Civilization 5 is for All

Civilization 5 is the newest foray into the fantastic franchise. I’ve been a big Civilization fan and I’m so glad that this series is continuing. The main problem with this generation of games is that they lack thought. Halo, Call of Duty, Killzone, all these games are simply twitch shooters. All you do is point and shoot. You don’t need to think, there is no strategy except kill all the badguys in the room and move onto the next badguy infested room.

Civilization on the other hand slows things down and forces you to think. Its much like chess because you need to think three moves ahead in order to stay alive. As the title states , Civilization is the game of progressing your civilization through generations of time; from club and spears to robots and spaceships. During this process you explore the surrounding areas, gather materials such as gold and lumber, slowly progress your civilization through science, math, invention and the create the great wonders such as the pyramids.

Before the game begins you pick your ruler, and there are a ton to choose pick. Every major leader is in the game from Washington to Bismarck. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses so depending on your strategy (global domination, the most cultivated, or diplomatic victory) should influence your choice of leader.

If there is anything I’ve learned from Civilization is that you need to clear you schedule before you start playing. I’ve been a gamer since the age of 3 and there has never been a game that made time fly by as fast as Civilization has. You sit down at 10pm and next thing you know its 2am. But this just goes to prove the brilliance of the game. You get so immersed in the world that you don’t realize what is happening in real life.

Civilization 5 takes everything that we loved about the series and makes it better. Better graphics, more streamlined interface, beautiful moving orchestral scores and yes, the addictive gameplay. I already claimed that StarCraft 2 is game of the year, and I stand by that statement, but if there was any game that could make a run for GotY it is definitely Civilization. It is something that can only be experience and my words do not do it justice. I highly recommend this game to all gamers, thinkers and twitch alike. I believe FPS fans will like it for the vast about of military units you can use, and of course the thinkers will love deciding wither to ally themselves with Ramses of Egypt or to undermine his alliances with Otto von Bismarck in an attempt to wipe both of them out. Of course you can be the peaceful warrior and attempt to be the first to reach the stars, but be warned, as with real life, not all civilizations want peace. So now it is your turn to write history and lead your civilization to glory.