Review by Chris "Velociryx" Hartpence (Part 2/2)

DanQ · November 30, 2005, 22:53

Chris "Velociryx" Hartpence, perhaps best known in gaming circles as author of what has been widely described as a "definitive" guide to Alpha Centauri`s Alien Crossfire expansion pack, has completed his review of Civilization IV exclusively for Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS). He received his copy of the game thanks to funds raised through an effort in ACS`Civ community earlier this year.

Hartpence`s ~3,700 word review has been broken up into two parts. Part 1 was published last week [see story], and Part 2 has been published today. It outlines his first impressions of CivIV, and recounts why he never finished his first game of it. "Where CivIII was a bitter disappointment, CivIV restores my faith in the franchise, and the direction it is moving in", he says at one point. "Yes, there are some aspects of the game that I dearly wish had been pushed and developed even further, but I can wait..."

Most commonly known in many online circles as just "Velociryx", Hartpence is also an economist, helpdesk analyst and author of other titles including Five Days in May, a horror fiction novel favourably reviewed by The New York Times.

-------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Alphard · December 1, 2005, 02:05

On the main page the link to 'Review by Velocyrix' has a typo.
The link starts with 'dhttp://' instead of 'http://' but is otherwise correct.
The correct link is http://civilization4.net/3/180/

JimMac · December 1, 2005, 02:28

Very enjoyable read Vel.

I particularly like the way you analysed and isolated each of the individual components that make CivIV 'work' for you.

I was surprised though, that just after I read:

"Yes,there are some aspects of the game that I dearly wish had been pushed and developed even further"

your review ends! I have no idea what you think those aspects are; I think you need to write a futher page to elaborate. Go to it !

Mujadaddy · December 1, 2005, 02:34

A bit inelegant, if thorough...

ravagon · December 1, 2005, 03:46

Concise, helpful and interesting. As expected considering the source.

I was disappointed when Civ3 came out too and have, to date, kept Civ4 at arms length.
I'm now inclined to change that.

ravagon · December 1, 2005, 03:49

Quote:

Originally posted by JimMac

I was surprised though, that just after I read:

"Yes,there are some aspects of the game that I dearly wish had been pushed and developed even further"

your review ends! I have no idea what you think those aspects are; I think you need to write a futher page to elaborate. Go to it !

Be careful what you wish for.
Ask for a page and he'll probably write a book on it.

alva · December 1, 2005, 06:12

Just the one?

Good work Vel and glad you like it.

Nikolai · December 1, 2005, 07:19

Quote:

Originally posted by JimMac
Very enjoyable read Vel.

I particularly like the way you analysed and isolated each of the individual components that make CivIV 'work' for you.

I was surprised though, that just after I read:

"Yes,there are some aspects of the game that I dearly wish had been pushed and developed even further"

your review ends! I have no idea what you think those aspects are; I think you need to write a futher page to elaborate. Go to it !

That's the last sentence in the first page of the second part!

OneFootInTheGrave · December 1, 2005, 07:54

very good read, just wanted to read something similar after first two games I did... good read and yep

for the game

Shogun Gunner · December 1, 2005, 08:32

interesting. Thanks for taking the time to write this.

RAKKIR · December 1, 2005, 12:38

Unfortunately, for myself, I am finding CIV IV to do a lot to DEGRADE my faith in the series. Mostly right now do to the bugs that are rendering the game unplayable for MANY people. It gives me every impression of a RUSHED product that was pushed out the door too early in order to make money and relying upon the brand recognition to drive early sales while the bugs were worked out. This is highly unfortunate in my opnion and almost always tells you a lot about the design quality that went into the game. From initial planning all the way to the end.

I HOPE I am wrong here.

I also hope that, with the new modability of Civ IV, once the bugs are worked out, the game will have far more "replayability" than its predecessors. But I think most of that will come from fans rather than the developers. That is, until they release the first "expansion" *sigh*

We shall see.

DanQ · December 1, 2005, 13:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Alphard
On the main page the link to 'Review by Velocyrix' has a typo.
The link starts with 'dhttp://' instead of 'http://' but is otherwise correct.
The correct link is http://civilization4.net/3/180/

Corrected.

--------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Kataphraktoi · December 1, 2005, 13:59

Quote:

Despite the fact that I WANT to believe in this game, I did my best to "break" it. To find the "one best answer" that was always the right choice, every time you played (like ICS in every previous iteration of Civ). If I could break it in the time allotted to me for the review, then I could point to the broken thing and say to those who read this review, "HA! You see...for all their trying, they still could not fix the game!"

And I would have, too. Not because I have some sort of vendetta against the company (in fact, I respect them deeply, and now more than ever, having played their latest game), but because I want my review to reflect the reality of the product, and if it was broke, I wouldn't have pulled any punches, no matter how many egos it may have bruised. So after giving it my best effort in the time allotted to me, I'm happy to report that I was unable to do it. I was unable to "break" the game.

i wonder,though,how you could expect to break the game in only 3 weeks? from my experiance,it ussualy takes a bit longer than that to devolop perfect strategys. i would be very interested to see that same sentiment,in say, a year. without a large number of random variables,or a game like chess, it is very difficult to prevent ultimate strategys, if not impossible.

good article,and good points you raise. i agree roughly with most of it.

