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Civilization IV: Warlords

EMAIL PRINT pc

9.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 37 critic reviews
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Based on 16 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Firaxis

Genre(s): Turn-Based Strategy

Players: 12

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: July 24, 2006

Summary

An all-new expansion pack, Warlords pays homage to some of history's greatest military leaders, delivering six new scenarios, giving players the chance to change the course of history with the help of their new powerful "warlord" unit. The expansion pack is loaded with new civilizations, new leaders and more units, resources and wonders that can be used in both single and multiplayer games. [2K Games]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Civilization IV Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Chronicles

Warlords adds even more to a game that started out great and only continues to be an excellent turn based strategy game.

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GameShark

Prepare to get addicted all over again.

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Game Revolution

But to the hordes who have already stayed up countless nights playing just one more turn, the cost of expansion is a pittance, and the sleepless nights merely part of the price of victory.

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Pelit (Finland)

Expands the Great People Points system of Civilization IV to the battlefield and adds vassalage, a new lopsided relationship between states. The new features are conservative and scarce but fit the whole perfectly. [Sept 2006]

eToychest

Warlords isn't as huge an expansion pack as some of the previous Civilization titles have had, but it's the best balanced, most refined expansion pack a Civilization title has ever had, and it carries more than enough new content to justify the purchase price.

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Computer Games Magazine

In fact, the reason to get Warlords is for the scenarios. It's worth noting that there are already plenty of scenarios available for free, thanks to the generous modability Firaxis built into Civilization IV. [Oct. 2006, p.65]

AceGamez

A great example of what an expansion should be - fix problems with the original game, add a lot of features that makes the original game more interesting and sends you back to replay it even more, while also adding new and unique content that challenges you in different ways to the original game. Warlords executes all of this beautifully.

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Yahoo! Games

Warlords is just the kind of expansion that a game as open-ended and infinitely replayable as Civilization IV needs: one that adds enough new stuff, while also changing up the basics so thoroughly, that you might as well be playing a whole new game.

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Gamer 2.0

A great addition to an already phenomenal computer game. It makes one of the most addictive games on the market that much more engaging.

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Gamers' Temple

Civilization IV Warlords will please all but the most pacifistic of Civilization players.

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GamingExcellence

What feels missing are any additions to the late game modern units or buildings.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

The multiplayer definitely benefits the most but all in all, one of the best and most disturbingly addictive games ever has just upped the stakes once again.

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GameSpot

Warlords adds six new civilizations and other enhancements to Civilization IV, but the cool new scenarios are the real treat in this expansion.

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Worth Playing

If you already have Civilization IV and have played it to no end, you're probably interested in one question: Are the upgrades worth it? My response: The scenarios are what makes this worth it.

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My Gamer

An outstanding game due to it's updated graphics, the widely varied choices you can make, and the wholly engrossing nature of the gameplay.

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Gamezilla!

There's not a whole lot you couldn't live without if you stayed with the original and passed on the upgrade. However, those enhancements and fixes combined with the elaborate, well-researched and intriguing scenarios just manage to put this sub-product over the top.

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PALGN

Warlords does a great job of fleshing out some of the minor problems that persisted through the original, and also adds some exciting new features that does the series no harm. However, some gamers may not be happy with the lack of new content at hand, especially at its price.

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PC Gameworld

Pick it up if you’re a Civ-freak. You’ll love it. But if long, epic strategy games aren’t your thing, Warlords won’t change your mind.

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Next Level Gaming

The reason it falls short of a fantastic expansion is that it does not influence the main single player game as much as I would have liked.

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GameZone

This expansion is as fun as its predecessor, and that’s saying a lot. All the new stuff fits in seamlessly with the existing game, and manages to incorporate new features with the old in a way that offers a change in scenery, but doesn’t distract from the original intent of the game.

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PC Gamer UK

Manages to repeat Civ IV's trick of delivering something that's hugely playable and yet dares to be profound and intelligent. It's an invigorating complement to the original and adds some essential refinements. [Sept 2006, p.86]

PC Gamer

If you're sick of beating swords into ploughshares in plain-Jane Civ IV campaigns, Warlords is the cure. [Oct. 2006, p.72]

IGN

We're a little disappointed that there's not more going on in the modern era. Triremes, Great Walls, and Numidian Horsemen are all well and good, but once the game hits the Renaissance, you've pretty much run out of cool new toys.

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IC-Games

It’s Civilization IV, only better. The inclusion of new nations, including the welcome return of the Zulu’s along with a general tweaks for the others adds to the overall strategy of the game.

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Sydney Morning Herald

There's certainly enough here to keep you busy for months, and if anything, it's a great excuse to return to what is an undeniable classic.

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WHAM! Gaming

If you like a challenging preconstructed scenario, some with historical overtones to them, you will find this expansion pack a great addition to a great game.

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G4 TV

The added scenarios, especially the alternate history ones are just icing on an already sweet, sweet cake.

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Boomtown

The real meat of the expansion though are the new scenarios which offer plenty of variety and interesting gameplay nuances. However they do tend to be rather tricky, even for experience players.

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Game Informer

For Civ players, Warlords will be a great addition. [Sept. 2006, p.99]

GamingTrend

The main benefits are the intriguing single-player scenarios and the tweaks to make warfare a more feasible strategy.

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GamePro

From the moment you begin playing both the open-ended campaign and individual scenarios, it's clear that Firaxis used this expansion to fine-tune and upgrade the game's Artificial Intelligence. A.I. opponents are noticeably more aggressive now, particularly towards the end of a game.

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1UP

If you enjoyed your time with what was undoubtedly the best strategy game of 2005, but eventually moved on to other things, Warlords is enough to get you hooked all over again.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Even when things get repetitive, there's something undeniably awesome about waging war on a grand scale. Warlords may not be the most multifaceted expansion pack ever made, but it is an exceedingly addictive one that adds new content and a new style of play to Civ IV.

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PC Zone UK

Not so much an expansion - more six little intricate waterfalls of complexity that siphon hours of gameplay from the vast Civ reservoir. It's a success, but one that runs far deeper than some might like. [Oct 2006, p.62]

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PC Format

A luxury item, unless you've already gorged yourself on Civ's online modes. [Sept 2006, p.98]

GameSpy

People who play mostly single-player games and aren't interested in scenarios won't find much new stuff in Warlords. At the end of the day, the expansion pack brings some great new stuff to the table. We just wish Firaxis could have taken some chances and offered us more of it.

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Eurogamer

In short, there's a lot of game here but none of it immediately demands you buy it, unless you just need a few new things to insert into Civ 4 to justify returning to it. In which case, hey - go do it. Civ 4's awesome.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 16 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Balazs C gave it a10:
Excellent update for an awesome game. Just the right amount of new content in it.

Yannick B. gave it an8:
It's still the great civilization game, altough the warlords version doesn't add very much to the actual gameplay.

M. Alex gave it a10:
When I heard that an expansion pack is coming out, I was afraid it might be a rip-off... Boy, was I wrong. Very nice.

Rob E. gave it a9:
A solid addition to Civ 4. But if you were looking for more scenarios, be warned - they aren't so hot. The scenarios are just plain boring - with the exception of one where you play as the barbarians.

Edoardo D. gave it a9:
Excellent expansion to the wonderful CIV4! Civilizations are more balanced (the Americans were a little too powerful in CIV4 with their leader's abilities). Moreover, online playing speed improved and there are much more match type available.

Orix gave it a9:
Improved a lot(especially music and gameplay). New stuffs are really awesome and make the game even more addictive. I really can't stop playing Civ 4 now :D

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Civilization IV: Warlords

Game Info

Summary

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