Civ4 ain't the prettiest game around

[SlaveOfSeven]

Just got this and I'm wondering what prompted the decision to go fully 3d. It was completely unnecessary from a gameplay point of view, and the one reason that might have justified the decision - looking nice and shiny - is wasted as the game looks fairly cheap and nasty compared to number 3. I'm really having quite a hard time getting over the look of the current game, which is a shame as judging by the actual gameplay it seems as if it could be the best version yet, though I haven't played enough to say for sure on that front.

Does anyone think the game is an improvement visually over the previous one? Is it just a case of "things were better in my day" (I'd probably still be playing number 2 if I hadn't lost the disc)? Am I just a miserable old bastard looking for things to complain about?

 

[Star Treks]

Civ4 is the solidest gameplay wise, but I agree that the switch to full 3-d was not really necessary. On my computer it runs slower, too. I feel the same way about Sims vs. Sims 2 the original just ran better and was just as fun.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Civ3's graphics were a massive improvement over 2 (and the interface made the game much more playable). With Civ4, I can't say the same thing. They added a lot in gameplay that made it much better, but I'm not sure if they did much visually that actually improved it.

Still, it's a great game.

 

[Canadave]

While I don't know that it was necessary overall, there are a few visual cues in Civ 4 that work really well, I think—like the fact that you can tell if a tile is productive or not based on whether or not the mine, farm, etc is animated or not.

 

[Sephiroth]

my favorite is the graphically updated Civ2

 

[HellRaiser]

Civilization has never been about the graphics anyway. The 3d graphics, as Canadave mentioned, are functional. They allow you to see what's going on in the cities or surrounding squares just by glance. Though the 2d graphics of Civ3 were fairly refined compared to the rather crude 3d of Civ4, Civ4's graphics provide the viewer with more information. Besides, if Civ4 were any prettier, my computer would have a hard time running it.

 

[Gatekeeper]

my favorite is the graphically updated Civ2

Hmm ... this is the first I've heard of this. Where can I find it?

WRT Civ IV ... **sigh** I've never been able to get "into it" as I did with Civ II, despite the former's lush, 3D graphics. It's silly, I suppose, but there are days I wish the Civ II AI was updated, along with a few graphic/gameplay refinements, and, voila!, one has a smashing Civ 2.5 game.

Another thing about Civ IV that, frankly, pisses me off: It's not easy to mod the damn thing unless you've got some familiarity with Python, among other things. Hell, even to alter city names and civilization names can be a bear, what with multiple files containing the information.

Then there's the fact that Civ IV's creators turned the old standalone map editor app from Civ II into some convoluted in-game WorldBuilder thing where *you* have to literally set everything up, right down to manual resource distribution and whatnot. Goodness. To add insult to injury, no Earth map shipped with the game, so one has to find one elsewhere. Hmpfh. Maybe that was a good thing; had Firaxis provided such a map, they likely wouldn't have had the civilizations starting in their historical locations.

Heh. Yeah, I'm definitely an "old school" Civ II fan. We'll see what Civ: Revolution holds for the consoles and, of course, if Civ V is an improvement over Civ IV.

Gatekeeper

 

[Delsaber]

Civ IV doesn't need to be the prettiest game around, the way it plays. Some games will always work no matter the technology.

...but damn, Civilization Revolution sure is looking nice, ain't it?

 

[SlaveOfSeven]

Civilization has never been about the graphics anyway.

That was part of my point really, made in a roundabout way.

The 3d graphics, as Canadave mentioned, are functional. They allow you to see what's going on in the cities or surrounding squares just by glance.

Yeah, but that's not because of some property unique to 3D.

 

[PointyHairedJedi]

I've always wondered if they were trying to make it more modder-friendly by doing that - it is comparitively easier to learn the basics of 3D modelling than it is to create the frame-by-frame .flc animations needed for units in Civ 3. It doesn't especially add anything for me to have it in 3D, but then I have some issues with the game anyway of which the graphics are my least concern.

(Check out a game called Imperialism at Home of the Underdogs. Now there's a strategy game you can really sink your teeth into.)

 

[Lindley]

I haven't played any of the games past II. I should do so.

Planning to get a new machine in time for StarCraft II anyway, so maybe I'll get CivIV around the same time.

 

[SlaveOfSeven]

I've always wondered if they were trying to make it more modder-friendly by doing that...

Guess that's possible. I suspect it was more a case of making it I-can't-play-a-2d-game!-friendly though.

(Check out a game called Imperialism at Home of the Underdogs. Now there's a strategy game you can really sink your teeth into.)

Yeah, I've been meaning to get ahold of this one for ages; actually, meant to buy it when it came out but for some reason missed the boat.

Complaints about graphics aside, so far this one seems to have some nice improvements. Mad land grab at the start seems to have been eliminated and also, because of that, starting positions are less influencial. All seems very nicely balanced at the beginning. I'm just getting to the stage when I'll have to start thinking about removing a rival or two from the continent, so it'll be interesting to see how warfare compares.

 

[Sephiroth]

i remember i had the civ 2 MP Gold edition and it gave you the option of re-drawing every unit, map tile, road, ect, EVERYTHING, i remmeber spending a week creating a more realistic world map by hand drawing each tile

 

[Canadave]

(Check out a game called Imperialism at Home of the Underdogs. Now there's a strategy game you can really sink your teeth into.)

Imperialism is a great game, but it pales in comparison to Europa Universalis.

 

[rType]

It was interesting to watch the RTS genre go through the "3D" phase a while back. Games like Force Commander and Dark Reign II touted their free cameras before players and developers alike figured out that they were actually a pain in the ass and everyone went back to their fixed isometric perspectives.

 

[Sephiroth]

gatekeeper:it's out there, and you get more tech

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

I disliked most of CIV IV but I need to try it again someday. I do agree the graphics look bad compared to Civ 3.

There's no risk allowed with the galleys, etc...you just are simply allowed to move into sea squares. What fun is that?

And the religion thing...never got the point of it.

I like the idea of alternate civilization leaders, though.

Civ 3 wasn't perfect...barbarians use galleys but never load anyone on them for a more amphibious threat. The other civs refused to stay out of you borders, but your rep was damaged if you did the same.

Civilization Revolution, their rendition of Cleopatra is the most amusingly inaccurate depiction yet. But young Catherine is better than grumpy old Catherine.

 

[Canadave]

^ The idea of religions is that they affect your relations with other powers in the game, and serve as a way of spreading your influence.

 

[Kegek]

(Check out a game called Imperialism at Home of the Underdogs. Now there's a strategy game you can really sink your teeth into.)

Imperialism is a great game, but it pales in comparison to Europa Universalis.

Indeed. I used to be a huge Civ2 junkie back in the day, but these days I mainly play the Paradox fare. Very good, intricate games.

 

[Fencer]

^ The idea of religions is that they affect your relations with other powers in the game, and serve as a way of spreading your influence.

It's also a good way to get money if you hold the holy city and it allows your units to start with extra experience point which helps with the promotions and it allows you to speed up production of buildings in cities with your religion.