t1z4l

“If it ain't broke, don’t fix it” applies quite well to Civilization VII. In some areas, developer Firaxis crafted the most stunning and welcoming entry in the franchise by a long shot. However, in others both new and unnecessary features like the Ages system hold this entry back from immediately being the best in the series yet.

My experience with the Civilization series is fairly recent. It dates back to playing Civilization Revolution and its sequel back on my iPad, followed by Beyond Earth on PC, and later Civilization VI in recent years. The strategy genre is far from my favorite, with both this line and Star Wars: Empire at War being the only ones I’ve stuck with. But there is just something about the deep, intricate systems of Civilization that drew me in and kept me captivated, especially in multiplayer.

Fortunately, my love for the series continues, for the most part, with Civ VII. It is surprisingly quite similar to its predecessor, mostly building upon the mechanics and ideas of the previous game. The controls, even with a controller or on the Steam Deck, will be familiar but they work more smoothly than ever before. In fact, almost everything is like Civilization VI, but improved and better overall. The gameplay feels so fast-paced and responsive. I don’t ever feel like there is lag in the game recognizing my decision and moving that troop to that spot or ending my turn. Everything is so silky smooth and instantly goes from action to action, be it in singleplayer with bots or multiplayer.

As always, the goal remains the same in Civilization VII. First, you pick a leader in the hopes of winning a match against other civilizations using one of the core victory conditions. At the launch of this title, there are four main conditions you can pursue to win. These are Military, Culture, Science, and Economic. Sure, there are some missing victory types here, but this is absolutely sufficient. For instance, Military involves essentially conquering the whole world. Each settlement the player conquers gains them some points that will go towards winning in the end. Then there is Science, which is one of my favorites. This one involves completing projects in the space race in the Modern Age. There are just enough types of victories to appeal to different types of players.

If you are the more diplomatic type that doesn’t like to wage war, you don’t have to. You can interact with the other leaders and make peace with them. You can open up your borders to others and trade goods all while building up your own empire. This might prove helpful when trying for a Culture or Economic win. If there is one aspect I adore about Civilization VII, it is the freedom it offers.

Even a simple task like building your capital city is more flexible than before. For example, when your city grows, you are able to pick individual tiles to expand into. This allows you to choose which direction to go. For me, it also made it easier to create a trade network and empire. I could put a new city pretty far away, but gradually build my borders towards one another. This allowed me to connect them with ease into a one unified nation.

This freedom also shows in the leader system. This time around, you pick your leader and your civilization separately. You might have someone like Benjamin Franklin as your leader, but your nation could be Meiji Japan. There are some limitations to this, but each leader usually gets a few solid options. This allows you to mix and match the features of one leader with a different civilization and its unique troops and buildings.

While this may sound complex, it is quite simple surprisingly and welcoming. I could say the same for most of Civilization VII. This is by far the most alluring strategy game, I’ve ever played in of explaining the systems well to newcomers. The tutorials are rich, but also swift. They give you just enough information about every little aspect to keep you going, all without holding you up too much. Then it offers more detailed optional explanations if you want to dive deeper.

There are even areas of Civilization VI I didn’t fully understand, like upgrade trees for learning new technologies and the like, that I now get because of how much better Civilization VII is at explaining all of its mechanics and intricacies. This helps, because there are other neat gameplay improvements like being able to unite troops under a commander to move them around as a singular army and more.

With that said, though, there is one glaring issue with Civilization VII: the Ages system. This is the new feature that aims to differentiate this title from past entries. In previous games, there were eras and ages, sure. You would go from one era to the next mid-match as you learned new sciences, tools, and other technologies. In this title, Firaxis controversially makes three Ages — Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern — a consistent device for everyone. Every civilization and player contributes to moving the current Age forward to the next one. Once the bar fills up for the next Age, the game essentially half-restarts, and everyone picks a new civilization while keeping their current leader.

