With the game now out, the reviews of CivRev are starting to roll in. We'll collect them here. First, some from last week (courtesy of our news team):
Eurogamer reviewer Alec Meer has posted his review of Revolution, rating it 8 out of 10.
He comments much greater emphasis on competitiveness: I tend to be a pacifist in these things. [...] Civ Rev thus takes some getting used to. It`s simply not possible to play it like that. This is inescapably a competitive game - one in which you`re nose-to-nose with your rivals at all times. [...] You can`t play Civ Rev like Civ. The underlying systems are the same but [...] [i]f you try to sleep, you`ll be eaten alive.
However he doesn`t condemn this move but praises it .[T]his pushiness makes perfect sense, and is really the only way to ensure a match comes to a satisfying conclusion within a couple of hours. [...] My concern is that its audience doesn`t in fact exist, that it`s an unnatural middle-ground between veteran Civ players and folk who run screaming from the very concept.
In his own words, Revolution`s biggest failing is its size. While becoming really good at the game will take some time, the array of possible options and outcomes are almost all revealed after just two or three 1-3 hour sessions. He does note that it makes it ideally suited to multiplayer.
He concludes that [t]his slick new Civilization may be more reduction than Revolution, but it`s easily one of the most distinctive games on 360 and PS3.
Gameplanet Jon Valjean has posted his review of Civilization Revolution. He rated it 9.0 out of 10, simply awesome. His review reminds the readers of the 1999 Civilization II which was nothing stopping a desperate grab for cash with a shoddy port.
Regrettably, gone are the terrain modification options [...][and] the ability to do any great terraforming projects[.] [...] Instead, the gameplay is kicked into the next gear, with most of the food and production requirements taken care of by the AI. The result of this is that you`re literally thrown through each epoch with reckless abandon, chasing technology after technology and concentrating on expansion and war far more than trade and roads. He points out game depth, challenging play, character animation, quick rounds and excellent interface as strong points of the game while listing arcade like (impulsive) AI and the lack of a mini-map as weak points.
All in all, Civilization Revolution is an absolutely fantastic game which has lifted all the best attributes of previous Civilization titles, and left behind the majority of the bad.
Kotaku has reviewed the the Civilization: Revolution which is still awaiting US release.
The review is mostly split into a Loved segment and a Hated segment. The loved segment is split into four points beginning with It Works and saying that the game has seen radical changes and but at its heart, this is still Civilization. It still feels like Civilization, it still plays like Civilization. Next is Charm saying that Not since the full-screen portraits of the very first Civilization has the game managed to present your opponents and advisors as actual, in-game characters as opposed to AI mouthpieces. Third on list is Streamlining. This segment is about how well the streamlining works and how certain features have been been shrunk to more sensible, manageable sizes. Last on the Loved is Controls/Menus which is about how 2K decided against simply mapping keyboard commands to the control pad.
The Hated segment is split into 4 parts. First is Whoops which is about how certain features seem to have been overlooked or which just don`t seem right. Next is Too Small which is about how The map is tiny, and you only ever compete against five civilizations. This leads to third point, Too fast, which is about how Because the map is so small, games are played out very quickly. Last is Little Rough saying, Maybe the framerate`s better on 360, but the PS3 version I played often slows to a crawl.
The Review is finished off with the following summary, For the most part, they`ve made the right calls. Sure, the game can be too short, and too small, and in some cases a little rough, but what Firaxis needed to do if this game was to ultimately succeed was take that core Civilization experience – the discovery, the advancement, the combat, the diplomacy – and ensure that even a streamlined version of the game still had you up at 3 in the morning, telling yourself you`ll just have "one more turn". Which it does.
WorthPlaying has released a preview for Civilization: Revolution which is nearing release in countries it yet to be released in.
The Preview starts off by describing the addictiveness of Civilization to World of Warcraft to those poor souls which have never heard of the series. The author then goes into a very detailed description of the core features of the Civilization series and how they work in this new version of the game.
