Editing Populous (video game) (section)

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
 | Dragon = 5/5 (DOS)<ref name="Dragon150" />
 | CVG = 96% (Amiga)<ref name=cavg>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews: Populous| url = https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_090_1989-04_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n29 |last=Rignall|first=Julian |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=April 1989 |issue=90 |pages=30–32}}</ref>
 | Fam = 
7/10, 9/10, 9/10, 5/10 (SNES)<ref name="famitsuReview">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Famitsu|Famicom Tsūshin]]|issue=115|date=November 23, 1990|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]] | p=11 | language=Japanese | title=新作ゲームクロスレビュー|trans-title=New Game Cross-Review|author1=浜村通信|author2=スタパ斉藤|author3=渡辺美紀|author4=澁谷一}}</ref><br/>
31/40 (SNES)<ref name=famitsu>30 Point Plus: ポピュラス. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.358. Pg.32. 27 October 1995.</ref>
 | Raze = 89% (Mega Drive)<ref name=raze>{{cite magazine|title =Reviews: Populous|date = December 1990|url = https://archive.org/details/RAZE_Issue_02_1990-12_Newsfield_Publishing_GB/page/n69 |magazine = Raze|first = Julian|last = Boardman| issue = 2|page = 70|issn=0960-7706}}</ref>
 | Zero = 92% (Amiga)<ref name=zero>{{cite magazine|url = https://archive.org/details/Zero_Issue_27_1992-01_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n83 |title=The Price I$ Right: Populous |author=Eberneezer Bloggo|magazine=Zero |date=January 1992 |issue=27 |page=82}}</ref>
 | rev1 = ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''
 | rev1Score = 3/5 (DOS/Amiga)<ref name=CGW107 />
 | rev2 = ''[[Console XS]]''
 | rev2Score = 88% (Master System)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Software A-Z: Master System |magazine=[[Console XS]] |date=23 April 1992 |issue=1 (June/July 1992)  |location=United Kingdom |pages=137–47 |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/137}}</ref>
 | rev3 = ''[[Games International]]''
 | rev3Score = 2/5<ref name=gi />
 | rev4 = ''[[MegaTech]]''
 | rev4Score = 91% (Mega Drive)<ref name=mega>{{cite magazine|title =Game Index: Populous|date = May 1992|url =https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a3/MegaTech_UK_05.pdf |magazine = MegaTech| issue = 5|page = 78}}</ref>
 | rev5 = ''Your Amiga''
 | rev5Score = 93% (Amiga)<ref name=your>{{cite magazine|title=Review: Populous |last=Hamlett|first=Gordon |magazine=Your Amiga |date=July 1989 |pages=46–47|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_4991}}</ref>
 | rev6 = ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]''
 | rev6Score = 92% (Amiga)<ref name=st>{{cite magazine|title=Review: Populous|last=Higham|first=Mark |magazine=ST/Amiga Format |date=April 1989 |issue=10 |pages=72–73|url=https://archive.org/details/ST_Amiga_Format_Issue_10_1989-04_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n71/mode/2up}}</ref>
<!-- Awards -->
 | award1Pub = ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''
 | award1 = ''Strategy Game of the Year (1990)''<ref name=CGW74 />
 | award2Pub = ''[[Origins Award]]''
 | award2 = ''Best Military or Strategy Computer Game of 1990''<ref name="OriginAwards1990" />
 | award3Pub = ''[[Video Games & Computer Entertainment]]''
 | award3 = ''1990 Computer Game of the Year''
}}

''Populous'' was released in 1989 to almost universal critical acclaim. The game received a 5 out of 5 stars in 1989 in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #150 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column.<ref name="Dragon150"/> Biff Kritzen of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' gave the game a positive review, noting, "as heavy-handed as the premise sounds, it really is a rather light-hearted game." The simple design and layout were praised, as were the game's colourful graphics.<ref name=CGW62/> In a 1993 survey of pre 20th-century strategy games the magazine gave the game three stars out of five, calling it a "quasi-arcade game, but with sustained play value".<ref name=CGW107>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_107/page/n139/mode/2up |title=An Annotated Listing of Pre-20th Century Wargames |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |date=June 1993 |author=M. Evan Brooks|pages=141|issn=0744-6667|issue=107}}</ref> ''[[MegaTech]]'' magazine stated that the game has "super graphics and 500 levels. ''Populous'' is both highly original and amazingly addictive, with a constant challenge on offer". They gave the Mega Drive version of ''Populous'' an overall score of 91%.<ref name=mega />

