Before I go any further I think it bears mentioning - this isn't really a game for me. Or you, for that matter. Or just about anybody else, except for people with an interest in the Middle-Ages seaborne empire of Northern Europe known as the Hanseatic League. Anybody? No?

Strangely compelling; Unique setting; Well balanced

Somewhat straighforward; No real conflict; Weak combat subgame

In the Middle Ages, the worldly merchants of the Hanseatic League rejected both the drudgery of serfdom and the solitude of the cloister, instead embracing an enterprising life of supplying foreigners with cheap mead, dominating city politics, and, on occasion, hunting pirates.

Cool political intrigue; Mayoral privileges deepen gameplay; It's satisfying to get filthy rich off trade

Excessive grinding; Lackluster sea battles; Cruel; jealous lieges pillage your peaceful farms

Wealth is power and so ‘Conquest by Trade' was all too real during the height of the Hanseatic League, which is exactly where Patrician IV casts our trader empire dreams. From a humble beginning of a single cargo ship the vision is to expand out and practically ‘own' every major route of commerce...

You like trading simulators? You might like Patrician IV, if you haven't already heard about it already. Otherwise...well, let's just say the genre doesn't really bring a broad audience.

Multiple ways to gain to power; good economic gameplay; tutorial does a fairly good job

Interface issues; ship combat is mundane; no real challenge from competitors

It can be rough to come into a series mid-stride, especially when you are diving in to a game based around the complexities of being the head of a trading conglomerate in the old world.

More yawn than yarr, sadly. The figures may add up, but there's still a lot missing from this unexciting experience.

Patrician IV does a lot of things right, but ultimately it is the same game as its predecessor. The changes are a bit too subtle to speak of a real sequel. It is obvious that the developers were struggling with the transition to 3D.

that players can look at, and all of them feel strangely cramped, even when you're in the midst of a naval duel with pirates on the high seas. The level of detail on buildings in towns and ships out on the water is very nicely done.

A welcome sequel to a major series in a minor genre.

i bought this game for $7.50 on steam sale and have played it for 16 hrs. I did not play pat3 before this so cant really compare. I will say the first 10 hrs or so are fun. Mainly it revolves around buy low sail to another port and sell high.