Modding Civ IV - Final Frontier, NextWar and the rest
Beyond the Sword also carries the tradition of offering alternative scenarios. This time, in addition to the more traditional scenarios, things are spiced up with six mods that could be considered completely new games on their own. The actual difference between scenario and mod is also bit of a gray area, but mods in general allow you to play a full game, just under different rules, while scenarios are more limited in scope. Scenarios may still include changes in rules, units, buildings and technologies.
Firaxis-developed mods included are Final Frontier, Afterworld, Gods of the Old and NextWar.
Final Frontier - it's Civ in Space!
Solar systems differ completely from the base Civilization cities.
Final Frontier is a space-based mod with completely new units, tech trees, graphics... just about everything has been reworked, and it's definitely a different experience. The biggest change is probably solar systems - the "cities" of Final Frontier. You can build most improvements multiple times for each planet, and as cultural borders grow, you gain access to the outer planets of the system. Combat is also very different, with emphasis on fighters and missiles to support large spaceships.
NextWar - It's Civilization, but with cyborgs and mechs!
Gods of the Old twist the game with ancient religions that truly affect gameplay. Inquisitors included.
NextWar lets you fight a modern war with all the late-game toys - including a pile of new ones such as cyborgs and mechs. While NextWar is nominally a scenario, you can also use the NextWar as a mod to the full Civilization game, playing a complete game from 4000BC up to the future era with all the nifty new toys.
Gods of the Old replaces the standard religions with old Mesopotamian gods, and this time there is some actual wrath of gods-style action, and the religions sure do not happily coexist. Inquisitors are available to burn the heretics from your cities, and war sure gets interesting when gods are added to the mix.
Afterworld is the most radical mod, turning Civ IV engine into a turn-based squad-level combat game. Think X-Com with undead instead of aliens.
In addition to Firaxis-created mods, two fan-based mods have been polished and added to the package.
Fall from Heaven is a fantasy-based mod with new civilizations, new tech tree, buildings and units - heroes, ogres, golems, dragons... the usual fantasy lot. You also face the harsh environment with blizzards slowly wrecking the landscape as the game progresses.
Rhye's and Fall of Civilization is a reality-based mod of Civilization, with ties to the real history. It's a great attempt to mould Civilization to follow actual history of Earth. Each civilization has unique set of objectives, so there is plenty of replayability and varied starting situations depending on your choice of civilization to play.
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ESRB:
Violence
Games: Civilization IV
