Kotaku
Last Friday I headed down to the glamorous Hotel Monaco to check out some of the multiplayer functions of Sid Meir's newest addition to the Civilization franchise, Civilization Revolution. I had seen it previously at E3 and E for All but neither had really shown off the multiplayer functions of the game which is what this viewing was all about.
The first thing I noticed is the graphical overhaul the entire game has gone through in it's trip from PC to home console. Armies are no longer small collections of little dots, but now are fully fleshed out characters that actually engage enemies in animated battles. It sounds like a small thing but is actually a huge improvement and really draws you into the game a bit more. The closer camera angles help with this as well. Also completely revamped are the character models for all the various nation's leaders and advisers. They are much more detailed and while they are still technically rather cartoony, they still seem much more realistic than the ones in previous games of the series.
We launched right away into a multiplayer game against Wired's Chris Kholer. Now before you go skipping all the way to the end just to see if I kicked his butt, no I did not. Nor did he kick mine. Unfortunately we did not have the forty five minutes to an hour it takes to play a full vs game, but we got enough in to get a feeling for it. There are three different multi-player modes in the game: Free For All, Head to Head and Teams. We played the head to head version but I am sure the other modes play similarly in their basic play.
There are sixteen different civilizations to choose from at the top of the game, each civ having it's strengths and weaknesses. An interesting addition to this version of the game is the ability to apply an handicap to your team. So if you are a new player going up against a more experienced one, you can choose from one of four different levels of handicap that will speed up your building and production speeds and the like. Of course choosing to handicap will stick you with one of the impressive list of names for the handicaps: Noobish, Noobasauraus, Noobatronic or Noobalicious.
Once the game started I could tell it was moving at a faster pace than previous titles. According to the developers, this is the best multiplayer functionality yet seen in a Civilization game. The controls and functions from the PC version have all been retrofitted to suit the controllers for the PS3 and Xbox 360. (The version I saw was the 360) The controls were comfortable and intuitive and within a few turns I was playing pretty smoothly. Civilization is kind of like riding a bike, once you find your balance your gliding along like you've been playing your whole life. I started off by building a couple cities and then sending my men out to start exploring the land. Several turns later I had acquired enough units to create an army. The armies area is a great addition since you essentially combine any three matching units together and you instantly have a nine person force. The is great for those ground skirmishes where you get to steal land from lowly barbarians. The game is still turn based and you have to wait for your opponent to finish his move before you can start yours. This can be boring at times, but it does afford you a little time to try and think ahead about your next move. The battle animations are done using the Havok engine and it was cool to watch the little guys fall off a mountain or die face down in the ocean. I did manage to get in a scuffle with the fine Mr. Kholer's army but in the time allotted I only managed to steal his camels. Not a great prize, but I enjoyed my feeling of accomplishment.
Before leaving, I got to check out a little of the DS version of the game albeit briefly. The handheld version is almost an exact replication of the console game with the exception of the graphics which of course had to changed to accommodate the DS screens and resolution. The controls and gameplay however are exactly the same. The developers explained that they didn't want to present a stripped down version just because it was on a handheld. From what I could tell in the short amount of time I had with it, they did an admirable job.
I enjoyed my time with Civilization Revolution and will definitely be picking up a copy when it comes out on June 3rd. It has made the jump from PC to console nicely and the graphical improvements will make it an interesting play for long time Civ players. For new players just getting interested in the title or those who just don't care for PC gaming, it will be a great introduction into the city building, wonder erecting, micromanaging world of Civilization.
Comments
Here's to hoping they add Mouse/Keyboard support for the PS3 version ^^....but they probably wont.. ; ;
Wow - I never thought Civ could work on a console - this makes me happy!
Yknow, this could have been the business sense behind their slowdown of the wii one.
Most wii owners are also DS owners. But the same cant be said of 360/PS3 owners. But even then, there are a lot of 360/PS3 owners who are.
So if you're going to multiplat, I think you're allowed to forget the Wii in favour of the DS. Especially if they are doing like they say they are doing and not handing out some stripped down to bones port.
This isn't going to be a popular opinion with hardcore civ types, but I welcome a simplification of the civ formula. They're all great games, but I no longer seem to have the will to make the thousands of clicks required every time you want to, say, build up enough of a force to take over a few cities.
While playing Civ 4, once I get past a certain stage in a game I'm thinking to myself 'Meh, I know how to win this but I just can't be arsed with the micromanagement anymore,' and end up mindlessly clicking 'End Turn' over and over without bothering to optimise. Sure I know some people revel in taking hours to make a single turn, but I've never had the patience. Roll on Civ Lite.
Civ has been on console before.
I never played multiplayer for any of the civ games since the single player ones take hours to complete, but if the length of the game can be reduced to 45min-1hour then i might give it a shot
I wonder why people keep forgetting that there was a Civilization game on the SNES.
Why did the article say that Civ no longer has small collection of little dots as representations of armies? They had that since Civ III.
Just started Civ IV (well, 5 hours for the second play session), and I'll be definietly looking forward to this.
Hmmm, if the game is pretty much the same on the DS, just without the graphical flourishes, that may be the version to get for me. Portability FTW!
@cordsie: I'm a hardcore Civ type, and I agree with you to some extent.
While I sometimes really enjoy the precise micromanagement, sometimes you just want to build some trebuchets and swordmen and mix things up a little bit.
I'm looking forward to these new Civ-lites; I think they'll be a nice complement to the main game.
Random pictures
- Mule (8bits)
- Civ I (20bits PC)
- Civ IV (32/64bits PC)
- Civ IV - Nuke(32/64bits PC)
- Civ Revolution(32bits Console)
Sid Meier is the bomb.