After the very detailed description, the author comes to the following conclusion, Civilization Revolution is Civilization. While it`s a bit simplified for consoles, it`s still the same game that caused so many people to spend days of their lives trapped at their computers, to the point where they actually published scholarly articles on Civilization addiction. It`s easy to learn, difficult to master, and incredibly fun. The simplified controls may actually make it easier for new gamers to pick up, while the quick and easy interface allows players to jump from unit to unit with ease. If you`re a fan of strategy games, you owe it to yourself to give Civilization Revolution a try. Just be warned that you may look up and find out that you`ve been playing for three hours when you just intended to try a few quick turns.
To read the entire preview and to look at many wonderful screenshots, click here
Pocket-Lint has recently reviewed Firaxis` game Civilization: Revolution which is to be released July 8th in North America and has already been released in most other places.
The review is relatively brief description of the Civilization Series and how the changes are made to work it into a console. Chris Pickering`s, the author, final verdict is,
Whether or not you find the streamlined idea of Civilization Revolution intriguing, fans of console-based strategy titles deserve to give this one a go. It has enough to keep you hooked, but not too much that you ever feel overwhelmed, or need to spend a week simply learning the game’s mechanics.
Toss in a fantastic online multiplayer option, and Revolution immediately becomes the best console-based strategy title on the market. Long time fans might baulk at the idea of so many omissions, but if you posses a strategic mind, Revolution is certainly for you.
Chris also gives it an 8 out of 10. Read the full review, here
Civilization: Revolution, which is Firaxis` recently released game unless you live in US where it won`t be released until July 8th, has recently been reviewed by Digital Life.
The review is relatively short description of the game and reassures PC gamers that Civilization has lost little of its strategic depth: it was not "dumbed down"
A good summary of the review would be this paragraph,
The "Revolution" moniker does not signal a radical departure from the much-loved formula but rather a welcome new focus on accessibility suited to the console audience. The game was streamlined and is far less intimidating and much pacier than recent PC versions, with matches typically lasting a couple hours - perfect for those who have less leisure time.
Video Games Reloaded has reviewed Firaxis` Civilization: Revolution, whcih has been released in most places outside of the US.
Adam Waddilove, the writer of the review, gave CivRev an 8 out 10 on presentation, an 8.5 on gameplay, a 7 on audio, and a 7.5 on visuals. The final verdict is, Civilization Revolution does plenty to give fans what they want, but it does little to impress non-fans of the strategy genre. It provides a lot of content and ways to claim victory and is charming with its graphic style, that won’t be to everyone’s tastes but if you can look past that then you’ll find an engaging and compelling strategy game that you will enjoy time and time again. Overall he gives it a 7.9.
NZGamer has recently reviewed the recently released, but still upcoming if live in North America, Civilization Revolution.
Sam Waldron, the writer, describes the game as a rethink, rather than a dumbing down. Later he describes it as too much of a compromise. He gives it a 7.5/10 on both gameplay and graphics, and an 8 on both sound and visuals. Overall, he gave it 7.5.
Civilization: Revolution, which has been released everywhere except North America, has been reviewed by Gameslave`s Craig Laycock.
Laycock says on the changes made to the game: Civilization Revolution is essentially Civ without all the boring bits that 95% of gamers ignore. Gone is the tedious micromanagement - this is frenetic non-stop Civ action. But does the game lose something for that? Well, no. The fanboys would argue that a layer of intricate strategy has been removed, resource management snatched from their grasps. I would argue that instead, the strategic experience has been refined, purified and brought to the boil in a high-tempo all-action saucepan. They sell them at Tesco.
He gives the following summary: I wouldn`t hesitate in recommending Civ Rev to anyone. If you love the Civ games, you really should buy it regardless of the fact that it`s a bit more accessible - it`s still great fun and, at its heart, Civ through and through. If you`re new to the series, there`s no better place to get stuck in and learn the mechanics of the game and find out what you`ve been missing out on all these years. Civilization Revolution is an absolute stand-out title on the Xbox 360 and I applaud Firaxis for bringing Civ to a wider audience. Sold out? You must be joking.
And remember: if you fail at Civ Rev, only you can carry the can. If you succeed, the knowledge that you`ve pulled something off against the odds is exhilarating. It`s why I love strategy.
He lists three things under Good Stuff: Easy to get into, Rule the world, and Still Civ through and through. Laycock also lists two things under Not So Good Stuff: Brilliant animations sometimes wasted and Fast paced action won`t suit the more laid back Civ players.
