Marco Polo on CD-i was released in 1994 by Infogrames in the French language. An english version was released in 1995. It never got a lot of attention, it was also not advertised or shown a lot. It is technically an adventure game, but I find it more suitable to call it a reference title instead of a game. There is actually a second disc included in the original package that has some kind of a database included with a lot of information related to Marco Polo. But also on the first disc, while playing the game you'll learn a lot about his travels. It is a good educational title, you learn how to trade, how to survive as Marco Polo and you'll certainly learn more about his travels. The gameplay itself is.... slow-paced and very limited. Not many players will actually accept the slow game progress anymore, or you have to be really interested to learn more about Marco Polo.
From the disc: "From the Holy Land to China from the foothills of the Himalayas to the outer reaches of the Gobi Desert, relive the adventures of Marco Polo’s travels along the Silk Route. Increase your wealth as your trade in arms, gold and precious stones… As counsellor to Kubilai Khan, the Mongol emperor or as the Pope’s messenger, you will carry out delicate missions in the midst of intrigue and conspiracy… A fascinating game of adventure and simulation, interspersed with video sequences from a major Italian film, accompanied by traditional music scores and featuring an extensive historical documentation."
Some quotes by others about Marco Polo: "This is good educational title for learning about the history surrounding Marco Polo (no surprises there!) The graphics are less than exceptional, it is a base case CD-i title that does not use any possibilities of the Digital Video Cartridge. There are trading complexities such as haggling, and choosing what to buy and sell at which city to make the best profit. Marco Polo is not overflowing with vivid images for the multimedia freaks, but it is a solid title for anyone interested in Marco Polo. There are literally hours of narrated slideshow sequences which are very interesting hidden under the heading Documentation." According to Game Zero. (publication from 1995, not available online anymore)
Gamer's Zone sais: "It purports to be a market simulation set in the Middle Ages. But unfortunately, it also plays like it was made during the Middle Ages. It's boring and gets repetitious way too fast. The only glimmer of interest in Marco Polo is the background files. That way you learn something while dying of boredom." (publication from 1995, not available online anymore)
Our friend Tom Lenting wrote this about Marco Polo in 2006 for Defunct Games: "Both the game and the documentary are too dull to retain attention to for longer than a few minutes. If you really want to know anything more about Marco Polo, check out the good old library or watch Discovery Channel. Marco Polo - the "game" - is labeled as an "adventure and simulation". The "adventure" element is that you pick an Italian merchant - you can't actually play with Marco Polo himself, despite the title - and you have to travel with him from certain locations to certain other locations. This can be done in separate missions or as a 'whole' game. The traveling consists out of pointing your cursor on a boring looking map and clicking on the place you want to travel to ... and it's done."Read the review here.
More recently, Mr Creosote from 'The Good Old Days" reviewed Marco Polo on CD-i: "Instead of being a fierce, demanding trading simulation, Marco Polo instead aims at being lightweight entertainment providing its players a sort of "adventure trip" where unexpected things happen and the main "challenge" is really reacting and adapting constantly. Further feeding this impression, encounters in cities may provide the players goods or information or they may lead to short quests. The nicely drawn map and static status screens support the overall sympathetic impression. It certainly isn't a game for what is today called "core gamer audience", but it's well made, easygoing and unpredictable fun for some time. Too much thinking, too much planning will rather spoil the enjoyment."Read the full review here.
[Thanks, Game Zero, Gamer's Zone, Defunct Games, The Good Old Days]