As you know, we took some references from classic strategy games, such as Caesar, Age of Empires or Civilization in the designing stage of Citadelum. We played those classic games and tried to learn why we love them so much, as we still play some classics from time to time. One of the things we really love about those legendary games is the isometric camera, a very ingenious way of making 2D games look 3D.
An isometric camera tries to create the effect of a Z-axis with flat graphics. The way it is achieved is to deform the image, so that it has the same perception as a landscape with perspective. Elements that would be squares become rhomboids, and circular elements become ellipses. Thus the human eye perceives it as if it were looking at it diagonally. Surely if you are a veteran of games like the first Caesar or Zeus you know what we mean.
A modern isometric camera.
In modern strategy games, already made in 3D, it is not necessary to simulate the volume of buildings and structures, so we have opted for a free camera, which the player can change height, orientation and zoom at any time. It is undoubtedly much more functional and spectacular, but the modern camera can also cause events to occur in our settlement without us realizing that they are out of plane.
For that reason, as a tribute to our favorite games, we have decided to introduce the isometric camera in the game. To activate this camera it is necessary to configure it from the options menu (it is listed as classic camera) and it can be modified or deactivated at any time.
To replicate the effect of an isometric perspective, Citadelum places the player’s camera at the same angle, with the same height and level of closeness that older games tried to imitate. However, we have an advantage. We are not limited to a 4-axis view, but – having all objects built in 3D – we can rotate the image freely and allow the player to modify it to his liking.
In the case of Citadelum, incorporating this camera is an additional challenge, since one of the essential features of the game is the ability to zoom from inside the buildings to the entire camp, to the territory on the world map and even to the pantheon in the heights, without interruptions. However, our team has achieved it, thanks to the feedback received from the community.
Of course, the isometric camera will not be the only nod to other classic games that can be found. Both the design of some buildings and the way some dialogues are displayed include references to our favorite strategy games.
