I had lots of good intentions for this past weekend: I was going to do lots of writing, for work and for this blog and the other one, among other things.
What happened instead was we played Civ IV. Civilization IV, to be exact, the game I have been waiting for all year. (It’s not actually out in Australia yet, but M managed to get an American copy. Ahem.) What can I say? It’s VERY GOOD.
The fact that the graphics have been upgraded in this version is a plus. The fact that your civilisation’s boundaries are no longer porous are a major plus – it used to irk me no end in Civ III that a neighbouring civ would continuously send their troops all across your territory and you would continuously have to warn them they were trespassing. In Civ IV you either have an Open Borders treaty with a neighbouring civ so they can wander around your land, or you don’t, and they can’t.
My favourite ruler, Asoka of India.(Organized and Spiritual, favors Universal Suffrage)
The fact that religion is now a real factor in the game is also a plus. I love discovering Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Confucianism all in my civilisation, and then declaring no state religion (only available as an option once you have discovered liberalism!).
I love Leonard Nimoy’s voiceovers when you discover a new advance (my favourite is his Beep, beep, beep when you discover satellites). The music is great as well, no more muzak – the opening music is perfect, and I love the fact that you can listen to Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony while casting your eye over the plains and rolling hills of your great empire.
I’d take a day off today but we’re having someone come and talk to us about patent searching and I really should be there. (Damn you, conscience!)
Categories: Civilization IV, Civ IV, Civ 4, games, turn based strategy, obsession