The expansion pack for Civilization V: Gods and Kings was out yesterday (19th June) and fans of the series will be pleased to know that there are a number of improvements to the system that are sure to enhance the gaming experience. If you are a fan of turn-based strategy games, then you must know about Civilisation, which like other games such as Total War and Rise of Nations, has managed to dominate the genre in the recent years.
The Original
For those who are new to turn based strategy games, keep in mind that Civilisation V follows a very simple logic: guide your civilization/faction to victory through the ages. Like Rise of Nations and certain versions of Total War (think Rome), the game allows players to choose from multiple civilizations and each with its own bonus strength reflecting its history. For instance, the British have naval benefits (just like they did for much of the 19th cent), the Americans have a line-of-sight bonus, so on and so forth.
Since the game involves military, diplomacy and technology, there are multiple ways to win the game. If you are a bloodthirsty conqueror, victory will be yours if you can capture the capitals of all your rivals. If diplomacy is your style, victory is possible by creating a new world order of global governance via the UN. Tech geeks can ace the game by completing the research tree and flying off the Alpha Centauri in a space ship. Other ways to win the game include building a mysterious Utopia or ending up with the most points at the end of the game.
The Expansion Pack
I’m not going to get into too much technical detail since the overall system is pretty similar to other games of the genre but I would really like to highlight some cool new additions brought about in the expansion pack. First of all, the expansion back now increases the number of civilizations from 18 to 34. Amongst the new civilizations is Carthage, which comes with free ports (to reflect the trading power) and the ability to cross over mountains (and it is the only one that can do so). Another is Austria (medieval European version), which has a cool trait called “diplomatic marriage” that allows it to absorb other city states. Others include Ethiopia and the Netherlands.
In addition to new civilizations and units, the game also features new gameplay systems notably religion and espionage. An enhanced AI system means that naval combat, the city state system and other elements will be enhanced. Naturally, this means that gamers can trace the growth of religion and take advantage of faith-based combat systems. Espionage, which has long been a feature of Total War, is also sure to enhance the military and diplomatic elements of the game. My favourite enhancement is the fact that there is now technological continuation for civilizations such as the Huns. This means, that even after they reach the limit of their historical timeline, they can still access modern (albeit standard) weapons.
Conclusion
Like most other fans of turn-based strategy, I am looking forward to getting my hands on the game. There is no doubt that it is going to be a lot of fun and is easily amongst the most challenging turn-based strategy games on the market now (closely rivaled by the Total War Series). Let us know what you think about the expansion pack, looking forward to it?
(Article by Navam Niles)
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