Comparing the Original and Cities: Skylines 2's Modular Buildings: Is There a True Contender?

Article Key Points

Cities: Skylines 2 introduces a new modular building system that upgrades city services, but it feels limited compared to the original game's version.

Cities: Skylines 2 falls short in comparison to its predecessor due to the lack of DLC packs and beloved features such as the park area tool. Moreover, the flawed inclusion of a new modular building system hampers the freedom and creativity that the original game's park area tool offered.

Cities: Skylines 2's core gameplay loop remains unchanged from its predecessor, but Colossal Order has introduced several new elements that elevate the city simulation experience. The traffic AI has been revamped, providing citizens with greater depth, and a brand-new modular building system reminiscent of SimCity 2013 has been implemented. While this system enhances the functionality of city services, it feels somewhat limited compared to the original game's version.

Over the years, Cities: Skylines received numerous exciting DLC packs that expanded the game with new services, mechanics, and a diverse range of objects to enjoy. However, Cities: Skylines 2 seems to have removed much of this content. Although there is a possibility that it may return as post-launch DLC, its absence leaves the game feeling somewhat underwhelming compared to its predecessor. Particularly, the new modular building system falls short of the creative possibilities offered by the original game.

Cities: Skylines 2's Buildings Feel Like They Are Missing Something

Cities: Skylines' Park Area Tool Was a Game-Changer

Cities: Skylines initially had limited interactivity with its services. Players could place police stations, airports, schools, and power plants, but had no further control over them. However, this changed when the Parklife DLC introduced the park area tool, which allowed players to create parks freely and according to their preferences. The tool received a positive response from players and became an integral part of post-launch content.

Due to its popularity, the park area tool expanded beyond parks to include universities, airports, and industries. While essential city services like police and firefighters still lacked significant interaction, players gained immense control over their city. They were no longer restricted to the base game's colleges or airports, but instead had the freedom to build whatever they desired, elevating Cities: Skylines' freeform nature to new heights.

Even though some fans might have expected an expansion of the tool with Cities: Skylines 2, Colossal Order has chosen not to pursue it. Currently, the park area tool is absent and there is no information on whether or when it will be reintroduced. Consequently, players are now restricted again to the base game's version, unable to freely construct their ideal parks or universities.

Cities: Skylines 2's Modular Buildings Are a Flawed Addition

Fortunately, Cities: Skylines 2 has significantly enhanced its base game services with the introduction of the new modular building system. This allows players to expand and improve various buildings just like they could in SimCity 2013. They now have the ability to expand hospitals, increase fuel storage for power plants, create large parks for universities, and even upgrade garbage collection with additional trucks. These additions make city services more engaging, although the inclusion of the park area tool would have made them even better.

The new modular building system in Cities: Skylines 2 is a valuable addition to the game. However, it seems to have come at the expense of the freeform park area tool from the original version. City builder enthusiasts greatly appreciate the freedom these games provide, and removing one of the best tools from the original game appears to contradict that principle. If Colossal Order is willing to invest time in both features, there is the possibility for them to coexist, so hopefully the park area tool will make a comeback in the future.

Introducing Cities: Skylines 2

Building upon the success of its predecessor released in 2015, Cities: Skylines 2, developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive, takes the realism of city-building simulations to new heights. This highly immersive game offers players a robust economic system and a dynamic world that constantly evolves, reflecting the choices and imaginative prowess of the player.

Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SReleased October 24, 2023Developer(s) Colossal OrderPublisher(s) Paradox InteractiveGenre(s) City Builder

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the new modular building system in Cities: Skylines 2. On the one hand, I appreciate the added functionality it brings to city services. The ability to expand and improve buildings like hospitals, power plants, and universities gives players more control over their cities and allows for more realistic and efficient city planning. On the other hand, I am disappointed by the removal of the park area tool from the original game. This tool was incredibly popular with players and allowed for a great deal of creativity and freedom in designing parks and other areas of the city.

Overall, I think the new modular building system is a positive addition to the game, but I hope that Colossal Order will consider bringing back the park area tool in a future update or DLC. This would give players the best of both worlds and allow them to enjoy the benefits of both systems.