Published: Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 12:00
Civilisation Revolution
By Narin
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This is one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to write. Not because the game is especially difficult to explain, or rubbish, but rather because dragging myself away from the 360 long enough to come to work and actually type something out has been very difficult indeed.
It turns out I have meglomaniacal tendencies to an extent even I could never have imagined.
Civilisation Revolution is the first next gen outing (with the DS version out impendingly) for Sid Meier's PC strategy game, and is more beautiful and accessible way than ever before.
Build your empire from humble beginnings until you achieve superpower status, having obliterated (or, ok, formed pacts through diplomacy, it's just less fun) all the other nations nearby.
There are 16 different civilisations to lead to victory, all with their different strengths and weaknesses - and a plethora of famous historical leaders to play as or compete against - which is both fun and disconcerting as I discovered when I was beaten in the space race by Gandhi.
There are four different ways to victory. Military domination, economic, cultural or technological, whichever you choose gives you a different path to work along - which makes for amazing amounts of replay value, even before you factor in online multiplayer and the possibility to download additional scenarios to play through.
Don't let the convoluted nature of the game put you off. This is much simpler than the PC incarnation and you will have advisers to help you get through your thorny early days as head of state - although they do stop piping up later in the game.
At first you just have a few settlers and some warriors and you can move around the unexplored world map trying to see where you have ended up and collecting food or resources to help build your population and buildings. As a turn-based strategy game you get a set number of moves, and this exploration period is great for finding your feet and learning the controls. You can command your warriors to go forth and conquer, build Stonehenge or sign the Magna Carta, or just accept the gifts and kudos from neighbouring nations as you continue to build your profile.
As you get further through the game you have to achieve different targets before your neighbours to cement your place as leader and, ultimately, win the game, with a full run through of the timeline taking between three and four hours.
This is the kind of game where you'll sit down for an hour and then realise you've not left your house for the weekend. But it's ok, because there's online play - so you can socialise with up to three other players on XBox Live. It's not quite the same as leaving your house, but as you help the Aztecs beat Elizabethan England to Alpha Centauri you won't care.
Buy this game. But be warned, don't expect to do anything else until next Christmas.
Five stars
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