Having spent a small amount of time with the demo (just to check it's performance you understand) I've now had a few hours with the full game.
Firstly it's clearly Civ. Everything you know and love is present and correct with a few additions. It's no longer on a square grid and is now a hex grid. It makes the terrain look much more natural and also has a slight impact on how your units move around. Moving in one direction (as any fan of blockbusters can attest) is a much bigger commitment than before as you'll find it'll take more turns if you decide to change your mind and go the other way.
It looks fantastic. The luxuries are lovingly animated, tiles smoothly transition across types, the combat animations are hugely improved from IV and the diplomacy screens are full screen scenes now. For those with lower spec machines or people who prefer the scaled back look can use the strategic view. This presents everything iconically across a hexagonal board, all in 2d. Everything that could be done in the normal view can be done here. It's nice to use now and then (usually during times of conflict) but I don't think I'll be playing a lot with it on.
The combat is my favourite change. Each tile can only house one unit at a time. This makes placement extremely important and also allows you to control choke points and defensive areas much more easily. Some units can now bombard units across the map. This provides another tactical decision in the placement of units. This does away with the stack of death in previous games (a full stack of units which you march across the land) and is all the better for it.
Will post more when I can tear myself away but so far so addictive. Is there anything more satisfying than having a former big time charlie begging you for peace as your units march on his capital?
Firstly it's clearly Civ. Everything you know and love is present and correct with a few additions. It's no longer on a square grid and is now a hex grid. It makes the terrain look much more natural and also has a slight impact on how your units move around. Moving in one direction (as any fan of blockbusters can attest) is a much bigger commitment than before as you'll find it'll take more turns if you decide to change your mind and go the other way.
It looks fantastic. The luxuries are lovingly animated, tiles smoothly transition across types, the combat animations are hugely improved from IV and the diplomacy screens are full screen scenes now. For those with lower spec machines or people who prefer the scaled back look can use the strategic view. This presents everything iconically across a hexagonal board, all in 2d. Everything that could be done in the normal view can be done here. It's nice to use now and then (usually during times of conflict) but I don't think I'll be playing a lot with it on.
The combat is my favourite change. Each tile can only house one unit at a time. This makes placement extremely important and also allows you to control choke points and defensive areas much more easily. Some units can now bombard units across the map. This provides another tactical decision in the placement of units. This does away with the stack of death in previous games (a full stack of units which you march across the land) and is all the better for it.
Will post more when I can tear myself away but so far so addictive. Is there anything more satisfying than having a former big time charlie begging you for peace as your units march on his capital?
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