After the game intro credits and display of the version of the game, you will see the opening menu.
In this menu, you can chose to start a new game, restore an existing game, go through the tutorial or exit the game.
The tutorial
If you have never played the game before, it is highly recommended to first try out the tutorial, as it guides you through the basics of the game and of the city level, step by step. After a series of information panels, the game will take you to the city with a few simple instructions.
Only a few building icons will be available, with more of them unlocking as the tutorial progresses. First only houses can be placed, areas can be cleared and the map can be zoomed in or out or be rotated. A timer will run in the bottom right corner of the screen and you will be taken to the next information panels when it expires. You may however pause the timer at any point by pressing "P" and still be able to execute construction work.
In the tutorial you will also learn the concepts of land values, color overlays, walkers, security, the forum, workforce management, money management and ratings, all concepts which are explained in detail on the following pages of this site.
At the end of the tutorial, the game will ask if you want to continue building the city. It will turn into a city mode only game where you will be able to build every structure and play as long as you like. However the city level is only part of Caesar II . It also has a province level.
The city level is by far the most important of the game. but in city mode only it is not possible to get promoted, raise armies, and work on provincial and empire level so, once you have established a thriving city in city mode only (such as the one shown below), you are ready to move on for the greater empire challenge.
