Civilization IV: Beyond The Sword

Neeyik · 07-31-2007, 02:09 PM

Most gamers can easily name a milestone title or two, but not so for expansion packs - this is because they rarely add anything more than extra levels, enemies, weapons and so on. However, Beyond The Sword (the 2nd expansion for Civilization IV) is more than a mere linear extension of the great turn-based strategy classic. Firaxis have fixed, updated, added and tweaked so many aspects of the game that only our in-depth review can explain them all!

http://www.yougamers.com/reviews/831...ond_the_sword/

Keensharp · 08-07-2007, 12:05 PM

Thank you Jarno Kokko (and everyone on Futuremark/YG) for this fantastic review on Civilization IV: Beyond The Sword.

I recommend everyone with the slightest interest in CivIV to go read it at once - yes, the entire 6-page thing.

I like how the Vassal States are described aswell as all the actual 'new' additions. I almost agree in everything although I do believe that the espionage part is getting too much praise and that the 'FFH2: Ice Age' mod should have been given a little more detail due to the nature of its popularity.

Over-all. Thanks for the review!! (I registered just to comment this review (even though I knew, I didn't have to))

Pottsey · 08-10-2007, 03:10 PM

“Most gamers can easily name a milestone title or two, but not so for expansion packs - this is because they rarely add anything more than extra levels, enemies, weapons and so on.”
After playing the addonpack that’s just the feeling I got. The add-on pack is just like every other. More units, more buildings, more technology. Personally I think this add-on pack is getting to much praise. It’s a good add-on pack well worth the money but its nothing special.

The new stuff doesn’t seem to work very well and doesn’t really impact the game. Spys and corporations spring to mind. Perhaps I am doing something wrong but spying costs way to much to be practical. Colonies to me just felt like Vassal states renamed from the last addon pack. Pretty much leaveing just more units, more buildings, more technology.

My above opinions are excluding the mods as I haven’t tried them yet.

Jarnis · 08-10-2007, 04:29 PM

Well, the mods are a big part - it's like there is a couple of extra games included.

What makes Beyond the Sword important is the combat changes, the new importance of navies and the AI changes. Yes, it does contain the pile of new units, buildings, wonders etc. but the new AI is the thing that makes it so impressive. AI plays a lot more like human now, and can pull of fairly convincing assaults.

Corporations are in need of a bugfix, that's for sure. Spying - it mostly comes up in late game, and the important parts are the passive information gained. You can actually see all garrisons, build queues etc. and plan accordingly.

In any case, I stand by my text - play a few games vs. AI opponents, preferrably at Monarch or higher, and you see what I mean about the AI and combat changes.

Quoting from the summary page:
"In total, the expansion adds 25 new units, 18 new buildings, 8 new wonders, 10 new civilizations, 16 new leaders (some for the new Civilizations, some as secondary leaders for existing ones) - but these really are not the important metrics. The new AI and the major improvements in naval warfare, espionage and economic side of the game with Corporations are far more impressive and truly make this a must-buy for any Civilization fan."

(this is written assuming the corporation mechanics in relation to inflation will be patched, and I've already heard that a patch is incoming)

Pottsey · 08-10-2007, 05:53 PM

Still not noticed an AI change. But your right about the mods. NextWar and Final Frontier look very interesting.

08-10-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pottsey

Still not noticed an AI change. But your right about the mods. NextWar and Final Frontier look very interesting.

There are huge differences to the AI which are very noticable if you actually play the game.

Pottsey · 08-11-2007, 09:28 AM

7 games now on noble and prince half multiplayer games and the AI still seems to be falling into the same patterns and struggling to attach across the sea. Perhaps there are changes but I and the group I play with cannot pinpoint anything different. Still a great game we are planning our 8th game now with one of the mods.

One thing that really bugs me is all the AI do diplomacy at the same time. Every so often you start a turn and 4+ AI’s all try and talk to me one after the other.

EDIT: How could I forget random events. Now those really did change the game and make it more fun. Not so sure on quests seem to be to rare only had 2 so far one of which I couldnt do. For me random events are one of the best parts of the addon pack. They add tons to the game.

OldDood · 08-25-2007, 09:31 PM

What is funny is I have been playing Warlords recently and my system kept crashing. Turned out I needed a new Vid Card. Mrs Dood needed a new computer. She has been using my 7 year old P3 800Mhz Dim 4100 for years now.

So I gave her my Dim 5100 (that had the bad Vid Card) and bought a new Dim 9200 Q6600. HeHe...for some reason I got Dell's 8600GT DDR-3 card with that system then said screw it and bought a 8800GTS DDR-3 320Mb card and put the 8600GT DDR-3 256Mb into the older Dim 5100 for Mrs Dood. Also it is a decent back up computer for multi player.

So I ended up upgrading and buying a whole new system solely based on CIV4. hehe!

Now this new expansion pack looks real good. Can't wait to try it out...