Now, a lot of benefits move on from Age to Age. For instance, there are some Ageless buildings that carry over. Plus, you get Legacy Path points for what you accomplish in each Age. This might grant you a bonus in the next time period or even help you get closer to that victory in the final Modern Age. The problem is the Age system feels so disted. It is the epitome of one step forward, two steps back. Switching to a new Age feels like a pseudo-reset in some ways, which I don’t enjoy. I feel it breaks the entire pacing and atmosphere of the match, be it single-player or multiplayer game. It is a true vibe killer, and I consider it the exact opposite of the smooth transitional feel of the rest of the experience.

It is to the point that I only played through two full, three Ages matches leading up to this review. (Each one lasted roughly 12-15 hours.) It became a chore and didn’t feel enjoyable. Until something changes and patches release, I find I now just play through the Modern Age on its own when heading into new matches. This is something you can do, thankfully, but you shouldn’t have to. I would much prefer a way to turn off the Ages system and play like previous titles.

That said, the general settings and options in Civilization VII are pretty meager at this time. There aren’t a ton of ways to customize the experience, outside of the usual length and map sizes. Furthermore, the leader selection is pretty disappointing. Most of the fan-favorite characters, such as Julius Caesar or Cleopatra, are not here. It certainly feels like a weaker launch cast to possibly promote DLC in the future.

It is a shame, since Civilization VII has everything almost right. It is absolutely stunning and plays well, even on the ittedly weak Steam Deck. The lands and biomes look beautiful, and every inch of a civilization is remarkably detailed. Each district, building, structure, and troop looks intricately designed and hand-crafted. The gameplay in Civilization VII is also so smooth and welcoming to everyone. This is the most fun I’ve had with a strategy game... when I don’t have to deal with the Ages system. There is incredible potential when it comes to Civilization VII, but for now, the Ages system holds it back from being one of the greatest strategy titles ever made.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII releases on February 11, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Review: Civilization VII Impresses Despite Its Awkward Direction appeared first on Siliconera.

My experiences with the Civilization series are more recent, tracing back to playing the mobile version of Civilization V, to the sci-fi Beyond Earth, before finally obsessing over Civilization VI with my family in multiplayer matches for hundreds of hours. This is one of the only strategy series I’ve enjoyed and my time with the Civilization VII preview build continued this trend, outside of frustrations with the new Age system.

To start, Civilization VII seems to be a stunning game so far. I encountered only one minor crash so far, while it looked and performed well. As mentioned, this is all subject to change since it is an early build, but I generally enjoyed my time with it so far on the platform and saw no real issues of note yet.

The level of detail is a noticeable improvement over the previous mainline entry in the series. There is so much to see on each individual tile in the world. From the soldiers standing atop pieces of farmland or how each building has its own intricate design, there is so much to appreciate about the beauty of the experience.

Better yet, the build I played also made it feel like Civilization VII could be one of the best in the series at easing players into the overall strategy experience. The general idea is to play as a certain famous person from history and rule over a civilization to win against the rival civilizations in the world. This is done through a number of victory methods, such as Culture, Science, and War. These methods all have their own style, such as researching various categories like Mathematics and building a Library on the Science side or going all-out conquest if you prefer to win via War. Thankfully, the tutorials worked quite well in the time I’ve spent with the game so far in two of the three Ages.

There are even aspects I feel like I understand better now than I did with the hundreds of hours I put into Civilization VII. For instance, each troop you have in your civilization has different functions. They can move around the map, attack others, or even fortify their defenses. I feel like I better understand more specific troops, like the Army Commander. The game makes it more clear the possibilities troops like this one have, such as gathering together other troops for army-sized invasion squads.

Civilization VII is also quite speedy for a tactical game in this genre. Sure, you can take a long time each turn to figure out what you want to do, but everything is silky smooth. Completing actions is near-instantaneous, and the game guides you well on what to do next. This even includes the best quest routes for your particular victory preference.

