This isn't a typical time management game, since it gives the player an unrestricted, un-allocated play area and lets you build whatever you want wherever it'll fit. It does time each level, but it's not that hard to hit the levels' requirements within the timeframe--and of course you can always try again if you need to. The storyline is about a brilliant female architect in the days of Versailles who is impersonating a boy. Obviously hilarity ensues, but along the way she designs some fabulous palaces for various wealthy nobles. It's very cute and carries the action along very nicely. She's also secretly designing her own dream home/palace. Each level sets various goals--build 3 fountains, demolish thus-and-so-many buildings, etc. You hire workers and set them to tasks, buy materials for them, and get paydays every day (automatic pay, too, not the irritating run-and-get-it pay). It's not that new in that sense. But the classical music is gorgeous and lush, and the graphics are pretty cute and colorful, and the free building aspect is addicting. There are no real mini-games except for a falling fruit game midway through that pushes your workers faster according to how much fruit you manage to catch from a tree. And though it's not super-hard to hit a goal, each level usually sets "stretch goals" that *are* actually not easy to hit that get you a "Royal Seal of Approval" that is what actually improves Gabrielle's dream palace. There really aren't any time management games out there that look or act like this game. It's fun, the story is adorable, the characters are compelling, and the gameplay is unique, well-balanced, and engaging. If there are any criticisms of this game from me, it's just that the buildings aren't too differentiated and I'd really have liked roadbuilding and other SimCity-type stuff. But for a casual game, this one is stupendous in my opinion. It's also well worth the money in my opinion, since it has about 30 levels and replay value. Definitely reco

I don't know why people critize this game so much. i just played it and i find that it is pretty amazing. Graphics might not be the best but they are good. I love that the creators paid atttention to detail and show you how the buildings evolve. I also like that there are different phases of construction. Also they motivate you to do your best because if you do they expand your castle. Overall its innovative and fun. Its not a typical time managament building game because you can build wherever and whatever as long as you meet the goals and the time.

Fun and just enough challenge to keep me busy, but allows me to get creative.

I think this game aimed for gameplay in the style of Be Rich or Build-a-Lot, but failed miserably in every respects. The graphics look very dated, with drab colors and very low resolution. The in-game maps are small and you can't zoom in or out. The interface is rather ugly too, and I found it cumbersome (more so than other games in the same genre). For instance, to build anything, you have to click the "Build" button, which opens a window that hides the entire gameplay area, and from there you have to click a tab to view item categories, and only then select which item you want to build. On top of that, there aren't a lot of different items to choose from at all. There is no sandbox or any other game mode available. The game is timed and does not offer any untimed mode -- if you can't finish a level in time, you'll just have to start it over and over... and since it wasn't very interesting in the first place... woohoo. From what I see on the main level map, there's only 35 levels total, and no replay value at all. I couldn't bring myself to give it more than 1 star, as it had no redeeming value in my opinion.