Reviews

[aubreelewis]

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.

[tylertoo]

The New York Times weighs in with a glowing review :**

In particular, making a great computer game requires a very different sensibility from making a great console game. As with television and film, there is far less crossover than one might expect.

All of which goes some way toward explaining why Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is an almost complete triumph. Melding formidable intellectual depth with an unintimidating, relatively easy-to-grasp graphical presentation, the new Civilization is by far the best strategy game to grace a living room console. This is a console game that history and social studies teachers should encourage their students to enjoy. This is a game that parents should want to play with their children. And this is a game that will then incite some parents to send their kids to bed so the old folks don’t have to share.

**I think the link goes bad after a week

[Locutus]

NYPost: Easily a B+/A-

On the New York Post's gaming blog Post Game Report journalist William Vitka posted a brief review of Civilization: Revolution:

This is an excellent, stream-lined strategy game for the Xbox 360 that Sid Meier himself programmed the core of. It doesn't get much better than that. It's just a superb console addition to the world famous pantheon of Civilization games. And it's certainly leaps and bounds beyond the nearly-tragic PC port of Supreme Commander (which...yeah...sad).

The reviewer rates the game [e]asily a B+/A-. Read the full (brief) review on the newspaper's gaming blog.

[Locutus]

AP: Fine Introduction for Consoles

Lou Kesten of the Associated Press wrote a brief review of Civilization: Revolution that was published in a number of North American newspapers including the Baltimore Sun:

Meier's Firaxis studio has done an excellent job translating complicated keyboard commands to a console controller. And the graphics are stunning, with stirring battle sequences and witty animations of your advisers and enemies. There are a variety of ways to win -- you can pound your opponents into submission, for example, or focus on building cultural "wonders" for your own citizens -- so no two games are the same. "Civilization Revolution" is a fine introduction to the strategy genre for console players. Three-and-a-half stars out of four.

You can read the full review (among other places) on the website of the Baltimore Sun.

[Locutus]

LA Times: A for Awesome

The Los Angeles Times has posted a brief review of Civilization: Revolution by Pete Metzger. Calling the game a perfect mix of strategy and action Metzger briefly describes the gameplay and concludes that:

The logical thinking and strategic focus, which force you to use your brain, are disguised with cool graphics and cute action. And the different levels of difficulty will mean replay after replay.

Who knew learning could actually be fun?

He rates the game an A for awesome. You can read the full (brief) review over at the online version of the LA Times.

[Locutus]

Globe and Mail: Masterful Reinvention

The Canadian newspaper The Globa and Mail posted their review of the latest incarnation of Civilization on the consoles. Author Chad Sapieha calls CivRev a masterful reinvention of the Civilization experience that plays to the strengths of console gaming. He's impressed by the fast-paced gameplay and intuitive controls.

Make no mistake; it is a pared down version of its PC forerunners. There are fewer unit types and buildings to construct. Game creation options are more limited—we cannot, for example, control the shape and size of the world map. And many of the PC game's more complicated elements—such as the ability to take a hands-on approach to land improvement—have simply been removed.

But, Sapieha, continues, heart and soul of the game remains. The game still has the classic one-more-turn addictive value as the reviewer found himself still playing at 3:30 AM. You can read the full article on the website of The Globe and Mail.

[Locutus]

Courier-Mail: One of the Best

The Australian newspaper Courier-Mail has published a brief review of Civilization: Revolution, giving the game an 8.5 out of 10.

The main concepts of the PC game have been preserved: culture, resource and food allocation; racial bonuses; unit stacking; diplomacy and combat. The difference is it's all been streamlined. Piles of menus have been replaced with a couple of button presses. Still, as simplified as it is, a mouse and keyboard would not go astray.

Reviewer Logan Booker remarks that the game does bog down in the late game, but it's still one of the best console strategy titles available. Read the full (brief) review on the Courier-Mail website.