The United Kingdom newspaper The Independent has posted a (very brief) review of Civilization: Revolution, giving the game 4 stars out of 5. The full review:
Here`s a welcome console makeover of Sid Meier’s epic, world-conquering extravaganza. Its evolution from the PC to the PS3 et al has made Civilization Revolution more accessible than before and it’s been boosted by extra features, such as easily downloadable features, cool online play and voice and vision chat. As ever, gamers get to play God, making decisions that will have world shattering consequences. It might not be pretty, but it sure is fun.
GameSpy editor Gabe Graziani has posted his review of Civilization: Revolution, giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars. While he thinks the game generally does a good job of converting the gameplay from the PC classic to the console and lauds the user interface as terrific, Graziani`s chief criticims include a linear AI, limited multiplayer options and transparant and predictable gameplay mechanisms that make the game less enjoyable in the long run. On the AI, the reviewer says (among other things) the following:
But Civilization Revolution`s AI-controlled civs all seem inherently warlike, and although they will always offer you peace on a first meeting, they sour both quickly and easily. In fact, most games played on the tougher difficulty settings seem to force a domination victory as the only feasible means of conquering the world due to the hostility displayed by your opponents.
Originally posted by Locutus
With the game now out, the reviews of CivRev are starting to roll in. We'll collect them here. First, some from last week (courtesy of our news team):
Dude, we've had CivRev on the shelf for almost a month now. Except the DS version.
It's easy to pick out which reviewers are new to the series, describing it's incredible depth from those who are old Civ vets complaining they wish it had more depth.
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One who has a surplus of the unorthodox shall attain surpassing victories. - Sun Pin You're wierd. - Krill
PlayStation World UK editor Ian Dean posted his review of Civilization: Revolution, which is available online through gaming site GamesRadar. Dean states that the PlayStation version of the game does away with all the pesky micro-management, macro-management or any kind of grouping that in his opinion plagues the PC versions.
Instead, the clutter has been brushed away and what’s left is a simple strategy game where the depth and interest build from trying to second guess your opponents rather than negotiating more menus than your local five star eatery.
The reviewer does consider the game a little fiddly, fast-paced and not very sexy, but overall it's easy to get into and he believes it will appeal to a mass console audience. The game gets an 8 out of 10 rating for its surprising level of depth and lack of micromanagement. Read the full 1-page review on GamesRadar.
Dutch technology site Tweakers.net has posted a comprehensive review of the latest console incarnation of the Civilization series. Editor Paul Hulsebosch provides a detailed description of the gameplay, in which he points out that the fast-paced gameplay forces players to choose a winning strategy early and that maintaining a sizable army is unavoidable regardless of your desired path to victory, as the hostile AI makes maintaining peace in the long run impossible.
The biggest achievement Sid Meier accomplished with Revolution is that the game works, that it's fun to play and that it causes the same addiction as its predecessors on the PC. The game is guaranteed to invoke the classic `one-more-turn` feeling. The controls will take a bit of getting used to but soon you'll forget that you're playing on a console rather than on a PC.
As downsides Hulsebosch cites the lack of diplomacy, trade and city micromanagement, although alternatives to a domination victory are still viable. He also laments the small maps and lack of camera controls, as well as the difficulty of selecting units, especially enemy units to attack. Other gripes include that it's sometimes hard to see which unit has won a battle and that luck plays a large part in deciding combat results. On top of that the graphics are unimpressive -- the advisors and enemy leaders look alright but especially the units have low-quality textures, which the author finds especially disappointing as the game can be played in HD. The game is also laggy and tends to freeze from time to time, with the turn times on the PS3 version (on which the game was reviewed, the XBox version wasn't tested) sometimes being quite long.
Despite that the gameplay is very fun, addictive and well-balanced. Hulsebosch describes multiplayer as the best part of the game, which is extra exciting because of the turn timer. In the end he lands on a score of 8.5 out of 10. You can read the full 4-page review (in Dutch) on Tweakers.net.
