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Civilization: Revolution Review

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robwright   07-09-2008 at 08:10:54 AM

Review by Ryan Lord.

Sid Meier's Civilization returns, but this time the series is bound for the consoles only with Revolution, which features some crucial changes. Can Civilization work on a console? The answer may surprise you.

http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2008/0 [...] on_review/

------------------------------ "Would you qualify that as a launch problem or a design problem?"
--Chris Knight

 

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clay12340   07-09-2008 at 03:48:58 PM
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Anyone tried the DS version of the game? If you have what do you think of it? I'm peeved that it didn't come out for the PC or the Wii, but I'm kind of interested in the DS version if it is any good.

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purplerat   07-09-2008 at 05:24:04 PM
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I think a PC version would have been pointless. The game appears to be very similar to Civ 4 and I'd assume almost every change can or has been done through mods.

------------------------------ GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 v2.0
Intel Core2 Q6600 @ 3.3Ghz
4GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800 @ 915Mhz
EVGA 8800GTS 512MB G92
Reply to purplerat
ryanlord   07-09-2008 at 05:40:58 PM
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The DS version launches today but we were not able to check it out for the review since there were not preview builds available. I've been playing the 360 version for about two weeks now, and if I had the chance, I certainly would have checked out the DS version as well.

From what I understand, the content on the DS is 100% identical in every way, except for the graphics obviously.

No one knows for sure why Wii support was dropped. Who knows, maybe they're still working on it.


Message edited by ryanlord on 07-09-2008 at 05:42:14 PM
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cafuddled   07-09-2008 at 05:41:05 PM
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The review I read on Eurogamer said it was simply a dumbed down version of Civ4.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence."
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ryanlord   07-09-2008 at 05:55:52 PM
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cafuddled wrote :

The review I read on Eurogamer said it was simply a dumbed down version of Civ4.



You can see the similarities between Civ 4 and Civ Rev in the art style mainly, but that's about the extent of the major link between the two games. There is just so much more content, especially in the bonuses that you get, artifacts, great people abilities, etc.

I expected to go into Civ : Rev with that attitude though with both the demo, and then in retail. After two weeks of playing Civilization Revolution in both single player and online, I feel that the extra content is everywhere, and it makes Civ : Rev a completely different product. I can say that I'm definitely a qualified expert on the Civ games, and I have played many games of Civ 4 : Beyond the Sword over the months prior to Civ : Rev, even up to a week before I received my import copy from the UK.

I should note, this is the first game where I've actually gone out and earned all 1000 gamerpoints on the 360, and I've played around 35 games in ranked play already, on both the Free for All ladders and Head to Head. I'm hooked. :)

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purplerat   07-09-2008 at 08:20:05 PM
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Quote :

You can see the similarities between Civ 4 and Civ Rev in the art style mainly, but that's about the extent of the major link between the two games. There is just so much more content, especially in the bonuses that you get, artifacts, great people abilities, etc.


I would still find it hard to believe that any extra content or features couldn't or haven't already been modded for Civ 4. It would be great if this game does well and draws more gamers into this series, but I don't see the draw for the hardcore PC fan base of the game - which most Civ players are. The DS version sounds the most interesting for the obvious reason that you can play Civ where ever you want and it's a game that does not rely much on graphics or visuals.

------------------------------ GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 v2.0
Intel Core2 Q6600 @ 3.3Ghz
4GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800 @ 915Mhz
EVGA 8800GTS 512MB G92
Reply to purplerat
ryanlord   07-09-2008 at 10:11:06 PM
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The content could not be easily modded over direct into Civ 4 in my opinion. Firaxis had to redo the controls, the matchmaking, built in ladder support, built in game of the week support, complete overhaul to culture and great person generation, complete overhaul to nuke behavior and limitations (plus it requires a wonder), complete overhaul to diplomacy options, limits to diplomacy made by wonders like the Great Wall, behavior change with the Oracle wonder, artifacts, etc.

There are so many changes across the board that it'd be very difficult to match Civ : Rev on the PC even with months of dedicated work by a solid mod team. Most of the changes would have to be hacked in, and probably wouldn't even work as well.

The only way I could see Civ : Rev being matched on the PC is if Firaxis released it themselves.

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purplerat   07-09-2008 at 11:16:00 PM
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I haven't played Civ Rev and probably never will unless it comes out for the Wii so it's hard for be to argue about what content could or couldn't be added. But Civ 4 is incredibly mod-able on many levels and intentionally so by Firaxis. Non-content changes like controls, matchmaking, ladder etc obviously had to be made in order for it to work on a console. But something like artifacts and the ICBM changes are pretty easy.
For example

Quote :

The good news is that only one civilization can create the ICBM, and even then it's a major effort to get it. Now a player looking to develop a nuclear weapon must gain access to nuclear technology, and then build the Manhattan Project wonder in one of their cities. The Manhattan Project is literally one of the most expensive wonders in the game, and in turn takes ages to develop until the late game. While there are some shortcuts via great people and the use of wonders, attempting to go nuclear is a costly investment.


That's a pretty simple change, although I don't really like the idea of only one Civ having nukes. The current Civ4 BTS gameplay requires the prerequisite techs be researched and then The Manhattan Project be built by any Civ (only 1 can). Then nukes are available to all Civs. The only change would be to simply make owning the Manhattan Project a requirement to building nukes. There all ready is a mod out there were this required except that every Civ can also build the Manhattan Project on their own. Artifacts really just sound like events tied to goody huts that give you a bonus; nothing too difficult to add even without any serious modding.

From reading the first part of the review it sounded like you were concerned that Civ Rev was a departure from the PC for the series where as I see it as an extension. It's not like they created Civ V as a console exclusive. I just don't think Civ Rev was even needed on the PC and I applaud Firaxis for not releasing for the PC just to grab a few more dollars from the larger Civ fan base. Instead they announced Civilization Colonization which I suspect will have many more innovations to the series than did Revolution.


Message edited by purplerat on 07-09-2008 at 11:17:07 PM
------------------------------ GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 v2.0
Intel Core2 Q6600 @ 3.3Ghz
4GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800 @ 915Mhz
EVGA 8800GTS 512MB G92
Reply to purplerat
Luscious   07-10-2008 at 03:41:33 AM
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Anybody out there know a place where I can pick up a copy of "civ 4 complete"? I've been looking for it for months now but all I can find is the gold edition, nobody seems to have "complete" in stock.

Reply to Luscious
purplerat   07-10-2008 at 03:21:01 PM
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Luscious,
Other than ebay or Amazon I'm not sure where you'll find the retail version. Steam does have all three for $59.99, but if you all ready have Civ 4 or can get it cheap all you really need is Beyond The Sword, unless you really want the Warlords scenarios. Otherwise BTS has everything Warlords does.

------------------------------ GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 v2.0
Intel Core2 Q6600 @ 3.3Ghz
4GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800 @ 915Mhz
EVGA 8800GTS 512MB G92
Reply to purplerat
ryanlord   07-10-2008 at 07:38:48 PM
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Yep, BTS is definitely the expansion to get on the PC. No need really for Warlords at this point.

Reply to ryanlord
Luscious   07-11-2008 at 12:18:40 AM
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Thanks guys, much appreciate the info. I'll give steam a look!

Reply to Luscious
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