Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

1. Garet1218

   Oct 24, 2014

   10

   A great throwback for Alpha Centauri fans!
   The new mechanics and atmosphere really separate it from other Civ titles, and really the themesA great throwback for Alpha Centauri fans!
   The new mechanics and atmosphere really separate it from other Civ titles, and really the themes remind me a lot more of Alpha centauri. I feel like if this had come out and Civ 5 was not a thing, it would had been held as revolutionary. I think far too many will group it with Civ 5 for using the same engine. They are two quite different games though. I say this as a long time fan.
   I for one love that they made culture more useful in a game play sense, they made espionage what it use to be back in the old days... Awesome..
   
   The tech web is probably my favorites system, I have always been a large science player.. The web and technologies they have change everything. I find myself conflicted far more often than in civ, not to mention it can be very situation based. The affinity system is awesome, and I like how it mixes.
   
   Here is my wishlish for the G&K sized expansion that should be coming
   
   -More mixed affinity unit upgrades or units, more units for pure routes to compensate.
   additional Planet ecosystem types.
   -A couple more sponsors
   -A scenario with a sentient planet.
   -A few more wonders… Expand

   • 26 of 137 users found this helpful
2. BlitzStein

   Jan 15, 2015

   8

   They accomplished the promise of a linux version. This is a good game. A little deceiving coming from the Civ saga, but we hope they will addThey accomplished the promise of a linux version. This is a good game. A little deceiving coming from the Civ saga, but we hope they will add space and other things on future expansions.… Expand

   • 4 of 24 users found this helpful
4. lordythegreat1

   Oct 28, 2014

   7

   Having now played a few games of this, I will say Beyond Earth is good if a bit limited.
   
   pros: fewer leaders but very customizable, lotsHaving now played a few games of this, I will say Beyond Earth is good if a bit limited.
   
   pros: fewer leaders but very customizable, lots of different worker improvements, lots of resources, deep tech tree.
   
   cons: due to being so focused on building and tech i never bothered to really try to play as a warmongering player, tech tree is massive and due to not being able to see entire tree at once I found myself going off in one direction and often forgetting that there were simpler technologies in the other direction that were important, units arent very interesting or useful early game for much more than alien eradication, no more luxury resources or their trading, no religions, no world congress.
   
   It feels like civ 5 did on first release, good but in need of an expansion or two. lots of sitting around pressing next turn in the mid game (as with civ 5 vanilla). Got lots of neat ideas but not all of it pulls off neatly and not all of it makes for a better game.
   
   Most important point to make: Ultimately feels like a full price mod. If its on special get it, but I cant yet recommend a full price purchase… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
5. Cyberlion

   Nov 5, 2014

   5

   After the initial few hours of euphoria exploring a new alpha centauri game, I realized there were no significant innovations since itsAfter the initial few hours of euphoria exploring a new alpha centauri game, I realized there were no significant innovations since its predecessor. All the factions, aliens and planets look and feel the same. After the first few hours, I realized there are no new gameplay mechanics. Graphics, sounds gameplay all mediocre. I built up a colony, explored the map, built a few units and realized I have as much desire to continue playing as I do to replay Civ 5.… Expand

