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We started as a small tribe in woodlands north of the see, and become most powerful nation of the eastern continent... That could be first line of Herodotus great history of the world, in this game. Ah, I remember all the months spent with CIV, CIV II, Call to Power, Call to Power II, and CIV III. Still waiting to put my hands on Alpha Centauri, dough. Some time, soon... let us begin...


CIV4 Beyond the Sword is turn-based tactical simulation, mix of sandbox management and strategy, with cultural and religious aspects. Yes, it is little older, but with both expansions, and official patches, it is brand new and shaped up game you just need to play if you like strategies.


Even before you start, you can change and adjust all that you want - world size and shape (from small to extra large, from Pangaea to archipelago), climate conditions and population, resources,... Then you select your nation type (You can name it "Internet people" if you want, no restrictions) from predefined nations, witch includes France, England, USA, Babylon, Persia, Egypt, Germany... Every single one with unique advances and flows. Most of them, if you compare this with CIV III, have more then one leader you can choose, and that selection also has impact on your playing style.


You can also select your competitors, or to say, your enemies. The more, the better. Or set everything to random, and play different game every time. And when you finally start, you will have settler, who is not one person, but three. Yes, strange. But then, they probably wanted to do that more realistic, there is no settlement that was founded by one man. Except if you do believe in story about Romulus and Rem, and that Aeneid did survived fall of Troy... yes...


So, you start with a settler, and, depending of nation type, with worker, or a warrior, or a... hm... another settler? Well, first things first, it is good to settle as soon as possible, and place is usually very good, so don't move, just settle. And as soon as possible, make more towns. Something like, warrior, settler, warrior, settler, ...


Sooner or later, you will have the honor to meet your respected neighbours. Yes, they are smart and dangerous if you are playing on higher level, or stupid and meek on lower. However, in every case they will make demands, and even threats if you don't play smart. Sometimes, you are so near victory, and then, three of them will attack you, destroy your culture and wealth, and then you are doomed.


But let us not speak of CIV in general, let me say something more of this great 3D engine and free camera... It Sucks. yes, 3D is nice and everything, it supports higher screen resolutions, but, what is the point if the best view of situation is paned out so it looks like 2D flat screen?


Good side is religion and corporations. Religion is connected with technology tree, so if you discover one religion, you can make it official state religion, and send missionaries to neighbours, and convert them. Also, you can have problems if they do that to you, except if you have "free religion" proclaimed... Then you have bonuses from all kinds of believers... Something "Call to Power II" had in '99, if I'm not making a mistake, even with TV preachers...


Also, there are "great persons" which you can use as you wish - start a golden age, or let them make great art piece, or scientific discovery...

Beside world wonders, there are now national wonders, and they are helpful in making cultural victory, which is one of new ways of finishing game as victorious - you need to have three cities with legendary culture level... And some old wonders are changed now, there is no more Hoover dam... :)


Level of detail is low. Zoomed in, game looks like bunch of kindergarten toys. But from high above the ground, it looks more like older versions, so it is playable. Technology tree is now made from one scrolling screen, instead of three or more, one for each epoch, and on normal speed game seems a little bit faster then before...



So, in the end, what to say of this game. Every CIV fan is playing it since 2005, or at least after first patch, and all the others are now so in to Crysis, which will be forgotten in 2 years, and be remembered just because of visual breakthrough and necessary hardware...
One and only... Civilisation... a must have...

Graphics: 7.5/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Freedom: 10/10
Overall: 9.1/10