Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

 PC
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Image
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86

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

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8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 209 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 asSid 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
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Yahoo!
    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.
  2. Game Informer
    95
    Beyond the Sword is unquestionably one of the best expansion packs I’ve ever played, and not just because the original release is so strong. The amount of content it adds, and the quality of those additions, is top-notch. This kind of massive depth, smooth polish, and unending replayability is what PC gaming is all about.
  3. GameShark
    91
    One of the most ambitious game add-ons you're likely to find and the vast majority of these changes are welcome ones that add significantly to the experience.
  4. IGN
    89
    Beyond the Sword makes an already phenomenal game even better.
  5. GameSpot
    85
    Beyond the Sword's additions are primarily to Civ IV's core gameplay, so the expansion doesn't make a huge leap forward in terms of graphics or sound.
  6. Play.tm
    82
    Beyond the Sword shows signs of how you can stuff too much into a game not initially designed to hold so much content. I look forward to Civilization V with great anticipation and till that game graces the world I will continue to play the fully expanded version of Civ IV which now graces every computer I regularly use.
  7. G4 TV
    60
    We like Beyond the Sword because it makes the vastness of Civilization 4 just a little bit bigger. Getting to play the Dutch and Portuguese is worth a lot, but we wish all the expansions could have the cunning to make us look at the game in a new way without losing the rich complexity that make us love it in the first place.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. CivforBrains
    Jun 4, 2011
    10
    Incredible game. The series really reached its high point here. Incredibly fun to roleplay and totally immersive. Something we cannot say atIncredible 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. VickyV.
    Jul 10, 2008
    10
    I Love this game, I can play it for hours!!
  4. BP
    Jul 20, 2007
    10
    The best Civ ever just got better. So much more variety and diversity. So many different units and buildings to choose from in each era. I The best Civ ever just got better. So much more variety and diversity. So many different units and buildings to choose from in each era. I was quite scared that they might ruin something good but once again came through with flying colours.… Expand
  5. BillB.
    Jul 26, 2007
    10
    Civ4:BTS best CIV expansion ever.
  6. M_Alex
    Mar 26, 2011
    9
    When this expansion came out, I actually considered it as inferior to Warlords. However, i have learned to appreciate it since then, though itWhen this expansion came out, I actually considered it as inferior to Warlords. However, i have learned to appreciate it since then, though it did require time, particularly as I had to learn how to use the new concepts and mechanics. Now, still playing the game pretty often, I consider such innovations as corporations and espionage as exactly those elements, that the previous instalments lacked. I do believe that I'll still be playing this in the future.… Expand
  7. Ave-Nar
    Nov 18, 2021
    8
    Typical Sid Meier's game: great mechanics, cool atmosphere and very addictive.
  8. JohnS.
    Aug 30, 2007
    5
    There are a lot of good things to like about this expansion, but unfortunately for me, even after the recent Aug07 patch, I am having There are a lot of good things to like about this expansion, but unfortunately for me, even after the recent Aug07 patch, I am having problems with playability of asian civilizations with workers not working at all. I am looking forward to the next patch, which will hopefully fix my woes. Other than this 1 major problem, I have loved the added features, corporations and increased espionage.… Expand

See all 33 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PC Game of 2007
48
#48 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
87
#87 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

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