With Sid Meier's Civilization VII launching next week, the review embargo has lifted, revealing a wave of early impressions. Here's a summary of the key takeaways:
The most lauded new feature is the Era System, a significant departure from previous iterations. This system introduces dynamic evolution for civilizations, moving them through distinct eras, each with unique technologies and victory conditions. This addresses past criticisms of overly long matches and runaway civilizations. The three eras each feel like distinct gameplay experiences.
The ability to mix and match leaders and civilizations is another highlight, adding considerable strategic depth. Players can combine the strengths of various leaders and civilizations, although historical accuracy sometimes takes a backseat.
Reviewers also praised improvements in city placement, resource management, district construction, and the user interface (UI). However, some felt the streamlined UI sacrificed some depth.
On the less positive side, several reviewers noted smaller maps, diminishing the sense of scale present in previous Civilization titles. Technical issues, including bugs and frame rate drops when accessing menus, were also reported. Additionally, some matches reportedly ended prematurely and inexplicably.
Given the immense scale and replayability of a Civilization game, a definitive verdict will require extensive community exploration. However, these initial reviews offer a strong first impression.
