Just a little background on my interest in Civilization.
My love for this kind of game goes back to Utopia on the Intellivision game system. I remember designing my own game on paper in middle school. I have played countless versions of these games, but in my mind, the Civ series is the best. My play style treats the game more like a simulation than a game. I find it hard to go to war againts Civs that are friends to me, even if it would help me to win the game. Ultimately, i am not looking for victory. I wish the game would continue on with new discoveries, but I know its got to end at some point.
Here's my thoughts on Civ 4
Overall:
So far I like the game, but dissappointed on a couple of things.
The good:
The look and feel of the game is awesome. Graphics are not what gets me to buy a game, but I find I am impressed with civ 4. I love the spherical earth. My only bag is some of the resources are hard to see.
The interface is better in many aspects. I love how I can get most of the information I need just by pointing.
Religion is a big plus for me. The real world is affected so much by religion, it is the one thing that was missing out of the other versions of the game. My bag with religion however is it seems to play such a small role in the game. My expectations were that the AI would go to war with me over religion, but I haven't seen it yet.
The music. I like it. The opening song is great.
The bad:
The pace is too fast. This has been my beef with all the Civ games, but Civ 4 seems even worse. Why have all these cool units if they are just going to be outdated by something else 10 turns later? What is the point of starting the game in 4000BC if by the time you built anything to really do anything, it is already 500AD?
Unlimted research doesn't make sense. How can you build a battleship before you invent paper? I'm not saying bring back the forced eras from Civ3, but require more pre reqs or something.
Caravels can't carry settlers? Tell that to the Mayflower. Or was the Mayflower a Galleon? Civ3's 3 levels of ocean were way better than Civ 4.
Wonder Movies! Yeah, I missed them too, but the wonder movies in Civ2 were interesting. I think Firaxis missed the point. Yeah, we want movies, but make them intersting, not just a CG build up of the building in question. Once you seen one, you seen them all.
The Ugly:
So much of the other incarnations of civilization have been hacked away, this game seems a bit barren. Instead of taking out the palace, make it better. I have thoughts on this, but will post them at a later time. The new avatars look great, but I like the way the ones in Civ 3 changed their look over time. Those kind of things just add flavor. I hope the expansions will bring some of this back.
My love for this kind of game goes back to Utopia on the Intellivision game system. I remember designing my own game on paper in middle school. I have played countless versions of these games, but in my mind, the Civ series is the best. My play style treats the game more like a simulation than a game. I find it hard to go to war againts Civs that are friends to me, even if it would help me to win the game. Ultimately, i am not looking for victory. I wish the game would continue on with new discoveries, but I know its got to end at some point.
Here's my thoughts on Civ 4
Overall:
So far I like the game, but dissappointed on a couple of things.
The good:
The look and feel of the game is awesome. Graphics are not what gets me to buy a game, but I find I am impressed with civ 4. I love the spherical earth. My only bag is some of the resources are hard to see.
The interface is better in many aspects. I love how I can get most of the information I need just by pointing.
Religion is a big plus for me. The real world is affected so much by religion, it is the one thing that was missing out of the other versions of the game. My bag with religion however is it seems to play such a small role in the game. My expectations were that the AI would go to war with me over religion, but I haven't seen it yet.
The music. I like it. The opening song is great.
The bad:
The pace is too fast. This has been my beef with all the Civ games, but Civ 4 seems even worse. Why have all these cool units if they are just going to be outdated by something else 10 turns later? What is the point of starting the game in 4000BC if by the time you built anything to really do anything, it is already 500AD?
Unlimted research doesn't make sense. How can you build a battleship before you invent paper? I'm not saying bring back the forced eras from Civ3, but require more pre reqs or something.
Caravels can't carry settlers? Tell that to the Mayflower. Or was the Mayflower a Galleon? Civ3's 3 levels of ocean were way better than Civ 4.
Wonder Movies! Yeah, I missed them too, but the wonder movies in Civ2 were interesting. I think Firaxis missed the point. Yeah, we want movies, but make them intersting, not just a CG build up of the building in question. Once you seen one, you seen them all.
The Ugly:
So much of the other incarnations of civilization have been hacked away, this game seems a bit barren. Instead of taking out the palace, make it better. I have thoughts on this, but will post them at a later time. The new avatars look great, but I like the way the ones in Civ 3 changed their look over time. Those kind of things just add flavor. I hope the expansions will bring some of this back.
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