I have played pretty much every Anno game for the PC, I love these kinds of games.
What surprised me with 1404 is how similar it is to Anno 1701. The graphics are a bit better, everything looks smoother and there are a few changes to how resources,buildings and how your settlement upgrades, but in the end it feels like I'm playing 1701, again. The main new thing with 1404 is that you can build "oriental" buildings, arabic/asian looking houses. To gain the abiltity to build in the southern parts of the map you need to gain favour with the sultan. Which is rather simple, buy a him a gift and you are set.
The annoying quests are still here. I don't understand why they still feel the need to add these quests. It's just annoying and not really worth it. I remember getting a quest that said that someone in my settlement was wanted, so I needed to get a spy to my warehouse. Fine. Where do I get a spy from? No buildings I had at that point could "build" a spy. Nor could I buy one from the other players.
Anno 1404 is a good game to play over the weekend and then just forget. Specially if you allready have played Anno 1701 to death.
