I’ll get the glaring confession out of the way first. I’m not well versed in the world of Civilization, but there’s a very good reason why I, a relative noob, went hands-on the upcoming seventh instalment at this year’s Gamescom.Sid Meier’s Civilization VIIaims to shake up the tried and tested formula. For too many years, loyal players have been able to guess the next moves of Firaxis Games before Firaxis has even so much as twitched. WithCivilization VII, that’s all changed.
In a bid to outsmart and surprise fans,Civilization VIIhas torn up segments of its usual rulebook and done away with its predictable roadmap of features. AfterCivilization VIwas criticised for feeling too similar to its predecessor,Civilisation VIIis a fresh start. For the first time in a long time, returning players should be able to find something new and surprising but at the same time,Civilization VIIhas been pitched as the best opportunity in years for new players to onboard the series. That’s where I come in.
I had the opportunity to attend a press briefing at this year’s Gamescom as well as go hands-on with the game myself, allowing me to test outCivilization VIIfrom the perspective of a newbie whilst chatting to devs about the more subtle changes that’ll entice in those returning and loyal players. It didn’t take long for me to assess that not only isCivilization VIIwholly accessible regardless of your level of knowledge, in stripping away some of its prior restrictions, it introduces players to a whole kind of new level of liberated fun.
Advert
Advert
Take a look atSid Meier’s Civilization VIIin action below.
Advert
Advert
For the complete newcomers like me, you’ll be relieved to know thatCivilization VIIsomewhat holds your hand in those early days, as is the nature of the turn-based mechanics. There’s a fair amount of decision making involved too, like where to place your next city tile or what endeavour to fund but you’re at the very least prompted at each stage. It turned an experience I felt somewhat daunted about into something I wholly enjoyed.
Credit / Firaxis Games
For those of you who are sitting there thinking, yes, this is obvious. Don’t worry, I picked up a few interesting tidbits for you too. This time around, all players will have to pick a legacy path, somewhat dictating the, you guessed it, legacy of what you’re building. There are four to choose from: science, cultural ,military, and economic. Picking a legacy path doesn’t lock you into choices per se, but it does set some foundational goals that you’ll want to follow if you’re hoping to achieve ‘victory’.
Advert
Advert
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is set to launch on 11 February 2025 on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Topics:Preview,PlayStation,Xbox,PC,Nintendo Switch