GameSpy editor Gabe Graziani posted his review of the Nintendo DS version of Civilization: Revolution, rating it 4 out of 5 stars. It describes the game as robust, with intuitive controls and packed with content from the console version, but it criticises the unbalanced difficulty levels and muddy graphics.
Like the console version, Civilization Revolution suffers a bit from overly hostile AI, but the smaller stage truncates the feel of the entire experience into a brief yet volatile skirmish between ambitious rivals that doesn't necessarily detract from its enjoyment. The world map is smaller and the graphics more closely resemble those of the original PC Civilization, so Civ Rev is like a tiny blast chamber that seems ideally suited to no-nonsense warlords who just want a quick taste of victory during a bus ride.
To read the full review, head on over to GameSpy's DS section.
1UP's Andrew Pfister has reviewed Civilization: Revolution and gives the game a B+ (which roughly equates to "good" on the American school grading system which ranges from A+ to F). He applaudes how well the game is designed to help newcomers to the Civ franchise as well as the intuitive controls and colourful graphics. The sound and music are Civ-like, although intermittent and poorly balanced at times. On what was cut from the PC version of the game:
I still wasn't sold on the cuts that Revolution chose to make for console newcomers. The scenarios are entertaining, but I still would've liked some more options for terrain variance and map size, instead of predetermined continent layouts on a smaller-though-proportional map. Though the average game may not be long enough to accommodate 'em, naval and aerial combat omit fun units like aircraft carriers and helicopter gunships. The diplomacy mechanics took a minor hit, too, with the lack of defensive alliances among the warmongering world leaders -- which is pretty important when most heads of state in Civilization don't hesitate to declare war on you within three turns of first contact.
The article points out that as the gameplay is very fast-paced, one must choose a victory condition to pursue very early. The reviewer's biggest beef is actually a complement to the game's addictiveness: he would like to be able to continue playing after the game is won, which isn't possible in CivRev. You can find the full article, including some notes on the differences between the console and Nintendo DS versions, on 1UP.com.
IGN editory Ryan Geddes has posted that gaming network's review of Civilization: Revolution and given it an Editor's Choice Award. As biggest differences with the PC version Geddes cites the shorter games, lack of map customisation options and reduced complexity in gameplay. Overall though it makes for a great introduction to the genre for the uninitiated and a satisfying console experience for practiced PC players who want a (relatively) quick console fix. The multiplayer part of the game is quite important and works well, says the IGN editor:
Barring few initial hiccups getting connected during our tests, we found Civ Rev online to be lag-free and smooth. Voice chat is fully supported, and there's even a handy private chat function that can be implemented directly from the diplomacy screen. So if you're in an online match and are being harried by a pesky friend, just open a chatline with a mutual enemy and play them against one another. Oh, the possibilities.
The article briefly describes some of the scenarios in the game and concludes that it's a great balance between hardcore and casual gameplay, although it does mention some performance issues particularly when using the advisors. In the end Geddes rates the game as 8.8/10. Read the full 2-page review on IGN.
The recently released Civilization: Revolution has recently been reviewed by Strategy Informer`s Joe Robinson. He thinks that despite the flaws, such as some flaws in "the combat system" and and that "the civilisations themselves lack a certain degree of diversity", the streamlined version of Civ is an overall success.
In summary, he says: "All in all, Revolution is a worthy addition to the 360 roster. It’s fun, addictive, and easy to play. It may be a but hollow compared to the previous games, but it’s right at home on the consoles. Newcomers will find it easy to get into, and addictive to play, whilst old hands might need a little adapting to get used to the lack of micro-management. Either way, Meier’s done it again."
USA Today: "strategy games aren't just for computers"
USA Today has reviewed the recently released Civilization: Revolution. Dylan Fawcett, the writer, mostly describes the goal the of civilization in general, but he does point some flaws in the game. These include the difficult civilipedia interface and the fact that "archers can actually destroy fighter planes with their arrows."
He writes the following in conclusion: "What Civilization Revolution loses with minor interface issues, it certainly makes up for with graphics and the ability to play the game hundreds of times with unique outcomes. While it won`t be a favorite of advanced players like the former Civilization titles, it`s definitely worth buying for the gamer new to the Civ universe."
