Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword PC
  • Publisher: 2K Games
  • Release Date: Jul 23, 2007
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Image
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Metascore
86 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 106 Ratings

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  • Summary: Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Civilization IV and focuses on the late-game time periods after the invention of gunpowder and delivers 12 challenging and decidedly different scenarios created by the development team at Firaxis Games, as well as members of the Civilization Fan Community. Firaxis Games delivers a massive increase in new units, buildings, and technologies to the epic game with additional focus on the late-game time periods. The expansion pack includes ten new civilizations, such as Portugal, Babylon and Netherlands and their associated unique units and buildings. Sixteen new civilization leaders including leaders for the ten new civilizations, as well as additional leaders for existing civilizations. A new gameplay feature allows players to create corporations and spread them throughout the world. Each corporation provides benefits in exchange for certain resources. Now available much earlier in the game, an espionage feature offers players many new ways to spy on opponents, stir citizen unrest and defend their government's secrets. New random events such as natural disasters, pleas for help, or demands from their citizens will challenge players to overcome obstacles in order for their civilizations to prosper. Five new wonders await discovery including the Statue of Zeus, Cristo Redentor, Shwedagon Paya, the Mausoleum of Maussollos, and the Moai Statues. Winning the race to Alpha Centauri now requires more strategic planning and tactical decision making. Apostolic Palace: The United Nations becomes available earlier in the game, providing a way for players to win a diplomatic victory earlier. New resolutions will also be added which will expand the available diplomatic options. Advanced Starts: A major fan request, this new feature enables players to "buy" components of a custom-tailored empire and begin play in the later part of the game, allowing them to experience many of the new features of the expansion pack in a shorter amount of time. Enhanced AI: The AI has received many enhancements, making it tougher to beat on the higher difficulty levels. [2K Games]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. CPUGamer
    100
    The new mods alone, including space-based and mythological scenarios, are enough to keep a dedicated player occupied for days, and the new civilizations and systems introduce so many new layers to the gameplay that Civilization IV is practically a new game entirely.
  2. Yahoo! Games
    100
    Where Beyond the Sword will really win you over is with the new scenarios and mods. There is some truly wonderful stuff in here.
  3. PC Zone UK
    86
    Yet another love-letter from Firaxis to their fanbase, and as good a reason for living as chips. [Oct 2007, p.72]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. PC Gamer UK
    74
    The new elements it adds feel more like a patch than a genuine expansion whilst the mods are hit and miss - and you can already get the best ones for nothing. Would I want to go back to playing Civ IV without what Beyond the Sword adds? No. But should I have to pay this much for the privilege of balancing a game that, by the very intent of this expansion, its developers clearly feel needs it? Again, no.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. CivforBrains
    10
    Incredible game. The series really reached its high point here. Incredibly fun to roleplay and totally immersive. Something we cannot say at all about it's suck-sessor number 5. I would truly recommend this game to anyone that loves a deep, complex, enriching turn based strategy game.… Expand
  2. BalazsC.
    10
    I would easily give this a 11 out of 10. This expansion seriously beats the warlords in my opinion and even that was excellent.
  3. M.Alex
    8
    When this one came out I was very dissapointed. The end-game addition were great, don;t get me wrong. But the whole was buggy and virtually unplayable. After a few patches it started to be playable, and after the last one or two, even enjoyable. Still, some elements are irritating: To much weight placed on espionage, which as an element when playing against more difficult AI's seems to be fairly unbalanced. I'm keeping this one, but it wasn't as good as Warlords.… Expand
  4. CRL
    6
    For some reason I found this game much more enjoyable than the actual Civilization IV. It's intoxicating and a the new elements give what was, in my opinion, an average game in Civilization IV a new life.… Expand

See all 28 User Reviews

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