At any time when a brand new Civilization sport is launched, it usually has the identical response from followers. They’re not sure concerning the new options that differ from the earlier title; if it ain’t broke, why repair it? Over time, we get used to those modifications and, in some instances, begin to desire them.
You may suppose no Civilization sport may very well be as controversial as Civilization 6, with its district overhaul and up to date visible aesthetics. You would be flawed. Civilization 7 introduces main modifications to the collection that basically change how it’s performed.
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You have accomplished an age in Civ 7 and are able to rewrite historical past. Congratulations! This is what occurs subsequent.
It is nonetheless too early to inform whether or not it’s going to profit the collection, however even with these large modifications, that is nonetheless, for essentially the most half, the identical Civ you already know and love.
Civilization 7 Modifications The Method You Play Civ
The sport’s two huge modifications are felt earlier than you are taking a single flip. Leaders are not tied to their very own civilizations. As an alternative, you decide them to guide all through all three of the sport’s Ages, the second new characteristic in Civ 7.
Regardless of all of those large modifications, that is nonetheless the identical Civ expertise you already know and love.
You’ll be able to combine and match your Chief to varied civilizations, providing a extra customizable sport expertise. On the one hand, it means that there is a lack of historic identification; it is nonetheless bizarre to see Augustus lead the individuals of Egpyt. Nevertheless, it means that you may have extra management over the best way you play.
The sport will supply beneficial civilizations to pair together with your Chief, however finally, the playstyle is as much as you. Every Chief has a most well-liked playstyle; for instance, Ben Franklin ideally focuses on diplomacy and the economic system, whereas Napoleon is all about navy and tradition.
It’s also possible to give your leaders Mementos, which add varied in-game advantages, resembling additional attribute factors or different talents. It is one other stage of customization that may assist hold issues recent.
There isn’t any must fill the sport’s roster with numerous leaders, most of which you will by no means play. As an alternative, you may play from the choose variety of leaders your means. It is also a good way for me to experiment with extra leaders than in previous Civ video games.
Ages Break up Civilization 7 Into Three Distinct Acts
Not one of the modifications in Civ 7 are as important as Ages. They cut up the sport into three separate acts, primarily creating three smaller Civ video games in your one prolonged session. Every Age represents a serious interval of historical past, and the playable cultures throughout these ages all match the invoice traditionally.
The Antiquity Age options highly effective historic civilizations resembling Rome, Greece, and Persia. The Exploration Age, when it is time to embark and discover the brand new world, is led by Spain and Mongolia. Then, lastly, there’s the Trendy Age, full of modern-day powerhouses like America, Japan, and Russia.
The introduction of Ages to the Civilization components addresses one of many franchise’s greatest critiques: the video games take means too lengthy. Splitting every match into three smaller sections introduces logical stopping factors if you should take a break.
Moreover, you can begin a sport at any age you need; you may waste no time and start within the Trendy Age, for instance. No must toil away early on solely to appreciate that one among your opponents has snowballed uncontrolled. Everyone seems to be, for essentially the most half, on a stage enjoying subject as soon as an Age begins.
I nonetheless miss the marathon periods of Civ. These early moments have been so essential since you wanted to set your self up for long-term success. You possibly can really feel the fruits of your labor as your civilization blossomed after the primary couple hundred turns.
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An empire with out gold is a crumbling empire. These Civ 7 leaders be certain your coffers are by no means empty.
Sure, doing properly in a previous age can set you up for a bonus when heading into a brand new one, however these ages do a very good job of appearing as an total reset to the sport, which makes for fewer feel-bad moments. It takes some getting used to, however I’ve finally come round to the modifications, even when it nonetheless feels bizarre to choose up a brand new civilization after I’ve developed an attachment to my outdated one.
Minor Tweaks With Huge Enhancements
With an elevated give attention to diplomatic gameplay, the best way to achieve allies has modified. You now acquire Affect Factors, permitting you to arrange relationships with different Leaders within the sport. With out them, you may’t set up relationships, commerce routes, or different diplomatic actions.