In the September–October 1989 edition of ''[[Games International]]'' (Issue #9), John Harrington differed from other reviewers, only giving the game a rating of 2 out of 5, calling it "repetitive" and saying, "Although you take on the role of a god, somehow there is a lack of mystique about this game, and despite the cute graphics, the colourful worlds and the commendably elegant icon-driven game system, this game left me with a less than 'god like' feeling."<ref name=gi>{{cite magazine|last=Harrington|first=John| date=September–October 1989 |title=Computer Games|journal=[[Games International]]| issue=9|pages=48}}</ref>

''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' reviewed the Amiga version, giving it an overall score of 96%.<ref name=cavg /> Japanese gaming magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave the SNES version 31 out of 40.<ref name=famitsu /> ''[[Raze (magazine)|Raze]]'' gave the Mega Drive version of ''Populous'' an overall score of 89%.<ref name=raze /> ''[[Zero (video game magazine)|Zero]]'' gave the Amiga version of ''Populous'' an overall score of 92%.<ref name=zero /> ''Your Amiga'' gave the Amiga version of ''Populous'' an overall score of 93%.<ref name=your /> ''[[ST/Amiga Format]]'' gave the Amiga version of ''Populous'' an overall score of 92%.<ref name=st />

Maxwell Eden reviewed ''Populous World Editor'' for ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'', and stated that "Now all ''Populous'' fans wanting to be apprentice wizards can share in the magic of that gift. ''Populous'' is a great game and ''PWE'' is an ideal enhancement that breathes new life into weary bytes. Absolute power was never as incorruptible, nor this creative."<ref name="CGW96"/>

''[[Compute!]]'' named the game to its list of "nine great games for 1989", stating that with "great graphics, a simple-to-learn interface, and almost unlimited variety, ''Populous'' is a must buy for 1989".<ref name=compute110>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-07-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_110_1989_Jul#page/n25/mode/2up |title=Nine for '89 |magazine=[[Compute!]] |date=July 1989 |last=Gutman|first=Dan |page=25|issn=0194-357X}}</ref> Peter Molyneux estimated that the game accounted for nearly a third of all the revenue of [[Electronic Arts]] in that year.<ref name="PeterMolyneuxInterview">{{cite web|first=Peter |last=Molyneux |title=Game Developer's Conference - Classic Game Post-Mortem: Populous |year=2011 |website=GDC Vault|publisher=UBM Tech|url=http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1014633/Classic-Game-Postmortem |access-date=2013-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122003611/http://gdcvault.com/play/1014633/Classic-Game-Postmortem |archive-date=22 January 2013}}</ref>

[[Orson Scott Card]] in ''[[Compute!]]'' criticized the game's user interface, but praised the graphics and the ability to "create your own worlds ... you control the world of the game, instead of the other way around".<ref name=compute114>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-11-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_114_1989_Nov#page/n89/mode/2up |title=Deluged by Brilliant World-Creation Games: Entertainment Gameplay|magazine=[[Compute!]] |date=November 1989 |author=Orson Scott Card|page=88|issn=0194-357X|issue=114}}</ref> ''[[STart (magazine)|STart]]'' in 1990 gave "kudos especially to Peter Molyneux, the creative force behind ''Populous''". The magazine called the Atari ST version "a fascinating, fun and challenging game. It's unlike any other computer game I've ever seen, ever. Don't miss it, unless you are a dyed-in-the-wool arcade gamer who has no time for strategy".<ref name=STart>{{Cite magazine |last=Reese |first=Andrew |date=January 1990 |title=Strange New Worlds to Conquer |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n6/forthefunofit.html |magazine=STart |volume=4 |issue=6|issn=0889-6216}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' picked the game as the No. 16 greatest game available in 1991, saying: "Talk about big-time role-playing. Most video games posit you as a mere sword-wielding, perilously mortal human; in ''Populous'' you're a deity. Slow-paced, intricate, and difficult to learn: You literally have to create entire worlds while all the time battling those pesky forces of evil."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Strauss |first1=Bob |title=Video Games Guide |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/11/22/video-games-guide/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly  |date=November 22, 1991}}</ref>

The game was released in the same month that [[The Satanic Verses controversy|''The Satanic Verses'' controversy]] gained publicity in the United States following the publication of ''[[The Satanic Verses]]'' in the United States. Shortly after release, Bullfrog was contacted by the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' and was warned that the "good vs evil" nature of the game could lead to them receiving similar [[fatwā]], although this did not materialize.<ref name="PeterMolyneuxInterview"/>

