes, the Shaman attains divine status and leads the people in a final battle against the Matak, Chumara, and Dakini.

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