The much-anticipated release of Sid Meier's Civilization VII from Firaxis has left many fans disappointed, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly negative initial reviews on Steam. With over 1,000 reviews and a dismal score of 37%, players are vocal about their dissatisfaction with the game's shoddy interface, outdated graphics, and overall sense of incompleteness.
User Cool CGI Dog, who spent about 1.5 hours playing, expressed frustration, stating:
The game feels... so blatantly incomplete after a few minutes, especially by Civ standards. The resource icons appear to be from 1998, the interface is terrible, and everything is extremely sloppy.
There isn't any discernible care, which is something I didn't anticipate from Firaxis. The release of Civ VI is a far cry from this incomplete mess. At the very least, Civ VII's interface needs a total visual makeover to at least partially justify its outrageous $70 price tag. With this game, Sid Meyer himself slapped me around and spat in my mouth. I also didn't agree to it.
Another player, WillNever, who invested around 2.5 hours in the game, echoed these sentiments:
The interface appears and feels as though it was designed during the alpha phase of development and hasn't been altered or enhanced since. Although the new mechanics are intriguing, it is not worth the effort to navigate this awful interface. To make the game fun, months of tweaking are required.
A common thread among reviewers is the belief that Civilization VII was released prematurely and is in dire need of significant improvements. The $70 price point has been particularly contentious, with many feeling it does not reflect the game's current quality.
Fans of the series remain hopeful that Firaxis will heed the feedback and roll out updates to address the issues, restoring the game to the high standards expected of the Civilization franchise. Historically known for its meticulous attention to detail and quality, the series' loyal followers are eager for Civilization VII to eventually meet these expectations, though it currently falls short.
