Civilization Game Series: A Journey Through Time

Civilization Our first blog post will be one for the “old-timers”. An ‘oldie but goodie’ – Civlization. The Civilization series, developed by Sid Meier and published by MicroProse (later by Firaxis Games and 2K Games), has been captivating strategy enthusiasts for decades. From its humble beginnings with the original Civilization game (in only 256 colors) to the latest installments, it’s a franchise that has “stood the test of time”. Today, we’ll delve into the best-loved features, annoying aspects, most memorable moments, and funny moments from three iconic titles in the series: Civilization, Civilization II, and Civilization VI.

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Civilization (1991)

Best-Loved Features:

The original Civilization game laid the foundation for the entire series, introducing players to turn-based empire-building gameplay. The game allowed you to develop cities, construct wonders, advance in technology, and engage in diplomacy or war. A standout feature was the Tech Tree, which offered a branching system of research and development that has become synonymous with the franchise.

Annoying Aspects:

While funny to remember now, there was a quiz in the game that would randomly test your knowledge on technologies in the game. If you answered wrong you were booted from the game! How rude! Also funny or annoying now, but great for the time was VGA 256 colors which you had to select before starting the game in MS-DOS. The PC space was new at the time and hardware requirements were modest. Today’s young gamers would laugh if they played this.

Most Memorable Features:

The concept of different victory conditions was groundbreaking for the time. Players could win by conquering the world, reaching Alpha Centauri, or attaining the highest score by 2050 AD. This made every playthrough unique and kept players coming back for more. Some of the old low quality midi sounds I am often quite fond of – cut-scene to the city going through anarchy and watching the protesters 🙂

Funny Moments:

The randomness of attack and defense was settled through quirky function that sometimes had a Phalanx killing a Battleship or Tank (Armor). Later installments in the series would fix this error.

Civilization II (1996)

Best-Loved Features:

Civilization II expanded upon its predecessor, adding new features like customizable governments, advanced diplomacy options, and an isometric view. One of the best-loved features was the introduction of “Wonders of the World,” which provided powerful bonuses to the first civilization to complete them. Rivers now didn’t take up a whole square and actually provided a movement bonus 🙂

Annoying Aspects:

While the AI was improved, it still had a tendency to act irrationally, with erratic alliances and a love for surprise attacks. Another annoyance was the inability to automate tedious tasks like constructing roads, forcing players to micromanage workers manually.

Most Memorable Features:

The game’s Scenario mode allowed players to tackle real-world historical events or alternate-history scenarios. From World War II to the colonization of Mars, these scenarios provided endless entertainment and replayability. The World-War II scenario is one of the best in the franchise. The addition of many new units such as engineers to clean up polution and stealth fighters and stealth bombers kept gameplay interesting all the way into the future.

Funny Moments:

Civilization II featured amusing animated advisers with distinct personalities, like the mad scientist or the militant general. Their quips and exaggerated reactions to your decisions made for some hilarious moments.Facebook

Civilization VI (2016)

Best-Loved Features:

Civilization VI brought numerous innovations to the series, such as the District system and Unstacking Cities, which allowed for more strategic city-planning. The addition of unique Leader Abilities, tied to individual leaders rather than their civilizations, added even more depth to the gameplay.

Annoying Aspects:

Players often lamented the AI’s poor handling of warfare and diplomacy, making it too easy to exploit their weaknesses. The game’s heavy reliance on expansion could also make it difficult for smaller, more focused civilizations to compete with sprawling empires. One of the more annoying features in this game compared to the prior ones was that mountains could not be crossed leading to very long campaigns or even blocking in a civilization from contact for many turns. Loyalty while a good idea on paper greatly reduced the ability to expand your civilization and was often more of a nuisance to deal with. Removing the automate function for workers also made turns take much longer.

Most Memorable Features:

The game’s art style, inspired by classic paintings and cartography, and it’s immersive music made the world feel alive and vibrant. The introduction of “Great People” also added a layer of historical significance to the gameplay, as players could recruit famous figures like Leonardo da Vinci or Albert Einstein to bolster their empires.

Funny Moments:

Civilization VI was filled with humorous moments, often stemming from the unique personalities of the AI leaders. For example, Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Policy” could lead to amusing situations where he’d aggressively protect his territory while simultaneously offering friendly gestures. Similarly, Cleopatra’s affinity for strong militaries might result in her fawning over a powerful civilization, only to turn on them if their military strength waned.

A Look backwards and forwards:

The Civilization series has provided countless hours of entertainment and strategy for gamers throughout the years. Each installment has brought new features, memorable moments, and its own set of quirks and annoyances. From the groundbreaking original game to the advanced and complex Civilization VI, the franchise has continued to evolve and captivate players with its unique blend of history, strategy, and diplomacy. As we reflect on these three iconic titles, we can’t help but look forward to what the future holds since it has been over 7 years since the last title came out. Looking at you Civilization VII. The hardware requirements always increase as time marches on and the graphics and audio quality become more and more life-life. Upgrade your gaming PC to experience the best gameplay worry-free.

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