Looks like the blue lads have seen off the red infidel. It's probably time for a spot of deconstruction of a hard-build village…

In Epritre a l’auteur du nouveau livre des trois imposteurs, Volitare comments that ‘If God didn’t exist, man would have to invent him.’ Wise words from a man otherwise blighted by an inability to think of a snappy title for his book. And how appropriate! Here comes a review of a God game!
James Price

Populous, eh? That rings a bell...
But of course. Released last year to critical acclaim on the PC, Populous: The Beginning is the third in Bullfrog’s venerable (and much lauded) series. The first two, when converted to consoles, were surprisingly well received by 16bit gamers of old. Particularly the Japanese – they loved it, by all accounts.

What's with ‘The Beginning’ if it’s the third game?
Well, there are two possibilities here. One is that the Bullfrog team wanted to make a statement after the departure of Populous creator Peter Molyneux. Keen to stifle rumours that it would be called Populous: The-Not-So-Good-Now-Molly’s-Gone 3 (videogame journalists can be cruel), they called it The Beginning. Obviously, this represented its pivotal, illuminating role in publicising the talents of a new, streamlined Bullfrog…

Are you talking through your arse?
Hmm, depends on which vile industry gossip hound you care to listen to. But it must be said, the third PC instalment didn’t get the rapturous reception its predecessors enjoyed. Enthusiastic, certainly. Rapturous, no. The other possible reason, of course, is that it’s based before the first Populous. You don’t play a God in Populous 3. They haven’t arrived on the scene yet. You’re a Shaman. Hence: THE BEGINNING. It’s not a bad suffix, is it?