By October 1997, global sales of ''Populous'' had surpassed 3 million units, a commercial performance that ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' described as "an enormous hit".<ref name="3m">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=EA Signs Molyneux |date=October 1997 |magazine=[[PC Gamer US]] |volume=4 |issue=10 |page=79}}</ref> By 2001, ''Populous'' had sold four million copies,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Frauenfelder |first1=Mark |title=Death Match |url=https://www.wired.com/2001/05/deathmatch-2/ |access-date=30 October 2021 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=May 2001 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/timelines/zt23gk7 |title=How British video games became a billion pound industry |first=Ian |last=Livingstone|website=BBC Teach |access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> making it one of the [[List of best-selling PC games|best-selling PC games of all time]].

===Awards===
In 1990 ''Computer Gaming World'' named ''Populous'' as Strategy Game of the Year.<ref name=CGW74>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_74/page/n73/mode/2up |title=CGW's Game of the Year Awards |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=September 1990|page=70|issue=74|issn=0744-6667}}</ref> In 1996, the magazine named it the 30th best game ever, with the editors calling it "the father of real-time strategy games".<ref name=CGW150>{{cite magazine|author=<!--Not stated--> |title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |date=November 1996 |issue=148 |page=68|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_148/page/n71/mode/2up|issn=0744-6667}}</ref> In 1991 it won the [[Origins Award]] for ''Best Military or Strategy Computer Game of 1990'',<ref name="OriginAwards1990">{{cite web|url=http://www.gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe1990s/The1990OriginsAwards/tabid/3234/Default.aspx |title=The 1990 Origins Awards |access-date=2013-02-22 |year=1990 |work=The Origin Awards |publisher=The Game Manufacturers Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203052904/http://www.gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe1990s/The1990OriginsAwards/tabid/3234/Default.aspx |archive-date=3 February 2013}}</ref> the ''1990 Computer Game of the Year'' in issue 25 of American video game magazine ''[[Video Games & Computer Entertainment]]'',{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1991 |title=VG&CE's Best Games of 1990 |url=https://archive.org/details/vgce_91-02/mode/2up |journal=VideoGames & Computer Entertainment |publisher=L.F.P. Inc. |issue=25 |page=89 |access-date=March 2, 2025 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and was voted the sixth best game of all time in ''[[Amiga Power]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title =This is Amiga Power: Amiga Power's All-time Top 100 Amiga Games |date =May 1991 |url =https://archive.org/details/Amiga_Power_Magazine_000/page/1/mode/2up |magazine =Amiga Power |page =5 |author1=Matt Bielby|author2=Stuart Campbell|author3=Mark Ramshaw|author4=Bob Wade|author5=Trenton Webb|author6=Gary Penn|author7=Andy Smith|author8=Maff Evens}} {{Dead link|date=December 2021}}</ref><!-- "Maff" Evens is intentional, and is credited as such, and does not appear to be a misspelling of "Matt" as he is credited as "Maff" several times. --> In 1992 ''[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]'' placed the game at No. 25 in their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title =Mega Top 100 Carts |date =October 1992 |url =https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d5/Mega_UK_01.pdf |magazine =Mega |issue =1 |page =79 }}</ref> In 1994, ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' named ''Populous'' as the third best computer game ever. The editors hailed it as "unbelievably addictive fun, and one of the most appealing and playable strategy games of all time."<ref name="pcgamerustop40">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Not stated--> |magazine=[[PC Gamer US]] |title=''PC Gamer'' Top 40: The Best Games of All Time |date=August 1994 |issue=3 |pages=32–42}}</ref>

In 1999, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' listed ''Populous'' as number 44 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that, "A perfect blend of realtime strategy, [[Resource management (gaming)|resource management]], and more than a little humor, it remains unsurpassed in the genre it created."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Fifty Best Games of All Time |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=50  |date=February 1999|page=74|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_50/page/n75/mode/2up|issn=1078-9693}}</ref> In 2018, [[Complex Networks|Complex]] placed the game 98th on their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Knight|first=Rich|date=April 30, 2018|title=The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Complex}}</ref> [[IGN]] ranked Populous 70th on its "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time."<ref>{{Citation |title=Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-snes-games |language=en |access-date=2022-06-29}}</ref>