Perhaps my favorite feature are the neat little narrative moments that happen randomly. A scout may die on the battlefield. You get to choose how to them. The different options will involve different rewards and outcomes, which makes for a unique playthrough each time.

With all of that said, though, I feel like after spending time with the build that there is an elephant in the room with Civilization VII. The new Age system might end up being a problematic gameplay choice, and I was not a fan of at all in these early sessions. In past games, you had different eras and the like. In this game, there are distinct Ages.

For the purposes of this preview, I checked out the Age of Antiquity and Age of Exploration. The former takes place before recorded history. How it works is you pick a hero to play as and a civilization. I appreciate the openness this time around, with the possibility to choose between locations. For instance, Confucius doesn’t have to pick Han China. He is able to pick other surrounding locales as well.

You then play through the Age you are in until it comes to an end. From there, it switches to the next Age, and you continue playing as the same leader. This is where the problem may lie. I feel like Ages felt a bit disconnected from one another in these early hours and experiences, unlike past games. You do play the multiple Ages in the same “match,” but they are segmented off in an odd way.

What I like is you can switch your civilizations (within reason) depending on your location and leader. For instance, one could go from Rome to Spain between ages. The problem is how some elements don’t make a lot of sense. While the rest of the game is clear cut and understandable, the Legacy and Ages seemed far from it. For one, there was a time my capital city changed between Ages to a different location. But I didn’t get the option to make this decision.

I also found it unclear what exactly carried over from Age to Age during this early session. Some building types did and certain points did, but not everything. The whole system may end up being a bit redundant and awkward. In the past, changing eras was seamless and smooth. Here, my initial impression is that they were rough, heavily divided, and confusing.

I definitely need more time with the Civilization VII Ages system leading up to our proper review. But, for now, the new feature feels unnecessarily awkward and frustrating. Hopefully, it makes more sense as I come to understand its quirks in later matches. If you can look past this, though, I suspect Civilization VII could end up feeling like the fastest, most stunning, and welcoming game in the series yet.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII releases for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 11, 2025.

The post Preview: Civilization VII’s Age System Feels Unnecessary appeared first on Siliconera.

Marvel Midnight Suns has received a new release date, which will see the game arrive on October 7, 2022. The information about the new release date appeared during the Summer Game Fest 2022 stream. It included a new trailer, which revealed demonic versions of popular Marvel characters like The Hulk. Additionally, the Defender Doctor Strange skin has been revealed as a pre-order bonus.

You can watch the Marvel Midnight Suns Summer Game Fest trailer below.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj_nOPvjAtI[/embed]

Originally scheduled to release in March 2022, announcement of a delay appeared in November 2021. This revealed the game would release sometime in the second half of 2022. The delay was made to improve the story, cinematics, and overall quality of the game.

Marvel Midnight Suns will feature a handful of well-established characters from the Marvel universe. This includes Venom, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Blade. In the trailer, characters like Scarlet Witch and Venom are seen under the control of the antagonist, a new character made for the game.

It will also feature a new character in the Marvel universe, unique to the title. Additionally, players will be able to customize this character, and gain access to unique powers.

Marvel Midnight Suns will release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on October 7, 2022. There's no Nintendo Switch release date yet.

The post Marvel Midnight Suns to Release in October appeared first on Siliconera.

In a new development update posted to Twitter, 2K and Firaxis Games have announced that Marvel's Midnight Suns has been delayed to the second half of 2022. The game was originally scheduled to release in March 2022. The initial trailer for the game was released during the gamescom 2021 Opening Night Live in August.