Overall he gives it an 8 out of 10. Read the full review here
Firaxis` recently released Civilization: Revolution had recently been reviewed by Team XBox`s Andy Eddy. He ranks the game on five categories: Gameplay, Graphics, Audio, Longevity, and Innovative. He gave the following rankings in each category: 8.8, 8.4, 8.9, 9.6, and 9.2 respectively.
Eddy writes the following in summary: "As I’ve said before, I’ve been in the game industry a long time, yet never really took the time to play a Civ game before this, but CivRev is showing me in quantity what I’ve missed. And, in fact, my immersion in the gameplay experience is a good part of why this review is going up a bit later than planned. I often had a tough time pulling myself away from the playing to write this up. That might have slowed up the posting of the review, but it’s ultimately a tribute to the game’s attraction. Frankly, I’m looking forward to getting a final copy of the game and, after next week’s E3 show is finished, spending some time playing it just for fun. Isn’t that how a good game is suppose to make you feel?"
George Jones of GamePro reviewed Civilization: Revolution. He describes the game as possibly the smartest video game ever created, as an intelligent translation of the PC version with enjoyable, satisfying and above all addictive gameplay. His biggest criticism is that the game isn't open-ended enough:
Unfortunately, one of Civilization's biggest shortcomings is that it fails to embrace the promise of truly open-ended strategy and decision-making. Open warfare is too convenient an option, no doubt a byproduct of the game world's small size and an overly aggressive artificial intelligence that continuously threatens and attempts to extort the player. This really cut into the flexibility that the game seemed to promise.
Overall, Jones rates the game as a 4.25 out of 5. Read the full one-page review on GamePro.
Gamer.nl's Erwin Bergervoet posted his review of the latest console version of Civilization. The article describes the gameplay and mentions that the console version is as addictive as the PC game. The writer lauds the in-game tutorial and fresh-if-not-fully-next-gen graphics and crisp user interface that looks as good on SD as on HD.
The [gameplay] simplification [compared to the PC games] usually works out well, but in some areas they shaved off a little too much. There are barely any customization options at the start of the game, or during it. If you get tired of the combat animations, you can't accelerate or disable them. You also can't change any map settings or the number of opponents. You only pick the difficulty level and your own civilization, or one of the pre-existing scenarios, and the game starts. A pity, because once you have a feel for the game you want to have more control.
Bergervoet also criticises the performance of the game: the game is laggy when advisors are on-screen and shows an annoying load screen when someone launches a space ship. This, along with the limited customisation options, keep him from giving the game more than an 8 out of 10. You can read the full review (in Dutch) on Gamer.nl.
The US and UK editions of the Official XBox Magazine published their reviews of Civilization: Revolution. UK editor Ryan King calls the game aptly named, as it tear[s] down unnecessary and needless conventions until you reach the absolute bare essentials of a strategy game. While he says the game is stripped down to its most basic form, it's very diverse, dynamic and delicately balanced, with riotous multiplayer.
The game mechanics do dictate some of your decisions. There's a heavy slant towards those defending their towns against invaders, for example, meaning those charging off at the start of the game with little more than spears in the air and hope in their hearts are likely to end up a crumpled heap riddled with the arrows of their enemies (or of outrageous fortune, ho hum). Yet finding these biases simply makes you more determined to overcome them and makes triumph even sweeter when you raise a flag of your nation's colours in a rival's town. He who dares...
While King likes the controls for the most part, towards the end game he did find that the map becomes too cluttered which makes it difficult to select the right destination for units. Overall, he does consider CivRev to be the best strategy game available on a console and gives it an 8 out of 10.
Editor Cameron Lewis of the US edition of the magazine considers the game truly excellent. He calls the gameplay diverse and addictive, and if that's not enough the game offers plenty more to keep you entertained:
When no two campaigns play out the same way, settling into a mundane routine is hardly a risk, but 10 scenarios add some piquant variations anyway. In these, you can start out with every technology, or contend with a drastically increased barbarian presence, for example — and Game of the Week events let you compete under controlled, save-free conditions for a spot on the world leaderboards.
Lewis's main beefs consist of the lack of a radar map and camera controls and that you can't always save the game whenever you want (or at all during multiplayer), but he loves just about everything else about the game and gives it a 9 out of 10.
