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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
In Colonization, players lead one of four European nations on a quest to conquer and rule the New World. Players are challenged to guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover the New World, and negotiate, trade and fight with both the natives and other nations as they acquire power and fight for freedom and independence. As a complete reimagining of the 1994 classic, Colonization is a total conversion of Civilization IV that combines Civilization's addictive "just one more turn" gameplay with all-new graphics and features that add more depth to the franchise. New features include brand-new interface, improved diplomacy options and the included modding tools. Colonization does not require the original Civilization IV product in order to be played. [2K Games]
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... 100
1UP
What really makes Colonization a classic turn-based game is the amount of distinct character. This isn't just a Civ 4 mod; it's its own beast, with its own rules and its own sense of charm and history, carved out of a New World brimming with native settlements, tobacco, and furs, waiting for your people -- people, mind you! -- to conquer it, plunder it, and/or cultivate it.
 90
LEVEL (Czech Republic)
Three hundred years of human history refined into the fantastic game of survival, wealth and domination. Challenging management of resources and commodities on one side, great atmosphere and great replayability on the other. [Oct 2008]
90
Game Informer
The random map generator, several unique factions and difficulty levels, and many approaches to the ultimate goal of independence give Colonization as much replay value as any title you care to name. [Oct 2008, p.112]
90
VideoGamer
Civilization IV: Colonization takes a classic game and updates it for 2008, without screwing around with the things that made it great in the first place. Because it does this, we like it a lot. If you like absorbing strategy games, then you probably will too.
88
PC Zone UK
Not quite as awesomely mindblowingly epic as "Civ IV," but it's not far off. [Dec 2008, p.78]
87
PC Games (Germany)
A perfect remake of a true strategy classic. The few things Firaxis changed are sensible and functional. A must-have for every strategy nerd.
87
IGN
Like Pirates! before it, Colonization is brilliant, not just for the way that it successfully captures the fun and feel of one of a classic PC game, but also for the way that it brings that design into a new era.
86
PC Format
Best of all, Col08 brings multiplayer to the table for the first time, making it even more fun to smash the other European powers in your race to dominate the New World. [Dec 2008, p.99]
85
Gameplanet
The only criticism I can personally level at the game is that after a few hours of play, I was filled with a burning desire to play some Civilization IV, rather than have another round of Colonization.
85
GameZone
Colonization is exactly my type of turn-based strategy. I don’t miss the tech trees, and love the focus on economics and trade.
85
YouGamers
The classic gameplay is mostly untouched, so all the grumpy old gamers will feel right at home. On the other hand, anyone who wanted a true sequel might be disappointed by the lack of real gameplay improvements. In dire need of a gameplay balancing patch to sort out the rough edges.
85
Gamers.at
To play Colonization once more was like reaching deep into my personal drawer of childhood-memories. My verdict: Colonization is a truly well made portation of the original for the new millennium – but you shouldn’t be expecting and real innovations. [Issue#15]
84
PC Gamer
If you missed Col the first time around (and most of you probably did), now is an excellent chance to pick it up and dive into the colonial era. [Nov 2008, p.62]
84
Cheat Code Central
Colonization is far more than a simple mod or add-on; it clearly stands alone as a fully fledged blast from the past. This is one walk down memory lane you'll want to take.
83
GameShark
The new Colonization walks the fine line between mod, expansion and remake.
83
NZGamer
What is particularly interesting about Colonization, as against the Civ games, is the relationships between the different factions. There isn't, for example, the same emphasis on war.
82
GameStar
If you don't know the original game from 1994, you should play at the easiest level to understand the complex economy. There are three other nations competing with you to colonize the New World, the native Indians and, last but not least, the King of your nation in the Old World. The Independence War is one of the most entertaining ways to end a campaign ever seen in this genre. The game may not be perfect, but it's a motivating and challenging strategy game.
80
PALGN
While it's unlikely to convert anyone who can't see the fun in slowly nudging swarms of candy-coated numbers in positive directions, Colonization is a great addition to the Civ IV stable. And who needs sleep anyway?
80
Meristation
For a small price, those who have not yet experienced Colonization can enjoy it now for what it is: a real classic in the 4X genre; the experience is more or less the same and the mechanics are as clever now as they were in the original one. For those who experienced it, it's a nice update with a well put interface, a good way to keep playing it without the mandatory use of DosBox.
80
GameSpy
Building a thriving economy from scratch is immensely satisfying, and it'll take several games to really master the nuances of the elegant ruleset. Colonization might not appeal to everyone, but it'll definitely hit a sweet spot for many strategy fans.
80
GameSpot
Colonization is a more focused and linear Civilization experience that nevertheless offers the depth and rewards of the classic strategy series.
80
Eurogamer
Apart from mild annoyance at some automation hiccups (occasionally pioneers, ships, and wagon trains, seem to forget what they're supposed to be doing) and slight disappointment at the unit art (more could have been done to distinguish the four civs) I've been horribly content these last few days.
80
3DJuegos
Once again Colonization returns to demonstrate the strengths of the Civilization saga. Deep and full of gameplay variants off and on-line, this is a title that that will be very interesting for the fans of the turn based strategy.
80
G4 TV
Colonization adds a great layer onto the Civilization IV gameplay. If you like Civ-style games but also enjoy the trading and exploring aspects of games like Pirates! or, erm, Pirates of the Burning Sea, this is a game for you. However, if your strategic tendencies lean more toward building large armies than building thriving economies, just keep on sailing past this one.
80
GameFocus
If you are a big fan of Civilization IV you probably will enjoy Colonization even though it feels like a rushed attempt at expanding Civilization IV. Only buy if you are a serious fan of the series and Civilization IV is no longer enticing you to play.
80
PC PowerPlay
Most will stay for the joy of new discoveries, even if Colonization doesn’t have the same long lasting appeal as the more extensive Civilization series. [Dec 2008, p.71]
79
PC Gamer UK
Still a remarkable strategy game, and for newcomers it's proof that trading doesn't mean tedium. Unfortunately, it's not quite the grand resurrection that Colonization deserves.
75
Computer Games Online RO
The new Colonization manages in some weird way to capture that conquistador feeling that its 1994 ancestor made popular. But you need to play fast, if you don’t want to lose in one way or another, and a big chunk of feeling is lost when the game itself pushes you onto dark alleys just to finish it.
72
Worth Playing
If you remember the original fondly, then you have nothing to fear; it hasn't been broken. If you're not a hardcore strategy gamer or if you were weaned on them in this century, you may find the archaic mechanics and limited scope a little on the disappointing side.
70
Total PC Gaming
Our American cousins will really enjoy this and, begrudgingly, so will we. [Issue#12, p.60]
70
Gameplayer
So while it’s a nice nostalgia trip and makes for an interesting twist on the Meier formula, it’s people who have either never played Civlization IV before (we’ve been told they do exist) or those who have played it to death and want a bit of a change who will get the most out of this title.
50
Play.tm
This game may be cheap but it often feels even cheaper. It's not just the simplistic mechanics at work but the rough edges which begin to cut once the initial lubrications of happiness at replaying a classic title have worn away. From icons that shift slots on the UI to redundant information screens being favored over the existence of useful ones, Colonization 2008 feels more like an intern project than a game that should be sold to the public.
K S gave it a3: Scott m gave it an8: Jonathan S gave it a7: Bob gave it a6: Dziban M. gave it a5: Bill H. gave it a5: Pedro D. gave it a5: |
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