Here is Firaxis’ full statement that explained why Marvel's Midnight Suns is delayed. In the post, the developer noted that the delay is necessary to create the best game possible, and promise that the extra months will be utilized to improve the story, cinematics, and overall polish of the title.

https://twitter.com/midnightsuns/status/1455989461309820931?s=20

Marvel's Midnight Suns will allow players to create and customize their own original protagonist who will forces with popular Marvel characters from a number of properties, including the Avengers, X-Men, and Runaways. Players will be able to infuse their character with over 40 unique superpowers and will be able to interact with other heroes. At the start of new missions, a deck of random ability cards will be dealt which will affect enemies, players, or the environment in different ways.

Marvel's Midnight Suns is delayed and now scheduled to release sometime in the second half of 2022. The game will be available on Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

The post Marvel’s Midnight Suns Delayed to Second Half of 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.

The Firaxis tactical Marvel game was finally revealed during gamescom 2021 Opening Night Live. Marvel Midnight Suns will arrive in March 2022. The initial trailer offered a look at characters from teams like The Avengers and X-Men who will appear, as well as the villain Lilith. The first look at the tactical RPG’s gameplay will arrive on September 1, 2021.

Here’s the first trailer. In addition to all the returning Marvel heroes, like Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, and Phoenix, it offers a look at the original protagonist you’ll be able to create and customize.

Marvel Midnight Suns will arrive in March 2022. Its official website is open.

The post Marvel Midnight Suns Will Arrive in March 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.

New Borderlands 3 DLC is on the way soon. Guns, Love, and Tentacles, a campaign involving fighting evil so Sir Alistair Hammerlock and Wainwright Jakobs can get married, is about to launch on March 26, 2020. To help people prepare, a new video looks at the opening mission on the new ice planet Xylourgos and offers a glimpse at some of the enemies people will face.

You can see the first 12 minutes of Borderlands 3’s Guns, Love, and Tentacles below. It kicks off with the Vault Hunter Moze heading to Xylourgos for Hammerlock and Wainwright’s wedding. No one is there. Well, no one human. There is definitely a Wolvengar welcoming committee when she reaches Mistral’s Moon. Fortunately, after a little trouble, players run into the wedding planner… Borderland 2’s Gaige.

In addition to the new look at Guns, Love, and Tentacles, there’s a new Borderlands 3 DLC roap to consult. It looks at everything people can expect in 2020. An array of free updates will be coming in April and May, with April giving people end-game extras, an in-game event, and new loot and rewards. May will involve a content update called Guardian Taketown with more bosses, cosmetic items, and gear.

Borderlands 3 is available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia. Its first add-on, Moxxi’s Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, is available now.

The post See How the Borderlands 3 DLC Guns, Love, and Tentacles Begins Before Its March 26th Debut appeared first on Siliconera.

Borderlands 3 will release on Steam worldwide on March 13, 2020 and will PC cross-play. In addition to announcing the Steam release date, 2K also answered questions regarding cross-play in a Q&A. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Pre-loading Borderlands 3 on Steam will begin on March 11, 2020. Once you have pre-loaded the game you can immediately begin playing on March 13, 2020. In addition to this, with the power of SHiFT players will be able to engage in cross-play. You will be able to enjoy cooperative play with friends regardless of where you purchased Borderlands 3.

You will also be able to transfer saves between your Steam and Epic Games Store versions of Borderlands 3. Players will need to move your save files manually, however. There is no official service or method to transferring save files, and Gearbox warns players that they will be at risk of potentially losing their saves if it is not done properly.

However, if you're looking to use DLC between your version of Borderlands 3, you won't be able to do so. You will need to re-purchase any add-ons you want to use, as DLC purchased through the Steam won't be transferred over to the Epic Games Store and vice versa.

Despite the announcement of cross-play coming between PC versions, there is currently no announcement regarding cross-platform play between PC and console versions at this time.

Borderlands 3 is available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The $49.99 season gives people access to all four campaign add-ons and the Butt Stallion grenade mod, weapon skin, and weapon trinket.

The post Borderlands 3 Will Appear on Steam Worldwide on March 13 and Include Cross-play appeared first on Siliconera.