Usually we try to give at least some context in reviews, so that the material is understandable even to those who do not hear a word before that about the game that has become his theme. But in the case of Civilization 5 let us make an exception to this rule. Because there is, perhaps, in the world not a single person who at least theoretically could go to our site and did not know what “civilization” is ”.

Each new release of the key strategic series is like an epidemic, the game equivalent of “the meeting place cannot be changed”, the first shows of which devastated Moscow streets no worse than black death. Not least by his success, the franchise owes the fact that “civilization” is predictably good games: a familiar concept, well -known rules, stably high quality design. But, preparing for the release of Civilization 5, the developers announced: now everything will be different. A light panic began among the masses.

My third shoulder

In the statements of the authors of the fifth "civilization" there is still some share of cunning. In prevalized conversations, the picture loomed such that it was just right to seize the subtitles of Revolution from the console version of the game and attach to the name of the fifth part. The shrines are violated, the earth changed the angle of inclination, the star of wormwood fell on the third part of the waters. Reality, as always, is a little more prosaic.

Indeed, the authors made several significant changes to the Civilization 5 mechanics, but almost all of them were already announced in numerous interviews. For example, a military system was seriously processed. Say goodbye to the giant armies, accommodated in a single cage on the field. Now in Hux (another change, but, it seems, overvalued) you can squeeze a maximum of one military unit. The indicators of attack and defense are also affected by such factors as the type of terrain and … the presence of a nearby troops. Units that feel support from the flanks become noticeably stronger, so the first thing that the commander has to learn in the Civilization 5 is a strategically correct arrangement of fighters and technology. Add here normally (finally) realized long-range units, and you can roughly evaluate the power of the innovative impulse Firaxis.

The war in the Civilization 5 is not just a bunch of raspberry, in which it is necessary to throw cannon meat from time to time, but full-fledged fighting, chess with living figures. Declaring a war to your neighbor, you do not throw it with caps, but pull it up to the borders of a carefully selected army, place heavy guns in the back rows, send it to the commanders, whose presence on the battlefield gives the soldiers self -confidence. In general, you are planning a serious operation.

With the world

But war is only part of the "civilization", and often – far from the most important. For the pacifists playing exclusively for Gandhi, something new is also stored in the Civilization 5. For example, city-states that do not participate in a common race for the main prize and in general are almost not interested in geopolitics (unless they will ask to eliminate the competitor or help to fight off the barbarians from time to time), but with the right treatment they are able to give a peace-loving player a diplomatic victory. Guess who will first vote for you in the UN elections? Of course the younger brothers.

Alien cities can now not only be annexed, but also to establish a puppet government in the occupied territories, thus avoiding public discontent (rises as new cities and population growth in the empire). True, in this case, you will have to forget about the delights of direct territory management – about the ability to https://jammy-jack-casino.co.uk/ indicate what to build and what to strive for – and be satisfied with the regular tribute.

Yes, excellent balance and impeccable design-still the main trump cards Civilization. The game is to slander how well you understand the amazing strategies: playing in the Civilization 5 you never feel that you have reached the absolute ceiling. Even draining the party with some computer outrights, you do not fade to the desktop, but automatically begin to analyze the party, because you feel: firstly, only your own mistakes are guilty, and secondly, you can still fix it. You just need to start all over again and this time it is a little faster and more resourceful. The formula “only one move” for no vain became the unofficial motto of Civilization.

Loneliness

Computer rivals, it happens, behave extremely interesting even at relatively low levels of complexity. Sometimes it even seems that they actually build intrigues against you and whisper to the back toxic nasty things when you turn away from the monitor. At times even gets the impression that AI can … pretend.

The fact that even a friendly power is able to suddenly stick a knife into your back, there is nothing surprising. Another thing is interesting – the choice of moment. Even if the neighbor can literally breathe the whole game, do not flatter yourself. In the most inopportune moment, in the moment when you can’t do anything about it, can follow an unexpected blow that will interrupt your brilliant career and turn hopes for world domination to dust. In Civilization, your only true friends – the army, fleet and scientists. Everything else is random, nothing in the long term.

Novgorod elephants

And of course, Civilization is still the main game in the world for all lovers to rewrite history. In this world, everything is possible. Here, the wealth of Russia can suddenly not be growth of Siberia, but Mecca and Medina. Here, Aztecam does not cost anything to crush the French army and make France of the Indian, leaving the old masters some tiny island in exchange for a promise of lifelong indemnities. Here St. Petersburg becomes a Russian whaling capital, and Washington is defended by archers on chariots. It is unlikely that there is another strategic game in the world, which, like “civilization” would be full of incredible stories to the edges.

In general, the developers were an amazing trick: they refreshed the well -known and familiar strategy, but did it so elegant and subtle that they did not damage the fragile fabric of the game. In fact – they did not redo it, but supplemented it. What happened as a result, at the same time beckons its novelty, and soothes from the first moves: without nerves, you already know this game.

* * *

Perhaps to the Civilization 5 and it would be possible to make some complaints, but somehow nothing came to us. This is very good … No, perhaps even a reference global strategy. Variable, deep, but at the same time friendly and open. Such games, undoubtedly, should wait several years, because then you can play them almost to endlessly. And before the release of the new version – so surely. If you like strategies, be sure to please yourself with the new "civilization". If not … then please anyway.

Grade: 10