Summary
A new addition toCities: Skylines 2gameplay isSignature Buildings, unique zone buildings that provide buffs to their surrounding areas depending on the nature of their construction and placement. In a bid to better “personalize” the city-sim,Cities: Skylines 2players can use Signature Buildings to help add a dash of style to a growing city, especially since more Signature Buildings are unlocked based on a city’s overall progress pertaining to Milestones, citizen Happiness levels, or Zoned areas.
However, with the game offering different Signature Buildings scattered across Residential, Commercial, and Industrial types, players might have a hard time choosing just which are must-haves for their city.
12x10
800
Effects
When it’s time forCities: Skylines 2residents to ditchpublic transportation optionsin favor of the long road trip, it’s not surprising for them to reach the outskirts of busy city centers and venture into the countryside. Players who already created their city’s suburbs can further complete the experience with theOne Stop Station, a fairly large gas station that acts as a motorist hub akin to stop-overs in between road trips.
Its fairly large size and 4,000 Noise Pollution means the One Stop Station is likely to be optimized in sparsely populated areas or within the vicinity of other structures that don’t necessarily need to be accessible to civilians at the onset. Beyond the traditional suburb placement, the One Stop Station can be located near a busy road to redirect traffic.
8x10
1000
One can usually judge the attractiveness of the business district of any city, or in this case,aCities: Skylinesmap, based on its selection of high-rises. TheWaterfall ArrayinCities: Skylines 2doesn’t immediately scream “Software Giant HQ,” especially with its chosen architectural style that vaguely resembles postmodernism. The structure opting for a slimmer frame with an abundance of cylinders and a light brown color can add a retro flair to a Commercial District, doing away with minimalist styles.
Stats-wise, the Waterfall Array is only unlocked at 6,000 Cells and a Server Farm while still providing 1,000 XP. Not only that, but its manageable 1,000 Noise Pollution is perhaps the lowest among the available high-rises among Signature Buildings.
16x20
On top of Pollution generated by Industrial Zone buildings inCities: Skylines 2, their sheer size forces playersto optimize their transportationwhenever working with these locations, regardless of their chosen map. Not only that, but the rather rugged appearances make them unsightly when placed alongside Commercial and Residential Zones, making their isolation preferable both stats-wise and aesthetics-wise. However, thePharmaSignature Building defies this trend, as its clean white-and-blue design lacks the notorious smoke associated with Industrial Buildings, making it quite a sight to behold, even when placed in the proximity of other Zones.
This design choice also extends to its effects. Pharma is one of only three Signature Industrial Buildings to offer buffs to University Education and University Graduation, with the others being Switchon and Oil Refinery. However, Pharma by far boasts the lowest Pollution generation and overall size among the three, making it a space saver.
5x10
750
It’s not surprising for densely-populated cities to have buildings that combine lower-level commercial areas with higher-level residential spaces, especially in a bid tofight traffic via public transport. TheFigura BuildingofCities: Skylines 2offers a multi-floored gallery below luxury residences befitting higher-class locales. At 4,000 Cells and an immediate +8 Well Being to a 1.25-kilometer radius with a manageable 1500 Noise Pollution, the Figura Building can become a decent addition to most areas without being an obstruction.
Its immediate impression of being a luxury area makes it fit just before busy Commercial Zones or at the edge of Residential Zones. The lower-level gallery space incentivizes more tactical positioning of the Signature Building, allowing it to occupy more design-themed recreational spaces without necessarily having to be within busy areas.
10x7
500
Crime remains an important element to manage inCities: Skylines 2, requiring the proper placement of Police Stations and similar services near densely-populated areas to curb the rise of unsavory members of the populace. However, thePrincipiiscan become an attractive way for players to get wild with their imagination, leaving thetraditional confines of crime fightingwith the police and transitioning to the digital age.
Taking the guise of an office building, Principiis technically still houses various companies. However, its rather industrial-esque exterior gives the guise of a purpose-laden structure. Its manageable size and 3,000 Noise Pollution can be a worthwhile risk considering its benefits, especially with its reduction of Crime Rates in its immediate vicinity. This makes Principiis an ideal Signature Building to position close to populated areas.
3x2
400
Aesthetic plays a big role in creating a beautiful city inCities: Skylines 2, with alocation’s overall appeal increasingif players get to follow a set “theme” throughout their playthrough. However, if theStreamline Dineris any indication, players should still catch the attention of visitors with design pieces that stand out from the rest. Regardless of a city’s overall motif, the classic diner aesthetic of the Streamline Diner can leave a much-needed dash of retro, regardless of the city’s location.
The beginning of a Commercial Zone could benefit from a Streamline Diner by helping more minimalist-looking Residential Zones transition into a business district. Likewise, a Streamline Diner can add some spice to a monotonous Commercial Zone precisely due to its nostalgic element.
9x10
The high-rise glass and banners ofSquare Centerelevate its overall vibe as a shopping center inCities: Skylines 2, especially since the smaller 10x7 Fashion Square plays stereotypically into the appearance of a mall that is atthe epicenter of traffic jams. At Level 5 with 60 Buildings, the Square Center can add flair to a busy Commercial Zone with its imposing “formal” appearance.
Placing the Square Center in an ordinary Commercial Zone can elevate its immediate location with the presence of a seemingly high-class mall. Amid an area poised as a business district, the architectural design of the Square Center hybridizes a mall and a museum, allowing it to fit more designer structures.
8x9
Among the Commercial Buildings that players have as Signature Buildings inCities: Skylines 2gameplay, theActivity Plazaprovesa unique buildingdoesn’t have to sacrifice the city’s overall aesthetic. Compared to other Commercial Signature Buildings that pack a lot of bonuses, the Activity Plaza boasts the most neutral appearance: that of a dome-esque recreational center, compact enough to blend in with other Commercial Zones or become the highlight of areas outside Residential areas.
At Level 5 and 120 Buildings, the Activity Plaza doesn’t have to risk adding too much “quirkiness” to the city compared to the harsh blue of the Capacitor Building or the castle-esque Emerald Building. Its Noise Pollution of 4,000 is also the lowest for Signature Buildings with its series of benefits.
5x6
+6 Well-Being (3km Radius)
Fans of city simulators likeCities: Skylinesknow that a city isachieving moderate successby the time it has become the site for its first skyscraper, withWatanabe Towerbecoming the representative of such an achievement with its mere 5x6-cell requirement for an impossibly-high structure. Among Signature Residential Buildings, the Watanabe Tower wins against its more sophisticated counterparts in sheer height alone, making its presence a monumental achievement for a city before players work their way toward more sophisticated structures like the Grass Crown.
Stats-wise, the Watanabe Tower simply needs a city to be at Level 5 with 50 Buildings, requirements that players are likely to achieve without realizing. While other towers such as Century Castle, Colossal Tower, and Waveform Tower boast more sophisticated appearances, Watanabe Tower’s small area requirement makes it a more manageable acquisition.
1x4
300
+3 Well-Being (750-meter Radius)
When it comes to players securing one of their first Signature Buildings inCities: Skylines 2, their choice should reflect their playthrough’s burgeoning status. While the Baltar Pines has the pristine minimalist appearance of a high-class person’s home,Vertigo Squareadds more personality to a Residential Area with its strong brown hues and eccentric thin apartment-esque design.
Vertigo Square beingone of the first choicesof a Signature Building in the game is safe enough with its 1,000 Cell requirement. Combined with its decent size and Well-Being boost, Vertigo Square can elevate a Residential Zone into the upper-income territory before working its way toward more complex Signature Buildings.
