Apolyton Warlords Review by Solver

[MarkG]

Civilization IV: Warlords Review by Solver

[MarkG]

OTHER REVIEWS

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/civilizationivwarlords/review.html

http://videogames.yahoo.com/gamereview?cid=1993719156&tab=reviews&page=0&eid=472193

[yin26]

Great review, as always, Solver. I'm glad to see you added your final thoughts, which I thought were quite fair. I'm a vassal junkie (thanks for the mention and for trying settings you normally wouldn't play), so, for me, Warlords is a winner. But, as you note, not all players enjoy the kind of setup that seems to lead to the most interesting vassal situations.

Thanks for the obvious time (and expertise) you put into another outstanding Solver review.

[Solver]

Thanks Yin .

I feel the way I do about Warlords not only because I don't typically enjoy those cutthroat settings. It's just that, to me, there's not enough added to the core game, particularly when played under some sort of standard settings. I'm tempted to say that the change to Chariots is the best change in Warlords .

Then again, I'm still one of those weird guys who think that new civs don't really add anything to the game. New traits do, yes, and I appreciate those additions - civ additions I feel rather indifferent towards.

[Gibsie]

Any chance of putting the review onto one page?

[Slax]

Nice review. Happy to see some criticism where one might expect fanboyism.


Aside - could use some "<- Prev Next->" links for page navigation.

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Gibsie
Any chance of putting the review onto one page?

i actually spent a long time cutting it up

[yin26]

Originally posted by Slax
Nice review. Happy to see some criticism where one might expect fanboyism.

Indeed.

[Alexander I]

Good job, Solver. Not afraid of criticism when necessary, but generous with praise as well. Fair and equitable as always. (And I must say it's nice to finally hear what you really think after so many cryptic hints.)

[Solver]

Hmm, I've posted cryptic hints?

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by Solver
Hmm, I've posted cryptic hints?

What a cryptic thing to say!

[monkspider]

I have to admit that I'm surprised that Solver's review is less than enthusiastic. Then again, I am the type of player who is absolutely giddy at the thought of new Civs.

Still, I am very surprised that he advises the fanbase to wait until it drops in price. For me, the new music alone was worth the meager 29.99.

[padillah]

Solver, I noticed that you didn't mention the Celts at all (other than saying they were in the XP). Is simply because you didn't play much with them (and why not!) or did you not find them interesting or think they'd be fun?

I think they'd be quite powerful and a SPR that starts with Myst could be a religion hog.

(but, then again, I've never won the game either so...)

Tom P.

[Solver]

EDIT: This post is in response to Monkspider.

I'm glad to see that someone is surprised .

I primarily advice the *hardcore* players to wait until the price drops. The less hardcore and those who think that new civs are a great addition will absolutely get their money's worth out of it.

With Civ, I'm somewhat on the hardcore side, I've always cared more about the strategic options and, most of all, about the AI. My involvement with development of vanilla Civ4 also turned me into a Civ (Civ-style) game analyst for balance, strategic depth and similar issues. Which ultimately what leads me to my conclusions about Warlords - few good changes to the actual strategic gameplay.

But as I say in the review, it's not a horrible expansion. It could've been much worse if it screwed up combat balance, or had vassal exploit galore, or overpowered Generals, or somesuch. Warlords manages to add that stuff without screwing the game up, and I have to give due credit for that alone.

[Solver]

Originally posted by padillah
Solver, I noticed that you didn't mention the Celts at all (other than saying they were in the XP). Is simply because you didn't play much with them (and why not!) or did you not find them interesting or think they'd be fun?

I think they'd be quite powerful and a SPR that starts with Myst could be a religion hog.

(but, then again, I've never won the game either so...)

Tom P.

I haven't played a game with the Celts with the final version or the last few before it. The last time I played Celts, quite a bunch of things about the game was different, so I can't assess anything fairly based on that game.

I don't have that much to comment on them, as it stands right now. Although I do think they have one heckuva trait combination - I adore SPI - and the Gallic Warrior is an interesting "flavour" unit.