EuroGamer posted their review of Civilization: Revolution, giving the game an 8 out of 10. Reviewer Alec Meer provides a detailed description of the gameplay, which he describes as being very strongly focused on warfare and as being very fast-paced. While he considers the inability to play peacefully and the simplification of the gameplay a loss, he concedes that it's necessary to allow games to be completed faster and to appeal to a console audience.
Offending existing Civ fans (and it will - the angrier, snobbier ones at least) by throwing too many nuance-babies out with the bathwater is one thing. Being perceived as too stuffy, too slow, too turn-based strategy by the mainstream console crowd - now that would be disastrous. [...] This isn't 'dumbed-down', as is the knee-jerk protestation of elitists, but there's no escaping that it's been made for a completely different audience to the usual Civ crowd. My concern is that its audience doesn't in fact exist, that it's an unnatural middle-ground between veteran Civ players and folk who run screaming from the very concept.
The gameplay as it stands does create a greater focus on having a good master plan, says Meer, and it's still sophisticated enough that it takes a while to learn. His biggest failing with the game though is the size of it: it's too small. There aren't enough options and different approaches to the game, after a few games you've seen everything there is to see. It's the pop song that ends after 90 seconds - being an eight-minute epic would surely rob the joy from it, but dancing your heart out to just one more chorus would have made all the difference.
The upside of this is that this makes it the perfect multiplayer Civ game, according to Meer: it allows for fun, quick, cut-throat games against human opponents. He concludes that while CivRev is the best strategy game available for the current generation of consoles, the game leaves you feeling unsatisfied at the end. However, it's worth picking up for those who normally don't play this type of game and for anyone who wants to play some multiplayer. Read the full review on EuroGamer.
Game Informer Magazine joins the ranks of those who have reviewed Civilization: Revolution, and like it. While the game doesn't compare to the PC games in the Civ series, it holds up in its own right according to Game Informer editor Adam Biessener. The interface and controls work very well, the gameplay has been stripped down to focus on the big-picture decisions and it's still extremely addictive.
Rather than use Civ IV’s careful approach to balance, Revolution embraces the overpowered. To the experienced player, every faction’s abilities get a reaction of “how is that possibly fair?” Ultimately, though, since everyone is overpowered, higher-level play involves tailoring your strategy to take better advantage of your ridiculous bonuses than the other players can. I suspect the multiplayer community will quickly gravitate toward a handful of “most-overpowered” civilizations, but that would happen no matter how minor the differences were. As it is, experimenting with different factions and unconventional strategies is a blast – particularly in multiplayer, where the clever approach to time-limited turns speeds the gameplay up to an almost RTS-like hectic pace.
The reviewer's biggest beef is with the sound: Advisor Volume: 0. Leader Volume: 0. There, I just saved you a trip through an aural hell of obnoxious gibberish As the best strategy game available on a console, Biessener gives the game a 9 out of 10, with his colleague Ben Reeves providing a second opinion of 9.25/10. You can read their full opinions on the online edition of this magazine.
Reviews of the Nintendo DS release of Civilization: Revolution seem few and far between, but one can be found on GameZone. Steve Hopper writes that the game "capitalizes on the DS’s strengths with some great stylus-based controls. Unfortunately, there are some problems, as the gameplay feels a bit scaled down and the maps feel pretty cramped. [..] The game is impressive for bringing the series to the DS in an effective way, but loses a bit in the translation".
'Graphics' and 'Sound' each receive a 7/10 which are "[n]ot dazzling by any means... but [they] get the job done" and "pretty good, but... effects themselves are few and far between" respectively. 'Gameplay', 'Concept' and 'Multiplayer' all receive 7.5/10 scores. "While the game isn’t perfect, with a few flaws and shortcomings that can be attributed to the handheld format itself, it’s still a fun simulation game that plays well and would be a nice addition to any hardcore Sid Meier fan’s library.
[CivRev] is a solid entry to the series, bringing the experience to a whole new audience. [..] [I]t’s still worth a look from hardcore series fans looking for a portable version of their fix."
Twenty new screenshots accompany the review, joining eleven preexisting ones.
