Civilisation: Revolution Demo

Played the demo of this recently (big console one, not yet played the DS one), and after looking forward to it quite a lot, on starting up the game, I was left feeling quite disappointed. Now I'm aware the demo is quite limited in features as its a demo, yet it still didn't quite make me think this is the next generation of console strategy games.

To start with, they have decided to fit in with the 'console crowd' by having crazy characters attempt to guide you through the games much simplified interface. Taking a leaf out of 'The Sims', the main character takes you through each section and although it gives you choices over whether you want to listen to his random babbling of nonsense whilst a text message explaining it comes up with the help message. This character changes costume occasionally and is often pushed out the way by other Civ's leaders, barbarians and other people that pop up.

Control-wise, it has been simplified fairly well to the console's pads, with using the 2 analogue sticks to select units and move units around and the shoulder buttons being used to move between cities. Speaking of cities, although mine were fairly small and undeveloped, unlike in the early game part of Civ 4 for PC, micro-management has pretty much gone with your workers just generally working on cultivating the land around your city.Another thing that takes away from the game on my part (maybe unfairly comparing the audience of the console and PC version) is that once you have finished building a building, unit or project in a city on Civ 4, you were asked what you want to do next. On this one, I realised that for most of the game I played all of sudden I'd built a substantial army of warriors, but my city had become a bit of a slum.

Combat wise the game is pretty much identical to Civ 4, with the standard 'chance of winning' depending on a variety of factors and you have an ability to improve units not only from gaining experience, but from from finding a Knights castle etc. Also, with a group of three units of the same type you can link your units together as a stronger army.

Overall, Civilisation: Revolution did not impress me massively. But perhaps I am being unfair, for the basic console user who does not like the complexity of the PC version, or for a Civ veteran who simply wants a less intensive experience for their console, it is a good purchase, but personally, I think fireaxis bowed a little too low for the console fans, by not including basic voice acting like the Sid Meier from the tutorial in Civ 4, I also noticed some strange screen tearing issues, but hopefully that should be cleaned up for the final game.

For those looking to get into the Civ series for the first time, or if you simply want to play this series in a different way, you can pick this up now for PS3, 360 and a portable version for DS.