Civilization Revolution
Civilization Revolution, developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games, is a console variant of the venerable Sid Meier’s Civilization series, which is in its fourth iteration on the PC. It’s a turn-based strategy game for the Xbox 360, PS3 and DS. Players control one of sixteen civilizations against either the computer or other players over the internet or via System Link. There are four separate victory conditions, so, while it’s nice “to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the women,” it’s not the only way to win.
The best part about Civilization Revolution may also be its biggest weakness – the game’s incredibly streamlined. I’ve played Civ 3 and Civ 4 for years now, and Civ Rev is everything I’ve wanted those games to be. It strips out a lot of the micromanagement and complexity that Civ games are known for, and leaves in just the bits that I find most entertaining. However, a lot of people, especially the friends that introduced me to the Civilization series in the first place, really love the complexity involved, and may find Civilization Revolution too simplistic for their tastes.
As an example of the streamlined nature of Civ Rev, there are no more workers. Workers were the bane of my existence in Civ. I always seemed to have too many or too few, they never seemed to be building the right improvements in the right places, and they were absolutely vital to the success of your civilization. I do not miss them.
In their absence, squares simply get worked to their full advantage. Resources (the special bonus patches of land scattered about the map) are accessible if they fall within a city’s field of influence. Roads are built simply by paying the gold cost, and traveling along a road doesn’t take away from a unit’s move points. As such, it doesn’t matter if two cities are right next to each other or separated by a continent – if a road connects them and no other cities or enemy troops are in the way, it counts as one move point. This can look a little silly in practice, but I find it preferable to agonizing over building the best route between cities, or (more likely) simply forgetting to finish building a road.
Efficiencies like this abound. Armies are no longer a largely random occurrence; build three like units and they can be combined into an army (a beefed up, more durable version of the base unit). Combat is much more understandable; the bonuses and penalties involved are laid out so you can learn what went wrong. Even the victory conditions are streamlined, and you’re given regular updates on where you stand in relation to the rest of the world. All of this combines to make the game much more accessible for players new and old alike.
The best part of this streamlined approach is that the game stays entertaining pretty much all the way through. Turns are quick and the actions you take on those turns always feel important in some way. I never felt like I was spending ten, twenty, thirty turns waiting for something to happen.
That being said, with the efficiency comes a loss of control and fewer options. There’s only one map size, and you’re always playing on one giant continent (a Pangaea map in Civ). There are always five civilizations on the map, including the player. The civilizations you play against are always randomly selected. In multiplayer, you’re given the option of playing competitively or cooperatively (which is nice), but that’s where your control ends.
The player new to the series isn’t going to notice the loss of those options, though. I know because Civ Rev has gotten my wife interested in the game. She likes the lively graphics and animations, the quick progression through the ages and the sense of humor that pervades the entire game. And if she ever gets tired of the limited options or lack control over the minutiae, the PC series is waiting for her.
In the end, I can’t recommend this game enough. There’s a serious dearth of turn-based strategy games on the consoles, and Civ Rev does credit to the genre. Even if you’re a fan of the PC series, this is like Civ Lite. It’s a fun diversion in between those 30-hour marathon Civ 4 games. Call it a breather. And for players new to the series, it’s a great introduction. All of Civ’s elements are here, in easy-chew tablet form.