Probably the first review of any game let alone a Civilization title to be scored out of "Great Wonders", latest series entry Revolution gets 7.5 of them from ITWire's Mike Bantick.
"[Developer Firaxis Games has] managed just enough management to keep the flavour without the bog down of detail that works so much better on a PC. [..] Generally, Civ on a console brings back some great Civilization memories and trepidation of time lost. But in many ways, for veterans it will feel a little lacking when compared with past PC based Civ titles.
In conclusion Bantick erroneously refers to CivRev's pending availability on the Nintendo Wii: in late January, Firaxis announced that this port was on indefinite hold.
Luke Mitchell sets out to answer the question [i]s it the revolution we were expecting?" in his review of Civilization Revolution for Australia's PAL Gaming Network. The categorical breakdown of 'Graphics' 7, 'Sound' 7, 'Gameplay' 8.5 and 'Lifespan 8.5' led to an 8.0/10 overall score.
"Although there can be a lot of detail on screen at once, the game occasionally stutters and doesn't look as good as it should on current generation consoles. [..] Appropriate soundtrack and sound effects kick in at many right moments, but sometimes we're left wondering if more could have been added to further enhance the experience. [..] [Yet there is o]ne word [to describe this game]: Addictive. This game is a lot of fun to play and successfully translates the core PC concept of [Civ] onto consoles with excellent results."
Playing the Xbox360 version, Mitchell concludes that "[t]here are flaws, sure; the combat is basic, veterans might not be happy with the simplified gameplay and despite all the helpful hints, some people will still be concerned about the mere fact that the game requires some serious thought to progress, rather than just an itchy trigger finger. Make no mistake, though... it continues the Civilization tradition of being one of the most addictive games we've experienced".
Steven Williamson has reviewed Civilization: Revolution for lifestyle site Hexus. Pointing out previous attempts to port Civ to the console have failed, he cuts right to the chase:
It’s a dumbed-down version of the PC game, which has been simplified to make use of the game-pad control. It also sports a stream-lined interface making navigation through the menus more manageable.
Williamson says that the simplified gameplay along with the advisors make it easy for new players to get into the franchise. He compliments the controls and notes that all the core components of Civ are represented in this game, giving the game enough depth to have a high replay value.
Most things have been simplified from the PC version of the game, with resource gathering handled almost entirely by the AI, a simplified build-queue and most noticeably a much smaller game-world, which makes the campaign far shortly than its predecessors. Nevertheless, this does mean that you don’t get bogged down with what arguably could be deemed as the ‘boring stuff’ and generally the games feel more accessible and fast-paced, possibly something that will appeal to gamers new to the franchise. Whether hardened fans of the franchise will enjoy the changes so much, however, is questionable.
Overall though, the reviewer likes this incarnation of Civ, calling it challenging and addictive, and easier to pick up than the PC version of the game. As an 8 out of 10, the game receives an Hexus Gaming Recommended award. Read the full two-page review on Hexus.
Gaming site MSXBox World has posted a review of Civilization: Revolution. Clearly new to the Civ franchise himself, author Robert Cram provides a very detailed description of the gameplay, pointing out that while the game may seem daunting at first to newcomers, it's easy enough to get into.
I had great fun nuking Berlin in one game, although surprisingly this action didn't win me the game. In another game the same stunt failed against the Chinese, as they were more technologically advanced than I was and had built nuke defences to counter any intercontinental attacks. There seems to be a lot of mathematical equations behind a lot of the actions in the game, and to a degree you'll sometimes be left scratching your head when your army of tanks gets defeated by 17th Century riflemen or cannons. Luckily you are able to prepare yourself by either saving frequently or using the in game tools such as spies and such like to avoid getting beaten too often.
Cram Likes the cartoony graphics, the helpful interface, the amusing advisors and the intuitive controls and he encountered no performance issues. The sound doesn't particularly stand out to him. While the author loves the game's longevity, he does point out that it's not for those with little patience due to the relatively steep learning curve. What the game lacks in high production value it makes up in charm and addictiveness. In the end the writer lands on an 8 out of 10 score. Read the full review on MSXBox World.