I remember I spent three days straight playing Civ 4 when I first got it, and then lost all interest in it after a couple of weeks. I hope that doesn't happen with this one, I really like this series.
Again, not the first on a console.
Civilization is on the SNES, and Civ 2 had an excellent port for the Playstation.
"Armies are no longer small collections of little dots, but now are fully fleshed out characters that actually engage enemies in animated battles."
What was the last Civlization game you played? Civ2?
@Chadders: Exactly what I was thinking. That being said, I tend to let the computer hand most of the micro-managing when I play on the PC anyways, and I am looking forward to this release.
People. FOCUS. There's a version of Civ coming that you can play on the fruckin' bus or subway or in the toilet or in bed or oh Jesus I'm never going to be not playing this game :(
Still bummed that there won't be a PSP version. Seemed like a good on-the-go title. I especially would have like to see cross PSP-PS3 functionality.
Oh well . . .
There's a load of real info here:
[apolyton.net]
DS Civ should be great, although I still have a nagging fear that this is going to be a disaster like Civ City Rome. The console version seems pointless for PC owners, though.
June can kiss my ass. Fucking June.
Civilization Revolution, Ninja Gaiden 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Soul Calibur 4. Dammit!
@DrStrangepork: I agree. Why no PSP love? It'd look great on that crisp screen.
Well, if they're not going to do PSP Civ, then give me PSP Hearts of Iron. THAT separates the men from the boys.
[jp]
+ Watch video
I say again. MEN from the BOYS.
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Achievement unlocked!
Camel Thief
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"Armies are no longer small collections of little dots, but now are fully fleshed out characters that actually engage enemies in animated battles."
Like in Civ 4?
I think I might buy both the DS and 360 version....
I'm kind of saturated on first-person shooters so there isn't a whole lot on the 360 release calendar I'm looking forward to. In fact, Civ Revolutions is pretty much the only thing I can think of off the top of my head that is a 100% lock for me to pick up until probably the winter.
I've wasted a horrible amount of time thanks to Sid Meier and Firaxis (once you combine the Civ games, Alpha Centauri, and the Railroad Tycoon(poptop)/Railroads games)
@the-hypnotoad: Alpha Centauri...now THERE is a game. Bring it back, Firaxis. Please. On PSP. If you can.
I'll buy it. Even two copies.
So glad to hear the DS version won't be a half-hearted mess, like so many multiplatform games are on handhelds. I can live without flashy graphics.
Here's hoping for wi-fi multiplayer on the DS.
It seems like a waste if they don't add support for the PS3's keyboard&mouse but I guess it would be useless to do the extra development for < %0.01 percent of the PS3 owners out there.
@DrStrangepork: Maybe we'll see some "remote play" action on our PS3/PSP? Seems a good fit, since we're not relegated by "lag" and such due to its turn-based nature?
That'd be great stuff for sure! (also could be why there is a DS version, and not a PSP version? That they just assumed you could play on PSP if you had one and the PS3? Yeah, too much to ask....)
Gah... I can't wait for this game! I loved Civ III, and though I bought Civ IV, my computer wasn't good enough to run it smoothly... this will be great! XBLA, here I come...
It's interesting to know that this is the first one What's-his-face has worked on directly since the first title.
BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH!
I just needed to get that off my chest.
Never hot into Civ 4. I've played it a little, but the complications really turned me off. Never wanted to take the time to learn all of the nuances.
Glad to have you here, Flatley.
@Wookiee1: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NICE ONE!!!
sigh, it's clear the author hasn't played Civ in ages
and seriously...an hour to play a game? lame!!! Civ is a strategy game that's meant to be played out in full, with long term consequences for bad decisions. what's next, a 30 min game of Risk so fratboys can get in on the action?
I will be sticking to the PC Civ where a game can extend over the course of multiple days. some things just aren't meant for consoles...and by the description here, Civ is one of them
I idn't read the whole article but it looks to be a pretty good game.(or at least something to do for the summer of no games)
@pylon_trooper: MMM I could definatley go for a sequel to Alpha Centauri. Its right up there with Civ 2 for how many hours i've dumped into both. I'll take it back on the PC/Mac though :P
"Unfortunately we did not have the forty five minutes to an hour it takes to play a full vs game"
I really hate to say this, because I'm aware of how elitist it sounds, but I'm wondering just how much we're losing in this Civ, if you can play a full game in an hour?
45 minutes to play a "head to head" game. They say the single player games take longer.
For the record, I've played Civ IV "head to head" and had games last under 5 minutes
@pylon_trooper: Agreed. Heads will aesplode if that game came out to the PSP.
Then again there will be a whole total of what? 10 of us who will buy it tho. D:
@Witzbold:
11. I picked up the Anthology lately, having never played it. Silly enough, it was the war medal inside that sold me, hehe.
Im not really sure which game to play though, theres like four on this disc.
Actually Civ4 is already a simple game. If you want, you can automate 90%. Select a far away research goal (have to change that about 3-4 times in a game), use build-lists in cities, automate discovery and workers. What remains is the "simple" war, new cities, very simple diplomacy and finally making the "major decisions".
@Witzbold:
On the PSP? Why the PSP? I don't think Grand Strategy is a genre that is very conducive to portable gaming. I find that I enjoy the games best when I have a long chunk of time during which I can play continuously and really get engrossed in the game.
Reasons why EU/CK/HoI/Vicky would fail on a portable system:
1) The game is complex enough that you )can forget important information in between playthroughs.
2) The screen is too small for these text heavy games.
3) The games are very long. If you're playing in 15 minute chunks, a single game will take forever.
4) It's hard to suspend disbelief and get into such an abstract game when you only have 15 minutes per session.
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