[Locutus]

Boston Phoenix: Demystifying the Game

Ryan Stewart of The Boston Phoenix newspaper reviewed the latest incarnation of the Civilization franchise for the console. He writes:

For some, strategy games can seem intimidating. Monitoring production, expanding your territory, building up an army, and practicing diplomacy with other groups can all start to feel overwhelming, particularly if the most “strategy” you’re used to in a video game is “Should I use the shotgun or the semi-automatic?” The latest installment in designer Sid Meier’s venerable Civilization series, which may be the best-known in the genre, is for those gamers — the ones who were busy playing Quake and Super Metroid while others were playing, well, Civilization.

He laments that the combat is a very hands-off affair, decided entirely by statistics, and that the results can be a bit random. He's also not very impressed by the predictable AI and the few available play modes and viable strategies. In the end however, he concludes that CivRev demystifies the genre for the newcomers and gives it 3 out of 4 stars. Read the full review on the online version of The Boston Phoenix.

[Locutus]

XBox World Australia: Civ Lite

Gaming site XBox World Australia has reviewed Civilization: Revolution. Julian Cram says:

But let's get something out of the way – this is definitely Civilization Lite. Many people may look down their noses at it because of this, but I like to think of it as the difference between driving and automatic and manual car. One is more complex to drive than the other, but unless you're a really dedicated car fan, it doesn't really matter because both types of cars are complex feats of engineering, both will get you from A to B, and in both you need to concentrate on the road ahead.

Civ: Rev is like an automatic car. Its complexity has been stripped back making the ride a little more enjoyable and easy for those who want it to be, and making it much easier for learners with less gears and pedals to mess with. Those who have never played a Civ game before will appreciate the controls and take to them as easy as someone takes to controls in any console game.

Cram is impressed by the controls and interface, sounds and graphics, and the fast and addictively gameplay, but he's underwhelmed by the small maps, lack of customisation and unbalanced difficulty levels. Overall though, he considers CivRev a great game for both online and offline play, although maybe less suitable for the hardcode PC fans. Read the full review on XBox World Australia.

[Locutus]

Planet XBox 360: Rent It

Planet XBox 360 posted their review of Civilization: Revolution. Author Crad Grischow is impressed by the advisors and leaders:

The demands of the other world leaders are actually entertaining thanks to the cartoonish personality each character in the game gets; including silly mumbled 'voices' reminiscent of The Sims. The other leaders are not always out to destroy you, and will occasionally even send gifts, such as dancing bears, to earn your respect and ongoing peace.

He also likes the controls but does note that the games are too short and the world too small, with the differences between civs not great enough. There are some framerate issues and the variety offered by the game of the week feature isn't too great. Multiplayer is hurt by the limited number of modes to play and the turn timer, which is too slow early on, too quick later in the game. Overall, the reviewer considers CivRev to be a solid game that deserves your attention, but the lack of depth makes it a more likely candidate as a rental than a purchase. The full review, which rates the game as a 7.7 out of 10, can be on Planet XBox 360.

[Locutus]

Variety: Like an Elegant Board Game

Freelance journalist Tom Chick (don't believe the byline on this one ) reviewed Civilization: Revolution for US entertainment industry magazine Variety. According to Chick, the game ingeniously brings the series back to basics and, despite a few faults late in the game, should appeal to new players without alienating the devoted fan base.

He points out that games are much shorter now and that the gameplay has been strongly streamlined, many techs, units, wonders, etc having been cut to allow for fewer, but more important decisions. Is it better than the previous "Civ" games? That's the wrong question. It's different. And it works on its own terms. The reviewer continues to provide examples of this streamlining, concluding that the game feels more like an elegant board game that the PC version. He concludes:

"Civilization Revolution" is smoothest during the early stages. Exploring the world is like a guided treasure hunt along barbarian cities and mystical ruins. The later parts of a game can bog down as a world full of computer nations gets belligerent and stupid (the artificial intelligence is fond of foolishly waged wars).

You can read the full, short but well-written review on the online version of Variety.

