Civilization VII: Initial Impressions from Early Reviews
With Sid Meier's Civilization VII launching next week, the review embargo has ended, revealing a range of opinions. Here's a summary of key takeaways:
The most lauded new feature is the Era System, a significant departure from previous titles. This system introduces dynamic civilization evolution, replacing the static approach of earlier games.
This era-based structure addresses past gameplay issues, such as excessively long matches and runaway civilizations. Each of the three distinct eras offers a unique gameplay experience with its own technologies and victory conditions.
The ability to combine different leaders and civilizations is another highly praised element, adding considerable strategic depth. Players can leverage the strengths of various leaders and civilizations – although historical accuracy isn't always a priority.
Reviewers also commend the improved city placement, enhanced resource management, refined district construction, and streamlined user interface. However, some critics found the UI overly simplified.
Negative feedback includes smaller map sizes, reducing the sense of scale found in earlier Civilization games. Technical issues such as bugs and frame rate drops (especially when accessing menus) were also reported. Another recurring complaint involved matches ending prematurely and inconclusively.
Given the game's immense scope and replayability, a definitive judgment will require extensive community exploration. Nevertheless, these initial reviews offer a comprehensive first impression.
