Game Pick of the Week: Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

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Go to the bottom for the TLDR if you don't want to read~

For as long as many of us can remember, Sid Meier's Civilization game series have been the standard setter for the RTS genre. Despite the slowly dwindling interest of RTS as gaming moves towards a more mainstream direction, Firaxis Games does it again with the newest installment: Beyond Earth. Despite Civ BE being dubbed the spiritual successor to the old title " Alpha Centauri", this newest installment is nonetheless exciting, with the positive qualities that make Civ games so enjoyable.

Civ:BE takes place in the near future, after a series of cataclysmic events that refer back to an event called "The Great Mistake" tear the Earth into chaos. Although the world is not "ended" or in immediate danger, the remaining nations of earth form various cooperatives and look to the stars for a new home. A selected number are chosen to embark on a journey through space in search for a new home. Keep in mind this is NOT an apocalypse based end of the world, the story was left open-ended in some respects (probably to make way for exciting DLCs!)

For starters, CIV:BE retains the similar turn-based gameplay styles of Civ V and Civ IV. However, in addition to the facelift, making way for a more sleek and futuristic looking HUD, many features were removed, reworked or added. Many of the basic units were modified such as the explorers, now equipped with more having the job of aimlessly wandering around. Some key concepts introduced in Civ V such as religion were removed completely. The biggest thing to this game however is what they ADDED. As most Civ fans know, the Civ games for the most part, are based off ancient civilizations and their development. Beyond Earth, however is the future. The technology being researched and used is new, and conceptual. The new tech tree at first glance will be very confusing. Each technology paves way for a concurrent or logically sequential tech to research. However, the tree is more free flowing, as you can go in any direction you want, given it will take more turns as you deviate further from the center. New units are introduced, with different combat, and utility-based capabilities. One of the most interesting things Beyond Earth has is the affinity. There are three: Supremacy, Purity, and Harmony. Each affinity stick to one ideal (Harmony being at peace/working with the indigenous population and the planet, Purity, striving for enforcing humanity onto the foreign world, rejecting "new" world ideals of integrating with this new planet, and Supremacy, utilizing alien technology in any way possible to be the most powerful being on that planet). Each affinity offers different kinds of bonuses and passives. In addition, as you progress further into an affinity, you will notice you will be able to make special affinity-based units. In addition, your cities, units and even your world leader will shift in appearance. Whether you want to peacefully coexist with the planet or run rampant and be the supreme beings of the planet by any means necessary, there is a play style for you! Though it goes without saying, there are a plethora of new interesting resources that all play a role in endgame, something that was objectively lacking in Civ V. Endgame in Beyond Earth is much more exciting, instead of two powers just throwing nukes at each other. The revamped spy agency system in this game can even turn a game in one person's favor in just a few turns. The new revamped missions and mission rewards are much more worth your time as you can even steal someone's capital city in a coup de'tat right under their noses. Even more icing on cake is the addition of a new enemy/potential friend: the aliens. Similar to the barbarians from the other Civ games, they are AI-controlled entities who spawn in large numbers from alien nests. As predicted, most are not hostile unless when close to their nest. The most interesting part is the type of aliens. Ranging from hordes of wolf beetles to the elusive sighting of the kraken, the aliens will keep you on your toes.

TLDR: Pros and Cons

Pros-
- fresh approach to the slowly stilting Civ series
- unique affinity based units and appearances, based on your playstyle and preferences
- vast improvements on specific units, providing more function and utility
- spectacular cinematic soundtrack
- exciting potential DLCs


Cons-
- (for the nitpickers) same or very similar game engine as Civ V, graphics seem the same
- removal of well liked features such as religion
- confusing tech tree at a glance
- limited factions, only 8 playable as of now


Conclusion- Although it may not beat out the superior Civ IV or V, Civ:BE provides a fresh approach to the Civ games set in a futuristic setting.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/65980/