A worthwhile console adaptation of PC favorite.
If you're like me and you share in having memories of those long nights where it was "just one more turn" then you've probably also garnered some notion as to how a Civilization game should play out. Civilization Revolution holds true to its full name, in that it manages to be more a bridge between a quicker paced turn based strategy game and the slower more methodical pace of its PC counterparts. It remains by and large a Civilization game, but provides design choices that suit the console entrance incredibly well (for the most part). So when you begin you're first game you'll be at home picking out a Civilization but you'll be bombarded by a dramatically different presentation.
Sterile would probably be a fitting word to describe other Civilization games. Large maps, but the details are kept on the lower side, Civilization Revolution isn't the case. The maps are in fact the opposite and are smaller than you may be accustomed to, but the detail that is given towards actions that were once relegated to simple animations come to life on the Xbox 360. Firaxis has chosen an art direction that serves to give the mood of the game a more light hearted affair than what it could have been. Bright colors give the world a more inviting feel than the drab color palette of their PC cousins. When presented on a television they help to make the distinction that you're playing a different Civilization game. Characters that pop up on the right side of your screen are wildly animated, flailing their arms around and displaying the extremes of their emotions manages to provide a greater sense that you're dealing with some temperamental world leaders. This is also however a downfall after so many times of seeing Napoleon get angry, it manages to lose some of its impact.
One of the largest issues I had with Civilization Revolution is that the game doesn't present either a difficult challenge or one that evolves, even with playing differing scenarios. World leaders constantly demand things from you and should you refuse their request to hand over Albert Einstein you're often met with a declaration of war. Diplomacy isn't a serviceable tactic in this game. So you're left with the remaining criteria to come out on top. I was often met with weak running mates when it came to quickly ascending the technology ladder or pushing forward to an economic domination. When I decided to flex my military muscle I was confronted by turtles, poorly organized turtles to boot.
Although fortunately you'll find that dismantling your military rival is one of the highlights of this game. Thanks in part to features that include better animations between the mini-skirmishes that your units will get into, or the ability to better manage your larger armies. Unlike previous entries you're now given the option of combining three units of the same type together to form an army. The advantage being that they have a combined strength obviously but that the units that we're veterans impart their experience to the newly formed army, as well allowing you to move larger armies with fewer actions. Of course there are times when a tactical advantage is had by keeping units separated, which allows for some of those wonderful nuances in a Civilization game.
But there is little in the way of mastering subtleties when it comes to managing your cities, save it be acquiring a taste for the cumbersome system they have set up. This is where Revolution takes the largest departure from any previous entry by trying make them even more automated. Cities will continue to produce the same unit you select, except for Settlers, until you tell them to stop, and workers will now not only add new squares but seemingly shuffle them as well picking different plots of land to work. There were times when I wanted to quickly change their focus from production to population but when I would select this option they would change their tiles in a nonsensical order. I would then be forced to manually dictate which tiles to work and give them a bigger bonus than what they considered was the most food they could produce. There is also the unfortunate design choice that we no longer have worker units allowing you to manipulate your surroundings for specialized yields (although there are some buildings that can server this purpose but it is more limited than I would have liked). I can understand why it was done as the micromanagement that often took place with these units can occupy a great deal of time and the name of the game in Civilization Revolution is speedy games.
Speedy games do not come without a cost it seems. Customization does not exist in this game. You cannot establish what winning conditions will be in play, the size of the maps, the number of opponents, the time limit, anything other than who you play and the difficulty. You can't even turn of the advisors that constantly bombard you with messages. The lack of allowing me to design the type of game I wanted to play left me resorting to trying to make the closest scenario work for me. But these never played out just how I wanted them to, and the more games I played the more I felt that I had been through the same mission only during my last game especially considering the variables I once had control over had been taken out of my control.
However it's all about enjoyment and with the qualms aside there is no denying that I had an enjoyable time with Civilization Revolution. If you were to enter into the game with no preconceived idea of how the game may play out you'll be met with a wonderfully accessible real turn strategy that will provide lengthy (but not long) campaigns that are perfectly suited to this console adaptation. For those of us who know what we like about Civilization it may be difficult to check our ideas at the doorway and thus may find some choices disappointing. But if the most we can say about them is that they disappointed we've still got a great game, one that manages to stand shoulder to shoulder next to an epic PC franchise. Lastly for those that are Civilization purists, well, I doubt they're reading this, they're getting in "just one more turn".
Pros
+ Slick presentation that establishes just the right mood.
+ A fine balance of game length.
+ Combat is more fun!
Cons
- Not terribly difficult, especially on Deity.
- Lack of customization when it comes to almost everything.
Final Score - 8/10