Economic strategy with a twist. When top-tier pizza wasn’t enough, Pizza Connection 2 let us use force

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The craze for economic strategy games has waned, but it hasn’t entirely disappeared from the market. In fact, there’s still a significant demand for such games, as evidenced by the continuous release of new titles each year. Whether they’re hits or misses, these games continue to provide enjoyment for their dedicated fanbase.

Today, we’re diving into the realm of Retro Gaming! Instead of dwelling on the current era, let’s take a trip back to the year 2001. Our spotlight today is none other than Pizza Connection 2, which goes by a few names like Pizza Tycoon 2 and Fast Food Tycoon 2. This game, developed by German studio Software 2000, carries an enchanting allure that modern games often fail to replicate. This was clearly demonstrated with the release of Pizza Connection 3 in 2018. Let’s dive back into this classic piece of gaming history!

Restaurant management

Upon revisiting Pizza Connection 2 after such a long time, I confidently assumed that no further guidance was necessary. After all, this game was familiar territory for me. Thus, I opted to play a free game without tutorials. However, it didn’t take long before I realized the game could be quite confusing. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, I embarked on a campaign, where in the initial mission, they helpfully pointed out key locations. Granted, it took a brief adjustment period to grasp the layout of icons, particularly the city hall.

Luckily, the majority of the user interface hasn’t shown much wear. First off, we’ll design our character and allocate its attributes. It’s up to us to decide if our avatar will excel as a businessman or a criminal. However, it’s important to note that you can’t make an overpowered character – enhancing one trait will always require compromising another. The total points must remain the same.

Pizza Connection 2, developer: Software 2000

In line with an economic strategy, the objective in Pizza Connection 2 is to grow our own pizza business. Essentially, we are establishing a restaurant empire from the ground up. This involves finding a suitable location, outfitting it, hiring staff, and selecting a menu. Naturally, it’s not an easy task.

As a game developer, I recognize that where we set our virtual restaurant significantly impacts its visitors. For instance, it might draw families during daytime or young adults in the evening. To cater to these diverse crowds, it’s essential we craft a menu that appeals to everyone’s taste buds. Fortunately, the dev team has given us an extensive pizza-making tool at our disposal, loaded with a variety of ingredients. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, we can adjust the level of customization, letting our culinary creativity run wild!

Beyond taking care of their skills and spirits, it’s vital that we invest in employee development by offering training programs and incentives like bonuses. Properly executed, this approach should lead to increased profits and eventual prosperity. However, let’s be mindful that even in our business strategy, there might be some less-than-transparent aspects at play – a common theme found in games within this series.

Stereotypes everywhere

The unique allure of strategies from the turn of the century includes a quirky sense of humor that can be blunt or even offensive at times. For instance, in the game Airline Tycoon, you could employ a character resembling a Middle Eastern terrorist to deliberately oversalt the food on rival airplanes, though he was actually stationed in the back of an aviation fuel warehouse.

Pizza Connection 2, just like other games in the series, isn’t immune to stereotypes, although it’s less pronounced than its predecessor, Pizza Syndicate. The logo is as blatant as a punch right to the face. In the main game, we find symbols of conflict such as a knife, a firearm, and even a grenade. This suggests that creating chaos for others will likely be a significant aspect of the game, and it may not just involve petty vandalism.

Pizza Connection 2, developer: Software 2000

In many pizza restaurants, you might find unofficial allies behind the scenes who could potentially be used to outmaneuver rivals. However, it’s important to note that we always prioritize fun and camaraderie – think of a friendly firefight in the eatery or an unexpected encounter with law enforcement. Running an Italian restaurant can sometimes feel like living the gangster lifestyle, but remember, it’s all about the thrill and excitement of the business.

Slow pace

Following my return to Pizza Connection 2, I don’t consider the visual design or the less-than-intuitive interface as significant issues. Instead, in my view, the main drama lies in the slow pace of the game. The time moves at a glacial speed, and there seems to be no option to expedite it. Once we complete our objectives, all that’s left is to observe events unfold gradually. As an alternative, you could always start a new game to pass the time.

It can be quite challenging when we’re initially setting up our pizza empire, as at the beginning, we’re in charge of an entire restaurant but don’t have much work. However, once our business expands and we need to oversee multiple facilities, the pace really picks up. But to reach that point is the first step.

Pizza Connection 2, developer: Software 2000

How to play Pizza Connection 2 today?

You can easily buy the game “Pizza Connection 2” from either Steam or GOG.com without encountering significant issues. The standard price for the complete game is $5.99, but it’s currently on sale at a reduced cost of around $0.59 in both stores.

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2025-04-19 21:32