   • 4 of 4 users found this helpful
6. vandana

   Nov 7, 2014

   4

   I should start this review by saying that I love Civilization and I have played all games in the series since Civilization II. Although theI should start this review by saying that I love Civilization and I have played all games in the series since Civilization II. Although the vanilla version of Civilization V was rough, I loved that release as well - one unit per hex combat, new graphics and leaders full of character were refreshing enough to bear with the game until the expansions made it truly great (especially Gods & Kings). I believe Beyond Earth is somewhere at the stage where Civilization V was at the release gameplay-wise (much to be improved, but can be easily achievable with expansions and patches). At the core design level however, affinities (affinity decides the way you play the game - it is a philosophy deciding your path of progress and victory) have been separated from leaders and that is something that took all character from the game away. The leaders and writing are generic and dull, lacking any emotional connection known from previous games. Moreover, I believe this core flaw cannot be fixed unless many more affinities were introduced and linked to leaders somehow which I simply cannot see happening at all. The result is a bland game, with potential for growth mechanically, but lacking character and because of design decisions simply not capable of getting anywhere near the legendary status of Alpha Centauri, of which the game is supposed to be a the spiritual successor. I hope I am wrong and the designers will find a way of making this game alive but right now it is a pretty space game, with marvelous music, unpolished gameplay that will be fixed in expansions and zero character. Not worth £30 and not a must play. I'll wait for the expansions and I regret not buying it on sale. I guess most people buying this game wanted another Alpha Centauri and this is not it and probably never will. Even comparing to Civ5 with expansions, already cheaper bundle, this game simply cannot stand its own and such comparison is inevitable when the engine is basically the same and the game plays like a glorified mod.… Expand

   • 8 of 9 users found this helpful
7. atr577

   Nov 28, 2014

   3

   A boring reskin of Civ5.
   I quit when I suddenly realized I was making myself to make that one more turn. Nothing new was going to happenA boring reskin of Civ5.
   I quit when I suddenly realized I was making myself to make that one more turn. Nothing new was going to happen anyway.
   In 30 minutes I lost that feeling, I was doing something meaningful; I was simply gathering resource to gather more resource to build that victory condition. Hard to say exactly why, but in CivV I constantly feel like I am choosing a way for my people to develop. Here, I dig res.
   
   Things I did not like:
   - Resources are a copy paste from CivV with different names. Not bad in itself, but not good either.
   - Civilizations are all the same. Bonuses differ, but leaders do not feel unique. Just random talking heads saying all the same. No feeling "that civ has a background" like in CivV.
   - Civilizations do not do anything interesting. The only things I got from them was "stop killing these aliens" and "give me something, and I will be grateful to you for that". Was fun the first time I received these, but then they just kept spamming same messages repeatedly. They never tried to push me in any manner.
   - Units are all the same. They start to differ when you develop an affinity, but still, they feel all the same. Just units, able to deal damage. I did not feel the need to think like 'ok, i will place an archer behind that militia so that if the barb moves that way, he would be blocked and if that way, he will be stuck in mountains'. Just push with whatever...
   - Units have no tactical promotions. They just increase in strength (the only promotion is +10% str). In CivV I had to think whether I want strength bonus to deal with barbs, or ranged def to attack a civ soon.
   - Units get upgraded to next tech tier at once. No need to plan your finance to be able to upgrade the army for upcoming war. Just research the tech.
   - Tech web is confusing. It is probably not bad, but confusing. The development variants are quite numerous (which is good!), but unless you studied and memorized the whole tech web, a good decision cannot be made. Each time I opened the web I pondered for several minutes, thinking what I would get from a tech, and which techs I will access after that. I do not want to spend time studying game mech, I want to feel I can make a valid, if not optimal, game decision on spot.
   - Wonders are stuff you build to get resource bonuses. No wonder picture, just some blueprint. No short and clear description what that thing actually is. No feeling you build something unique. Just another resource factory.
   - Caravans now originate from each city and have to be assigned manually. You also have to remember if you have max number of them in every city. Tedious.
   - It is probably just me, but I did not like the landscape colors. Overall, the land is bleak and inexpressive. Again, I liked it first, but it became a boring view soon.
   - (Fun part) In intro, a priest is crossing the Russian vessel before launch. I know they really do it (sadly) nowadays, but flying on holy spirit is a slap in the face of science. Disliked it.
   
   Things I liked:
   - Affinity system idea. Not how it was done.
   - Aliens. Piu-piu.
   - Space theme. Unit models look good.
   
   Definitely not worth the money, probably not worth to play at all. Might get better with DLCs, but unless they get REALLY positive reviews, it is hard to believe BE will ever surpass CivV.… Expand

   • 5 of 5 users found this helpful
8. Worstgamever

   Jul 30, 2022

   0

   Worst game I have ever played my entire life I would rather consume a bucket of paint

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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