(OSV News) — When “Sid Meier’s Civilization” first launched almost 35 years ago, it quickly established itself as one of the most influential titles in gaming history. Not every installment released since has lived up to that legacy, and, sadly, “Civilization VII” (2K Games) is another disappointing successor.
Mature references and the occasional low-level oath render the game unsuitable for kids. But older players may want to skip it as well since it’s sorely lacking in appeal.
As many gamers likely already know, the goal here is to bring prosperity to the nation you control and to contend successfully against competing countries. This is best done through a combination of scientific advancements, agile diplomacy and successful social policies.
In fact, this series was the origin of what has become known as the 4X genre, based on the requirement that players explore, expand, exploit and exterminate. But this formula has now been dramatically overhauled. Instead of progressing through a long sequence of increasingly sophisticated technological eras, history has been reduced to just three stages.
At the end of each age, gamers face a “crisis event” meant to simulate a civilization’s downfall. This eliminates some of the fun that could once be derived from engaging in wild anachronisms. Formerly, for example, players could have legendary Sumerian king Gilgamesh launch nuclear weapons at Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.
Under the current revision, by contrast, the beginning of each new period involves a drastic resetting of conditions, undermining the opportunity to build a lasting empire. This fundamentally compromises the strategic depth that was once this series’ greatest asset.
In this installment, moreover, numerous options are only available if gamers are willing to pay for them. This seems like a crass attempt to maximize cash flow by restricting access to content that should arguably have been included as part of the original purchase.
Parents will want to be aware that sexual matters are dealt with in the gameplay, at least remotely. Thus the romantic prowess of one or another figure may be cited and rulers sometimes elevate their lovers to positions of power. But all this is kept thoroughly nongraphic.
There are some notable new leaders to choose from, such as abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Yet these additions can’t ultimately salvage a game whose designers have lost sight of what made some of its predecessors compelling in the first place.
Playable on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Linux, Macintosh and Windows.
The game contains some combat violence, vague sexual content and sporadic mild swearing. The OSV News classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is E10+ — everyone 10+.
Adele Chapline Smith reviews video games for OSV News.
