Civ 7 is the latest and greatest iteration in the Civilization franchise, which has been captivating the hearts of strategy fans for over 20 years. And, like the previous games before it, Civ 7 has a few new and interesting deviations, while still feeling true to the heart of the series. But, when it’s all said and done, how good of a game is Civ 7?
Review snapshot video, combined with Rob’s review
Civ 7 Review: A Bold, Beautiful, and Clunky Masterpiece
The gameplay of Civ 7 should feel at least somewhat similar to what fans have come to expect from Civ games, but it does deviate significantly when it comes to a few of the game’s new mechanics.
But, to begin, let’s talk about the most prominent, in my opinion, of these changes – Ages. These Ages slice up the game into three distinct pieces, rather than one continuous game as fans have grown accustomed to.
On paper, this is one of the changes I was most excited about coming into Civ 7. The Age transitions sounded interesting, felt like they would make win condition pursuit more cohesive, and sounded overall like an adjustment that I would be a fan of. In practice, Ages have felt a bit clunky and have sometimes caused me more frustration than the sense of reward that I was hoping for. The feeling of building up City-State relationships and making all kinds of other progress, only to have it feel reset or retracted when you progress to a new age is something that could be polished. But, all in all, I still appreciate the change in direction and can see the vision developers had for Ages.
Read More: All 97 Civ 7 Mementos: Abilities and how to unlock them all
The next major deviation in Civ 7 comes with the ability to play any leader with different civilizations, versus just playing one combined amalgamation of the two each time you play. This, to me, is a wonderful change to the franchise, allows for much greater replayability, and gives the game that much more depth of strategy. I don’t feel like I’ve even begun to scratch the surface of what could be done with different combinations, especially when you add mementos into that mix, and I’m so excited to continue playing Civ 7 to find out more fun pairings and progressions.
All In all, I still find myself wanting to play this game for its gameplay and have no intention of slowing down anytime soon. So, while I may be critical about different elements like Age transition, this is still a fantastic game from a gameplay perspective whether you are a long-time Civ fan or someone new to the franchise.
Image courtesy of Firaxis
When it comes to the art style of Civ 7, I can’t help but feel that this is akin to what flavor of ice cream someone might prefer. But, I think the art style of Civ 7 is brilliant and I have loved taking moments throughout each game to look at units, the map, and so many other different elements of the game board.
On the other hand, one of the things that I, and a lot of the Civ community, are critical of is the UI, which I consider a part of the visual presentation of the game. outside of the Cogwheel at the bottom right, which I do love, I do think the game presents information in an often very confusing or convoluted way or simply doesn’t show you the information at all.
Overall, the look and feel of any game will come down somewhat to personal preference, but I do think Civ 7 is the best-looking Civilization game to date.
I love the music in any civilization game and this one is no exception. In particular, I love how different the game sounds depending on what civilization you are playing with. It gives a fun feeling of immersion and is another way of making each game feel just a little bit different, something that this franchise is always after.
Read More: Civ 7 Leaders Tier List: Launch Day Best Leaders Ranked
If there is a section of this review that I am going to be exclusively critical of, the multiplayer setup process is it. Multiplayer in games should be a breeze to set up and get going, and that is not at all how I would describe the Civ 7 experience, which has felt confusing, and very clunky.
Once you get into a game, I have absolutely no complaints. The game runs smoothly, and it feels like I am playing any other game of Civ 7 when I’m on a multiplayer server. If the lobby and setup can be improved, multiplayer would be nearly seamless.
Civ 7 Review: Dual Perspectives of a Game with Great Potential | Civilization 7 Gameplay Review
All in all, as a game reviewer, I never want to be rooting against a developer who appears to earnestly be trying to improve their product, and I believe that is what Firaxis and 2K have done with Civ 7. This is a game that took risks and implemented bold new systems while doing its best to stay true to the heart of the franchise. As a long-time Civilization fan, this sort of approach is all that I can ask for from a new game.
Is the game perfect? Absolutely not. Do I believe that a lot of my frustrations with the game can be improved upon or outright fixed? Absolutely.
If you enjoyed this content, consider checking out more from Connor or any of the other TGH writing staff! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for even more in-depth sports, gaming, and esports coverage.
“From Our Haus to Yours”
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
