A lot to learn from Settlers IV!

N.B.: I will probably update this post as and when I remember something that I have missed out.

I thought only Microsoft did this: release newer versions which left out awesome features that the previous versions had. I like UbiSoft primarily because I like Settlers IV(S4). I don't know how many here have played Settlers IV, but it had many really cool features that made it a more complete game that Castle Empire is (of course it wasn't an MMORPG - but apart from that it was more complete than CE).

The following are the features I am talking about:

Real Live Fights!
All the three races (Romans, Mayans and Vikings) from S4 had swordsmen and archers. They could be packed in tight formations and directed to battles, which IMO simulated real battles really well. For example while attacking an enemy platoon, you could support your swordsmen from archers in the behind. You could really see the arrows fly and hit the enemy - thus the range of the archers was more real in some sense - not just some behind the screen computation of numbers that the player couldn't understand. Of course you could have added company leaders or you could have improved the ranks of the swordsman.
CE on the other hand has no real troops. You can only see the general. One important deficit this causes is that you can't factor the use of terrain in battles. For example, a band of 5 archers guarding a narrow pass could easily prevent the onslaught of about 20 swordsman. I really really can't overstate how much I miss real battles.

Real Navy
The Navy in S4 facilitated deployment of - if I am allowed to exaggerate a bit - entire divisions of your military.

Working Regions
You could specify the working regions of some units - woodcutters could be asked to clear sections of forests. The trees left behind no stumps. You could use the cleared regions for constructing more buildings.

Cycle between buildings
You could jump between buildings using a simple button in the menu of the buildings. For those who haven't played S4: say you open up the menu of a farm, you could visit your next farm using a simple button, clicking that button you could complete a cycle and return to your original farm in no time. This feature is really useful. Say you want to stop the production of 3 toolmakers that you have spread throughout the map. You press the stop button in the menu of one toolmaker, press next, then again press stop, again press next and then the final stop. No running around the map trying to find where you placed your toolmakers.

Music!
S4 had an awesome music score. I still hum the music of S4 I heard about 10 years ago - and my friends can instantly recognize it - especially the battle music. Come on UbiSoft! I am not asking you to create new music! Sure you haven't sold off the rights to your music files. Just reuse the music of S4.

Tower Defense!
Strategic placements of your towers (here too the factor of terrain was of vital importance) could prove as force amplifiers. The archers placed on their top provided protection to the surrounding troops too. Thus fighting a war on enemy turf was difficult (the enemy had its own towers complicating offensive missions) and defending your home turf was much easier.

Sensible Numbers
Numbers made more sense in S4. (1 Sword + 1 Settler) - > (1 Swordsman). Ta da! Why does a swordsman need 10 swords? I will concede while training in the Barracks he breaks a few. Then on missions he carries one as a backup. But 10? Really?!

Some cons of S4
Castle Empire does have a few improvements. They are really minor. The geologist for example never forgets where he found the ores in CE. In S4 the regions marked by the geologist faded after some time. (I will update this list too).

(Well the above list is incomplete - I am writing it from the top of my head. I will keep on updating it as and when I remember. I completed S4 about 7-8 years ago.)

I logged on to Castle Empire hoping to see an improved strategy game. I find it sorely lacking in some of the most awesomest features the awesomest strategy game (IMO Settlers IV) had.

Regards,

-sgsawant