JimMac · December 1, 2005, 14:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Nikolai

That's the last sentence in the first page of the second part!

Doh! That will teach me to not post while rushing breakfast before heading out to work!

I have now read the rest of it, and indeed the downsides are fairly well described. In fact you have clarified for me why I didnt enjoy the Spock quotes as much as I thought I would, I didnt realise it but I think you are right, my disappointment with these is due to the 'dry' delivery.

Overall, a good assessment of the pluses and minuses of CivIV. (I still would be happy to read another page or two though

)

Tuberski · December 1, 2005, 14:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Nikolai

That's the last sentence in the first page of the second part!

I only read the first page of both parts.

I thought it went awfully quick for a 3700 word article.

One suggestion is, instead of having a link to this thread at the bottom of page one, Poly should have a link to page 2.

Have the link to the forum at the end of Page 3.

ACK!

Tony · December 1, 2005, 21:50

Excellent review Vel. I too was a big SMAC fan and I felt that Civ 3 was a step backwards for the series. But I'm totally hooked on Civ 4. Heres something I'd like to add to your review.

As you pointed out in your review, a big part of the attraction of Civ/SMAC series has been the jigsaw of overlapping factors in your empires success. This means that every strategy has an opportunity cost and makes for "interesting choices". A weakness in previous Civ games has been that AI Diplomacy always felt like an arbitrary and random process disconnected from the rest of the game.

But in Civ 4 AI diplomacy is woven into the interlocking layers of strategy. Want the AI to like you? Research an early religion and export it to your rivals and you'll have a much more peaceful game. But theres an opportunity cost here. Researching an early religion means passing up other strong research beelines. And building monasteries and missionaries early in the game costs important early production that could be spent on other buildings.

Culture impacts diplomacy too. You can use your culture in the early game to grab AI territory, but don't be surprised if the AI gets touchy because "close borders creates tension".

I think its a huge improvement to the series that diplomacy has been woven into the complex "advantage/opportunity cost" jigsaw of Civ strategy.

Tony

Stumple · December 2, 2005, 10:37

Very refreshing & interesting review. Can we have an 'epilogue' after you've played for a month or so, to see what further insights you may have reach once the novelty value has worn off.

Franklinnoble · December 2, 2005, 14:25

I can't believe he didn't make a bigger deal of his overwhelming CTD problem...

I have been able to play (post patch) without any CTD, but, man, I'd be ticked if I had 30+ crashes throughout the course of a game.

I'm not playing any epic/huge map games, tho...

Personally, I think he was a little too polite... but Chris is a very nice guy, and I think it would take an awful lot to get him to really rant about something.

Zydor · December 9, 2005, 18:53

Interesting, but as mentioned before by others, Reviewers are ignoring (or dont know) the carnage going on with the initial release. Its not on to release it in its current buggy form, many many users new & old have stumped up their cash and get zilch.

Of course this happens a lot in the gaming world, rush for market share, end of year Bonuses etc. But the standard of the software on Civ IV initial release is appauling, there are Major issues, and here we are nearly 2 months later with no substantial fix on the horizon - leaving it to a CivFanatic User to produce a memory fix to keep things going.

The trust in the playability of the Civ Series has gone, and many will no longer stump up pre-release cash or "V1" purchase again, beit 2K games or Civ IV. Of course by then the guys who made the dosh on the Civ IV release will be in pastures new ......

The game itsef its superb, and cutting edge stuff, in that they deserve all the praise heaped on them.

However the Release Management has been utterly appauling, but this is not reflected in the Gaming Press reviews. That is very very sad, and one has to wonder why that has been the case ...... retorical statement

Trust builds a long term Game Community, this commercially driven drivil produces anger, frustration and emmense distrust. 2K Games have done that this time, if they do it again, they will never be forgiven- then watch the commercial consequencies.

Marcel I · December 16, 2005, 04:12

Excellent review Vel. I have played about 6 games on 'noble' until now and I agree with most of the points you make.
Considering CTD's: +30

is indeed a lot. Luckily I did experience only 1 in all my games. I must confess though that my system isn't just a 'minimal requirement' rig, so maybe I'm not a good example in that aspect

The one..more...turn from CIV2 is back on my part

Son of David · December 16, 2005, 10:07

I've never had one single CTD. I feel guilty.

(Likewise, I've never played a Huge map. Is that the source of the problem perhaps? Bigger isn't always better.)

Jaybe · December 16, 2005, 13:01

Huge Epic games are very immersing, and with a computer purchased exclusively for civ4,* no CTDs (though there were occasional small pauses).

* Hey, I know my priorities!!