[Locutus]

ZTGameDomain: Largely Satisfying (9/10)

Hardcore gaming site ZTGameDomain posted their review of Civilization: Revolution. The reviewer, known simply as Catastrophe, considers CivRev to be a fantastic game, although she readily admits that she's more than a little bit of a Sid Meier fangirl. She compliments the game for being redesigned specifically for consoles and for being as accessible to newcomers as to diehard Civ fans. One criticism she has are the maps:

In addition to Civilization's new found brevity, map selection may be a bit jarring. Don't expect to be choosing your map or terrain, they are randomized and the appearance and scope of the terra firma is a surprise every time. The tempting mien of the maps, as well as the ability to name geographic features like deserts and forests is enticing. Even if you are not very expansion-minded early on exploration has a payoff with features like the discovery of ancient artifacts (Lost City of Atlantis among them), which yield significant bonuses to your civ. These types of additions foster the addictive gameplay fans know and love.

She also laments the one-dimensional nature of and limited options for diplomacy, but finds the combat is more impressive. Pointing out the variety of play that can be offered by the scenarios and multiplayer as well as the intuitive controls, the reviewer has her biggest beefs with the sound and graphics: the former just disappoints and the latter suffers from frame rate issues. Overall, she concludes that the game is largely satisfying and successful, giving it a 9 out of 10. Read the full review on ZTGameDomain.

[Locutus]

G&P: A Delightful Experience

Online magazine Game and Player posted their review of Civilization: Revolution, giving the game 4 out of 5 stars. The magazine's managing editor Michael Ubaldi admits he initially considered the game too lightweight, but he eventually found value in it. The reviewer is especially impressed by the use of sound in the game:

Each aspect of leadership is represented by a ministry and guided by an advisor. Animated characters, wearing contemporary garb, sidle on-screen when their command menu is selected. Speaking playful, Sims-like gibberish, they warm up otherwise utilitarian exchanges. Some of the phonetic parodies are much more successful than others, but I admit: they all grew on me. Elsewhere, gameplay is very carefully arranged through identifying sounds — effects merely amusing at first are, in fact, effective nonverbal signals.

He does criticise the AIs for being brutish and dull, describing diplomacy as frequently predictable, repetitive or even silly. On higher difficulties levels they become more interesting though and can force players to adapt their strategies, according to the author. Overall the easy and quick-paced gameplay and the colourful and animated graphics result in a a delightful experience. Read the full review on Game and Player.

[Locutus]

BCS: Bright And Colourful

The British Computer Society has posted a review of Civilization: Revolution on their website. Noting the game's good controls and how easy it is to get into, the reviewer was frustrated by the seemingly random combat results. The graphics are also less impressive:

One disappointing side of Civ Rev though is that to look at it's not the greatest and certainly doesn't appear to push either the Xbox 360 or the PS3 anywhere near their limits. It's bright and colourful but some of the character animation are not the greatest with a number of advisors looking the same no matter which race you select, which is a shame.

Overall, the game is good and addictive, worthy of a 78% score. Read the full review on the BCS website.

[Locutus]

AceGamez: Slow-Paced But Solid

New Zealand website AceGamez posted their review of Civilization: Revolution, giving it an 8 out of 10. Adam Meadows points out that this is not a game for adrenaline junkies, as it's very much about slow, methodical strategy rather than about real-time action. He criticises multiplayer for being very slow-paced with the slowest player determine the pace of the game, although he is incorrectly under the assumption that turns are not simultaneous in MP. He doesn't like the option of turn timers though, as that forces players into making mistakes. Overall, the faster pace of gameplay compared to the PC version of the game is to Meadows's liking though.

Players deliberately looking for a longer, more drawn out multiplayer experience have to be willing to set hours aside to get their fix. Longer games could really use the facility to save so you can return to finish at a later date, but sadly not even a feature reminiscent of saving or checkpoints is to be found. This makes what should be the online evolution of an epic Civilization experience feel like a young child playing with LEGO; the sense of importance and scale just isn't there. In this sense, the multiplayer customisation is lacking, especially as no options exist for defining the starting era or indeed any sort of ability to alter the time scale.

The reviewer finds it baffling that a tutorial is only available on the lowest difficulty setting, while he does like the graphics, although he's not impressed by the frequency that advisors pop up and the amount of screen space they consume.

Overall Meadows is not extremely impressed by the game but he likes it well enough, calling the game solid, streamlined and accessible. You can read the full review on AceGamez.