ConsoleMonster's Chris Taylor has published his review of Civilization: Revolution. Taylor applauds the game's efforts to guide new players through the eras and the easy interface. He does point out the capricious and unreliable nature of the AI, although it does provide players with a good challenge.
The matches themselves are never too long. The PC games always had matches that could last for hours upon hours upon hours, which turned some players off. Here, the matches can last quite a long time (I had one that last for around 3 hours), but there are different scenarios in which some gameplay elements are changed to make the game faster or slower. Civ Rev is not really a game where you can pick it up before going to work and having a quick match. It's one of those games where you need a good chunk of time off to really get settled and focused on the task at hand.
Complimenting the multiplayer aspect as well as the controls and graphics, the reviewer does note that the game suffers from some performance hiccups especially when advisors are on-screen or nukes are being launched. All in all though, Taylor recommends the game as something that will appeal even to non-strategy gamers, giving it a 89% score. Read the full review on ConsoleMonster.
UK-based gaming site Gamestyle reviewed Civilization: Revolution, giving the game a 9 out of 10. Adam Gulliver explains:
Civilization is a rarity on the Xbox 360. For a start it’s a game that doesn’t involve murky colours, space marines and unnecessary cursing. But it’s also a turn based strategy title that’s been built from the ground up for consoles, so control wise it’s as perfect as a game in the genre can be.
The article mentions that war in the version of Civ is almost inevitable and comments that the Game of the Week feature is best left to hard-core Civers with a lot of free time. Overall Gulliver considers the game a great package that all console players should give a try.
XBox fansite XBox360Achievements posted their review of Civilization: Revolution by ways of Joe Robinson. He explains that the gameplay has been streamlined a lot, but that this comes at a price:
Whilst all of this goes a long way towards making the game more accessible to console players, it’s this very accessibility that appears to have nearly stripped the game of its heart and soul. Things like trade with other nations feel almost like afterthoughts, with limited options - the only thing you really can trade is technology. Diplomacy is virtually non existent, with no real depth. Whilst you can do some things with people you are friends with, eventually you’ll be at war with everyone because the AI doesn’t want you to win. Still, this game has an almost addictive quality to it, which is also a result of the scaling down.
Robinson laments the combat system's classic Spearman vs Tank issues and finds the differences between the unique civilization powers to be almost negligible, which he says hurts the longevity of the game as they're no incentive to play with all the different civs. This is aggrevated by the maps being too small and similar. Multiplayer however spices things up nicely, although that does suffer from the fact that games last too long.
In the end the reviewer concludes that while the game is fun in itself, it really suffers from its lack of complexity and variety. Without the PC version's depth the game feels a bit empty. Tated 85/100, you can read the full review here.
Wesley Yin-Poole of VideoGamer posted his review of the latest incarnation in the Civilization franchise, calling it a refreshing change of pace from XBox's usual line-up of first-person shooters. Pointing out that games last at least 90 minutes, the author finds that it's still very fast-paced:
But that doesn't prevent Civ Rev from being the quickest, most action packed Civilisation game ever. Because the world map is so small contact with other civilisations, whether they be controlled by the computer or real people, is almost instantaneous. The luxurious time afforded to early decisions in previous versions of the game has been stripped away for a more arcadey and streamlined experience.
Yin-Poole compliments the game's controls as well as the more streamlined gameplay, although he does note that the performance can be laggy, the camera controls are limited and the world is too small. He's also not happy about the cartooney graphics and the mumbo jumbo Telletubbies-esque speech of advisors and rival civilisation leaders. Overall, according to the reviewer the game is still very addictive though and something that every console player should give a try. Rating it 8 out of 10, you can read the full review on VideoGamer.com.
British magazine XBox World 360 published their review of Civilization: Revolution, which can be accessed online through the CVG website. XBox World editor Nick Ellis likes the cheerful graphics, smooth controls and the automated workers that cut down on micromanagement. He does lament the lack of depth compared to the PC version but overall is quite happy with the game:
While far from as deep as the PC games, Revolution is a fine achievement, extremely accessible and great fun to play. With Halo Wars and World In Conflict to follow, perhaps this is the start of a new era for console strategy. How civilised.
Rated 8.5/10, you can read the full one-page review on CVG.
Except the DS version.
