One more turn, one more turn, one more turn, a phrase so many of you will become familliar with.
One more turn, one more turn, one more turn, a phrase so many of you will be familiar with. If you have ever played a Civilization game before then you will know how much anticipation is around the forth release of the series.
So what has the game got to offer? Well to start with you get a choice of eighteen Civs and twenty six different leaders within the game, making it one of the largest selections of playable nations in the series, and I can only imagine that once the expansions start rolling out there’ll be even more.
Each leader has two Leader traits that will give you a selection of bonuses, each one depending on the nature of the leader and Civilization he or she commands.
Spiritual – Should your leader be of the spiritual kind you can expect to never encounter any anarchy, which is a good thing I’m sure you’ll all agree and you will also receive a double production speed on any temples you decide to build.
Philosophical – Leaders of a Philosophical nature will grant your Civilization with a 100% increase to your birth rate, plus you will receive double production speed on any University’s you decide to build.
Organized – These leaders help reduce your Civic Upkeep by 50% and grant you double production speed of a lighthouse and courthouse.
Industrious – If you like building wonders of the world this may be the trait to look out for, as you will receive a increase in production on all wonders by 50%, as well as double production speed on any forge’s.
Financial – Leaders of a Financial state of mind enable you to build banks at double the normal production speed, as well as granting you an extra +1 gold on any spot of land that is currently occupied with 2 or more gold.
Expansive – You will receive an extra +2 health to all your cities and you will also be granted double production speed on granaries and harbours should your leader be Expansive.
Creative – Leaders of the Creative variety are ones who like to dabble in the arts, and that’s the reason you are granted an extra +2 culture for every city under your command and also a double production bonus to all Theatres and Coliseums.
Aggressive – Perhaps you like the Aggressive stance, if so then you will be pleased to know that all Aggressive Leaders grant their Civs a free promotion of melee and gunpowder units and also a double production speed on all barracks and dry docks will no doubt help in times of war.
As mentioned above there are eighteen different Civilizations within the game. Each Civilization has their own unique unit, something you may want to consider when you decide who to lead to glory. Do you choose the Americans whose Navy Seals can go toe to toe with the more modern units or perhaps you prefer the Greeks whose unique unit the Phalanx can dominate the early years. This is one choice that you need to consider when deciding what Civilization to choose, you also have to take into account the Starting Techs. Each Civilization gets two Starting technology’s, so at least you will be able to build or do something at least as soon as you start. Depending on how you play will depend on what sort of starting techs you will have to look out for. Adding this choice with the unique unit can give you quite a headache when it comes down to it, but over all you wont be at a disadvantage whoever you decide to choose, below is a list of Civilizations and some basic info about them.
American
Starting Tech: Fishing & Agriculture
Unique Unit: Navy Seal
Leader: Washington (Financial and Organized)
Leader: Roosevelt's (Industrious and Organized)
Arabians
Starting Tech: Mysticism & The Wheel
Unique Unit: Camel Archer
Leader: Saladin (Philosophical and Spiritual)
Chinese
Starting Tech: Agriculture & Mining
Unique Unit: Cho – ko -Nu
Leader: Quin Shi Huang (Industrious and Financial)
Leader: Mao Zedong (Philosophical and Organized)
Egyptians
Starting Tech: Agriculture & The Wheel
Unique Unit: War Chariot
Leader: Hatshepsut (Spiritual and Creative)
English
Starting Tech: Fishing and Mining
Unique Unit: Redcoat
Leader: Elizabeth (Philosophical and Financial)
Leader: Victoria (Expansive and Financial)
French
Starting Tech: Agriculture & The Wheel
Unique Unit: Musketeer
Leader: Louis XIV (Creative and Organized)
Leader: Napoleon (Aggressive and Industrious)
Germans
Starting Tech: Hunting and Mining
Unique Unit: Panzer Tank
Leader: Frederick (creative and philosophical)
Leader: Bismarck (expansive and industrious)
Greeks
Starting Tech: Hunting and Fishing
Unique Unit: Phalanx
Leader: Alexander (aggressive and philosophical)
Incans
Starting Tech: Agriculture and Mysticism
Unique Unit: Quechua
Leader: Huayna Capac (Aggressive and Financial)
Indian
Starting Tech: Mysticism and Mining
Unique Unit: Fast Worker
Leader: Ghandi (industrious and spiritual)
Leader: Asoka (organized and spiritual)
Japanese
Starting Tech: Fishing and The Wheel
Unique Unit: Samurai
Leader: Tokugawa (aggressive and organized.)
Malinese
Starting Tech: The Wheel and Mining
Unique Unit: Skirmisher
Leader: Mansa Musa (Financial and spiritual)
Mongolians
Starting Tech: The Wheel and Hunting
Unique Unit: Keshik
Leader: Genghis (Aggressive and Expansive)
Leader: Kublai (Aggressive and Creative)
Persians
Starting Tech: Agriculture and Hunting
Unique Unit: Immortal
Leader: Cyrus (Organized and Expansive)
Romans
Starting Tech: Fishing and Mining
Unique Unit: Praetorian
Leader: Julius Caesar (Creative and Expansive)
Russians
Starting Tech: Mining and Hunting
Unique Unit: Cossack
Leader: Peter (Philosophical and Expansive)
Leader: Catherine (Creative and Financial)
Spanish
Starting Tech: Fishing and Mysticism
Unique Unit: Conquistador
Leader: Isabella (Spiritual and Expansive)
Another new feature to the series is Religion. As you progress through the ages you can unlock a total of seven Religions. When unlocked the Religion will spread through your empire allowing you to influence your people to create great prophets, make more money and be happier in general.
Name: Buddhism
Discovered: Meditation
Wonder: Buddhist Temple
Name: Christianity
Discovered: Theology
Wonder: Christian Shrine
Name: Confucianism
Discovered: Code of Laws
Wonder: Confucian Shrine
Name: Hinduism
Discovered: Polytheism
Wonder: Hindu Shrine
Name: Islam
Discovered: Divine Right
Wonder: Islamic Shrine
Name: Judaism
Discovered: Monotheism
Wonder: Jewish Shrine
Name: Taoism
Discovered: Philosophy
Wonder: Taoist Shrine
Each Religion will also have a special unit, the Missionary. The Missionary has the ability to venture off to other nations to convert them to your religion. Beware though enemy nations can and will try converting your people to their religion.
All religions won’t have any bonuses and will all be level with each other, which is a good thing as this could of potentially been a major banana skin and upset a lot of people.
Over all the Religion aspect is a very nice addition to the game and it gives those who prefer that extra milestone to conquer, can now add converting everyone to your religion as one you can try and accomplish.
There will be approximately twenty eight Great Wonders of the World and around twelve Small Wonders.
Wonder Movies will make a return and players of Civ II will be pleased to hear this after their absence within Civ III. These are particularly eye pleasing, and it’s nice to see the video after you’ve just completed the wonder, sort of gives you a virtual pat on the back so to speak.
The Wonders include old favourites such as the Apollo Program, The Great Library and The Hanging Gardens, but will also include new wonders such as Hollywood, Notre Dame, Stonehenge and Mt. Rushmore.
There’s so much more to the game, but I simply want to get back and play it now as I can hear it calling my name.
Simply put, go play this game now.
One more turn… one more turn… one more turn.