Civilization Revolution marks an
interesting departure for Sid Meier’s successful simulation series. The first
one built from the ground up for consoles, Civilization Revolution brings the
series’ classic gameplay to a whole new audience. As well as appearances on
next-gen systems like the Xbox 360 and Wii, Firaxis Games have created a version
for the Nintendo DS.
Civilization Revolution for DS
features the familiar conquest-based simulation gameplay of the PC series,
coupled with the unique hardware advantages that the DS offers, namely
touchscreen and stylus support. While the game isn’t perfect, with a few flaws
and shortcomings that can be attributed to the handheld format itself, it’s
still a fun simulation game that plays well and would be a nice addition to any
hardcore Sid Meier fan’s library.
The basic premise in Civilization
Revolution is very similar to the PC version of the game. You must take your
kingdom to the top of the political heap through diplomatic means and military
might. The game feels like classic Civilization gameplay, and the stylus and
touch-screen control makes the experience a lot more intuitive, as you simply
need to tap on units in order to select them and then drag the stylus on the
screen in order to move them around.
You’ll have the option to either
play through a random map, or choose from a list of 10 different scenarios.
These vary quite a bit, with options like Apocalypse! and Eternal Kombat
offering a wide range of gameplay options. Additionally, the DS version has the
Game of the Week feature, allowing you to download maps made by Firaxis in order
to compete with other gamers for a high score.
One of the ways that Civilization
Revolution separates itself from the PC games in the series is by making the
whole experience a lot more user friendly. The game has ample tutorials to help
you get used to the overall game mechanics, which helps a lot to bring in
newcomers and get them acclimated.
Unfortunately, the game is not
without its foibles, as the cramped nature of the DS’s two-screen format narrows
the game’s scope quite a bit. You’ll see a limited amount of map, with a much
smaller grid than you’d see on a PC screen or a television. While this is more
of a system limitation than an demerit against the game itself, it is
nevertheless a problem that surfaces often while playing the game. The problem
is further exacerbated since there is no way to zoom your camera in or out of
the onscreen action.
Also, aside from the cramped
screens, the game feels noticeably scaled down when compared to other entries in
the Civilization series. Granted, this is a portable entry and that’s to be
expected, but the epic scale that is usually attributed to the series is a bit
lacking in the DS version.
Graphically, the game is pretty
simple, not really the strongest looking title in your DS library, but it works
well for the game. The terrain details look decent (albeit cramped, as I
mentioned above) and the unit models look pretty good. While there’s nothing
here that will dazzle you and the presentation could’ve been done on the Game
Boy Advance, it still works well for a simulation title.
Soundwise, the game sounds pretty
good, but a bit sparse. There isn’t much in the way of actual sound effects, but
the music does a good job of setting the stage for the game.
Civilization Revolution is a solid
entry to the series, bringing the experience to a whole new audience. While the
DS version loses a little bit in the translation, it’s still worth a look from
hardcore series fans looking for a portable version of their fix.
|
Review |
Gameplay: 7.5
Revolution capitalizes on the DS’s strengths with some great stylus-based
controls. Unfortunately, there are some problems, as the gameplay feels a bit
scaled down and the maps feel pretty cramped.
Graphics: 7.0
Not dazzling by any means, the game is a 2D sprite-based game without a lot
of frills, but it gets the job done.
Sound: 7.0
The score is pretty good, but the sound effects themselves are few and far
between.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 7.5
The game is impressive for bringing the series to the DS in an effective
way, but loses a bit in the translation.
Multiplayer: 7.5
Revolution features support for four-players to take each other on.
Overall: 7.5
Civilization Revolution is a solid entry to the series and takes advantage
of what the DS is capable of from a gameplay standpoint. While it falls short in
several areas, it still stands as a worthy entry to most hardcore fans of the
series.
