PlayStation

Populous: The Beginning

The 3 in the title not only indicates that it's the third part of the Populous series originally created by Peter Molyneux, it also stands for the 3rd dimension. Part 3 is now 3D accelerated, but this is not the only change the game underwent since part 2- you don't anymore simply lower and raise land to gain bigger houses which can defend themselves stronger. Now you have to chop trees to build your huts. Depending on how many men are in the house, the faster its population and the house itself grows. You can train your men as fighters, priests etc. New spells can be added to your spell inventory via shrines scattered all over the world. The funny thing is that this world is really a little...

Genre: Simulation
Year: 1999
Developer: Bullfrog
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1

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Achievements

53 achievements · 314 total points

Enlightened Complete the tutorial
1 pts
The Journey Begins Complete level 1: "The Journey Begins"
1 pts
Deathless Debut Complete level 1: "The Journey Begins" with no people lost or own Shaman deaths
1 pts
Night Falls Complete level 2: "Night Falls"
1 pts
Moonlight Legion Complete level 2: "Night Falls" with at least 30 warriors (your own) alive at the end
1 pts
Crisis of Faith Complete level 3: "Crisis of Faith"
1 pts
Faithful Resolution Complete level 3: "Crisis of Faith" with one or fewer enemy people killed
10 pts
Combined Forces Complete level 4: "Combined Forces"
2 pts
Charm and Conquer Complete level 4: "Combined Forces" without using any spell other than Convert
3 pts
Death From Above Complete level 5: "Death From Above"
2 pts
Stealthy Success Complete level 5: "Death From Above" without a single fight occuring
3 pts
Building Bridges Complete level 6: "Building Bridges"
2 pts
Sorcery in Moderation Complete level 6: "Building Bridges" with 6 spell usages or fewer
5 pts
Unseen Enemy Complete level 7: "Unseen Enemy"
3 pts
Preacherless Prowess Complete level 7: "Unseen Enemy" without training any preachers (single session)
5 pts
Continental Divide Complete level 8: "Continental Divide"
3 pts
Blaze Commander Complete level 8: "Continental Divide" only training firewarriors (single session)
5 pts
Fire in the Mist Complete level 9: "Fire in the Mist"
3 pts
Unscathed Stronghold Complete level 9: "Fire in the Mists" without any of your buildings being destroyed
5 pts
From the Depths Complete level 10: "From the Depths"
5 pts
Chrono-Champion Complete level 10: "From the Depths" while activating the totem with at least 4 minutes remaining on the timer
5 pts
Treacherous Soul Complete level 11: "Treacherous Soul"
5 pts
Soulkeeper's Triumph Complete level 11: "Treacherous Souls" without your Shaman getting killed
5 pts
An Easy Target Complete level 12: "An Easy Target"
5 pts
Twice Enchanted Complete level 12: "An Easy Target" without using any spell more than two times
10 pts
Aerial Bombardment Complete level 13: "Aerial Bombardment"
5 pts
Aerial Precision Complete level 13: "Aerial Bombardment" using only 4 spells (no spell charge limit)
10 pts
Attacked From All Sides Complete level 14: "Attacked From All Sides"
5 pts
Flatten-Free Victory Complete level 14: "Attacked On All Sides" without using the Flatten spell
5 pts
Incarcerated Complete level 15: "Incarcerated"
5 pts
Swift Liberation Complete level 15: "Incarcerated" while freeing your Shaman with at least 2:30 remaining on the timer
10 pts
Bloodlust Complete level 16: "Bloodlust"
5 pts
Tri-Spell Bloodbath Complete level 16: "Bloodlust" using only the Bloodlust, Land Bridge and Flatten spells (no spell charge limit)
10 pts
Middle Ground Complete level 17: "Middle Ground"
5 pts
Middle Ground Apocalypse Complete level 17: "Middle Ground" using the Armageddon spell
5 pts
Head Hunter Complete level 18: "Head Hunter"
5 pts
Strategist's Success Complete level 18: "Head Hunter" without worshipping (fully) at the Armageddon stone head
10 pts
Unlikely Allies Complete level 19: "Unlikely Allies"
5 pts
Spell Shuffle Complete level 19: "Unlikely Allies" without using the same spell consecutively (single session)
5 pts
Archipelago Complete level 20: "Archipelago"
10 pts
Immaculate Isle Guardian Complete level 20: "Archipelago" without any of your buildings being destroyed and without your Shaman being killed
10 pts
Fractured Earth Complete level 21: "Fractured Earth"
10 pts
Spellweaver Complete level 21: "Fractured Earth" limiting yourself to using a maximum of 5 spells between each instance of destroying an enemy building or killing the enemy Shaman (single session)
10 pts
Solo Complete level 22: "Solo"
10 pts
Solo Symphony Complete level 22: "Solo" without using any spell from a single column (of your choice)
5 pts
Inferno Complete level 23: "Inferno"
10 pts
Infernal Row Complete level 23: "Inferno" using only 1 spell from each row
10 pts
Journey's End Complete level 24: "Journey's End"
10 pts
Enduring Expeditionary Complete level 24: "Journey's End" with fewer than 50 people lost
10 pts
Journey's End 2 Complete level 25: "Journey's End 2"
25 pts
Erode-Free Victory Complete level 25: "Journey's End 2" without using the Erode spell
10 pts
Spellslinger Supreme A God casts many spells...
1 pts
Synchronised Sorcery Be part of a spellcasting duel...
1 pts

Populous: The Beginning leaderboard

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Populous: The Beginning frequently asked questions

How do I play Populous: The Beginning online with a friend?

Populous: The Beginning (PlayStation) can be played online with friends using Etera's P2P netplay. Create a room in the launcher and invite your friend, who joins through the invite. Step by step:

Download the Etera launcher for Windows or Linux and create your account.
Ask your friend to do the same and add them to your friends list.
Pick the game in the library and create a netplay room.
Invite your friend: they accept the invite and join the room.
The launcher keeps dependencies on the same version for both players, avoiding desync.

How do I play Populous: The Beginning on PC?

Download the Etera launcher (Windows or Linux), find Populous: The Beginning in the PlayStation library and click to download. The launcher handles the emulator and setup for you.

Does Populous: The Beginning netplay lag?

Etera uses a direct P2P connection between players, which usually means low latency. Results depend on each player's internet quality.

Does Populous: The Beginning have achievements?

Yes, Populous: The Beginning has 53 achievements worth 314 points. Achievements are counted and saved to your history and the leaderboard for subscribers and during the trial period.

Can I play Populous: The Beginning for free?

Yes. Every account gets a 5-day trial with premium features. After that, the free plan allows 3 new games per day and 1 netplay session per day. Premium raises those limits.

Play Populous: The Beginning on Etera

Download the launcher for Windows or Linux, find this game in the library and play solo or with friends.