The first thing that strikes you when you see Civilization V is that is a very good looking game, even in its current unpolished state. Not only are the landscapes and effects beautifully realised, they are varied, and Firaxis is planning on including as many different environments as possible.
You will also notice that the old square tiles have been swapped out for far more sensible hexagons. The Firaxis representative that walked us through the gameplay projected on a massive 50 inch TV explained that the Hexagons just make more sense and provide a more natural way for units to interact with the environment and move around.
Speaking of movement, unit animations are also natural and fluid. So at face value Firaxis has checked all the boxes, but that’s not all they have done: a few new gameplay tweaks have also been made.
Before moving into the body of the gameplay demonstration we are told that Civilization 5 will utilise Steamworks to coordinate its multiplayer. Which is either a good or bad thing, depending on which side of the Steam fence you sit. We are also told that lead producer Jon Schafer was previously a mod creator for Civilization 4, before being hired by Firaxis. The game will feature an easy to use built-in mod interface.
New win conditions have been set, and added emphasis has been placed on social policy and government, as opposed to military might. There are six different social policies to choose from, including things like freedom and aristocracy, and each is weighted with different pros and cons.
Players can buy hexagons of land with money, and they can also become friends with certain neutral nations. This costs money, but is important for players looking for a diplomatic victory.
One of the more interesting changes shown is the evolution of combat. Unlike previous Civilization games, only one unit can be placed per tile. This means that players cannot amass unstoppable armies into a single tile and bulldoze their enemy with it. The effect is that the game becomes far more tactical as was illustrated in the gameplay we were taken through.
Additional tweaks have been made to the combat, and now when defending from a higher vantage point, players will have a strong advantage in battle.
The Civilization franchise has yet to disappoint, with every iteration being met with excellent critical reception. From what Firaxis had to show at E3, Civilization V will not be an exception.
Discuss Civilization V in the forum
Civilisation V E3 Trailer
Loading ...