The identical is true for coping with International Powers, which is the results of Metropolis-States and Barbarians combining, for lack of a greater time period. Some will act hostile and assault your empire, whereas others stay impartial. You’ll be able to ship affect their means, even the hostile ones, to assist convert them. Or you may simply seize them and acquire a bonus on your civilization.
It is a neat, refined change that provides an additional layer of technique to the sport: Do you get rid of all of the overseas powers, or do you’re employed on influencing them over different potential allies? This provides one other stage of technique with out making the sport extra advanced.
Civilization 7 Nonetheless Feels Like Civ, And But…
Regardless of all of those large modifications, that is nonetheless the identical Civ expertise I do know and love. I do not suppose it will ever not be jarring to have Leaders decide and select their civilizations, but it surely’s a great way to maintain issues recent.
And but, though it shares the identical DNA as one among my favourite franchises, there are nonetheless some points at play. First, my most well-liked playstyle is to go all-in on Science whereas constructing a powerful economic system. With the Chief system in Civ 7, I can decide leaders who’re sturdy in two features of the gameplay and have that be the overarching theme of my empire, whatever the civilizations I select.
These bonuses from my Chief persist all through each Age, and but, there’s not a single Chief at launch with a playstyle of “Financial Scientific.” It is an odd exclusion contemplating the overlap of Cultural orEconomic Leaders, or these specializing in Expansonists or the Navy. Positive, these two are truthfully totally different playstyles, however they usually go hand-in-hand; you may’t increase your empire with no sturdy navy.
We already anticipated a serious drop within the variety of Leaders out there in Civ 7. That is simply pure after coming from two full expansions and further post-launch help from Civ 6. Nonetheless, it is disappointing, and the sport feels slightly incomplete, particularly since there’s already post-launch DLC coming over the following few months with new Leaders.
Civilization 7’s UI is Disappointing
As controversial as Civ 6’s extra colourful presentation was, it was extraordinarily useful to study beneficial details about your empire. There wasn’t any must click on on tiles and determine what was taking place. It was all crystal clear.
Even in its present state, I can see myself enjoying this for years to return, although nowhere close to as a lot as I did with Civ 6. There are too many irritating points that want addressing.
That’s not the case in Civilization 7.
I am not right here to poke at simply fixable design points and typos. That’s what it’s; they’re annoying and irritating however simply mounted. As an alternative, simply take a look at that above.
Now, let me zoom in on my metropolis of Waset. At a look, I don’t know what any of those districts do.
On the left facet, there is a cluster of three tiles that characteristic an Academy, a Library, and the Mastaba. Might have fooled me as a result of all of them look so comparable.
They do not have defining traits or different visible identifier clues. They’re simply shades of brown that do not stand out.
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I’ve heard critiques that the UI was constructed with console or handheld gadgets in thoughts, however enjoying Civ 7 on my Steam Deck was a irritating expertise made worse by the unhelpful UI. The controls weren’t intuitive; I needed to hop again onto my PC instantly.
There Are Nonetheless Even Extra Modifications in Civ 7
Firaxis went all-in on making Civilization extra accessible, they usually succeeded by making its size extra manageable. Nevertheless, the quality-of-life division did not get the memo.
Even with the sport cut up into separate Ages, by the point you attain the Trendy Age, you will have to manage numerous items, even in case you’re leaping straight right into a Trendy Age sport.
Meaning, sure, your turns will take some time, similar to they used to.
By some means, you are not capable of have your Scout items auto-explore, which implies you must give them assignments 24/7.
For a sport that does a lot to make the Civ expertise rather more manageable and accessible, it is a larger misstep than the UI points for me.
There is a implausible sport someplace in Civ 7 that I am going to simply spend 1,000+ hours with. Even in its present state, I can see myself enjoying this for years to return, although nowhere close to as a lot as I did with Civ 6. There are too many irritating points that want addressing. No less than that is what I hold telling myself, solely to return again in addition up one other sport. Firaxis made a giant gamble with the modifications to Leaders and Ages, and one way or the other, it paid off. If they will enhance the sport’s flaws with future updates, we’ll have one other iconic entry within the legendary 4X technique collection.
Reviewed on PC
Grand Technique
Flip-Based mostly Technique
4X
Launched February 11, 2025
ESRB t
