Firaxis Games’ latest entry, Civilization 7, is up and running. Since the game was announced, the hype has been sky-high, and players have been expecting a lot from this new entry. That’s mostly because the trailers have shown features that were about to shake up the entire franchise.
However, as soon as the game came, all these things turned out to be true. Building upon its rich legacy, this installment offers players unprecedented flexibility and depth in shaping their civilizations.
Among the most amazing changes, one that has attracted the minds of players the most is the separation of leaders from their traditional civilizations. Previously, certain leaders were related to certain civilizations, and there was no way to set them apart.
However, the latest installment has changed this thing. Players can now pair any leader with any civilization, irrespective of whether they belong to those civilizations in real life or not. This creates a unique combination that was previously unimaginable.
For instance, players can now use Benjamin Franklin leading the Egyptian empire or Hatshepsut at the helm of the Roman legions.
Another massive change that has created a massive shuffle in the franchise’s tradition is the introduction of the three primary Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each of these three ages has its own set of civilizations, technologies, and challenges to offer.
The best part is players are no longer required to progress through a particular civilization anymore. Instead, as players progress, they will get the chance to shift to another civilization that aligns with their development and strategic goals.
For example, a player might start with the Han dynasty in Antiquity and evolve into the Mongol Empire during the Exploration Age. There’s no harm in switching to random civilizations, even though they have zero connection in real. This has solved some of the most annoying issues of this franchise.
This is the third but one of the most attractive shifts that Civilization 7 has made. Departing from the traditional establishment of cities, players can now set towns in the latest installment. These towns play the role of smaller settlements that generate gold instead of production. Players can invest this gold to develop the town's infrastructure and eventually upgrade it into a full-fledged city.
Cities are the major units in the Civilization games, and the latest one has improved upon these city expansions to grant players more control. In the previous installments, cities used to expand automatically as players progressed through the game, but this system has been majorly revamped. Players can now choose how to grow their cities.
The micromanagement system has been transformed, and in this new installment, farms and mines are constructed automatically. Aside from that, the concept of districts has also been overhauled. In Civilization 7, instead of predefined districts, players can build up to two buildings per hex. Later these can be upgraded or replaced as the civilization advances through different ages.
Management of armies has always been the most troublesome thing that Civilization players have been bothered with. The complexity of managing large armies has been streamlined in Civilization 7 as it has introduced commander units.
These are specialized units that can merge multiple military units into a single entity. The benefit of doing it is that it simplifies the movement and strategic planning. The best part is that the Commanders can provide passive bonuses to nearby units and issue coordinated commands. They also possess unique upgrade paths that allow players to tailor these commanders to specific military strategies.
Civilization 7 has brought Influence, an in-game currency for diplomatic actions. Players can gather Influence through different actions and use them to forge beneficial agreements, impose sanctions, establish long-term treaties, or conduct espionage.
Well, when it comes to Diplomatic actions, they require responses from other civilizations, either positive or negative. It decides the type of international relations. For instance, a trade deal can benefit both parties, but sanctions hinder a rival's progress. The targeted civilization can choose to support, accept, or reject these actions, each choice carrying its consequences.
Civilization 7 is visually stunning. It has presented appealing visuals with a more realistic approach. The game's design is upgraded to provide a sleek, modern look that enhances the immersive experience.
While the terrain generation has been improved to prevent irregularities, the world evolves as players progress through the ages.
To conclude, Civilization 7 is a worthy successor to the franchise, and it has almost fulfilled everything it has promised. This latest installment presents a comprehensive overhaul of the series' core mechanics, providing players with greater flexibility, strategic depth, and an enriched narrative experience to make the game more engaging for gamers.