Poll: What is the best Civilization game?

[woodaba]

So, i've got some bob in my pocket, and after playing the Civ V free weekend over steam, i'm hooked. However, i've heard conflicting reports on it's quality, so, here I am. What Civ game, out of these, should I get? Don't restrain yourselves to just the ones on the list, if there are other games in the series I should look at, suggest them!

 

[veloper]

It's a tough choice between Civ4BTS and AC.

AC is the more balanced game and it even has a story, but the civ games have somehow always felt more lively, probably to do with bigger impact the techs and civics have. AC is a bit more about balancing and acquiring more small increments in numbers.

 

[woodaba]

It's a tough choice between Civ4BTS and AC.

AC is the more balanced game and it even has a story, but the civ games have somehow always felt more lively, probably to do with bigger impact the techs and civics have. AC is a bit more about balancing and acquiring more small increments in numbers.

Interesting... is the story just backstory, setting everything up, or does it actually progress through the game?

 

[veloper]

It's a tough choice between Civ4BTS and AC.

AC is the more balanced game and it even has a story, but the civ games have somehow always felt more lively, probably to do with bigger impact the techs and civics have. AC is a bit more about balancing and acquiring more small increments in numbers.

Interesting... is the story just backstory, setting everything up, or does it actually progress through the game?

The story progresses through the game as you learn more about the alien life that's becoming more aware of you and trying to kill you.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Civ 4 is the best, Civ 5 has the most potential, Alpha Centauri is the most off-beat and interesting.

Civ I-III are only really worth revisiting if you feel compelled to get some historical perspective on the series.

 

[woodaba]

It's a tough choice between Civ4BTS and AC.

AC is the more balanced game and it even has a story, but the civ games have somehow always felt more lively, probably to do with bigger impact the techs and civics have. AC is a bit more about balancing and acquiring more small increments in numbers.

Interesting... is the story just backstory, setting everything up, or does it actually progress through the game?

The story progresses through the game as you learn more about the alien life that's becoming more aware of you and trying to kill you.

That sounds....fantastic. I've found AC on GOG cheap, so i'm probably going to get it in addition to whatever comes out highest on the poll.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

That sounds....fantastic. I've found AC on GOG cheap, so i'm probably going to get it in addition to whatever comes out highest on the poll.

One of the neatest things about Alpha Centauri is you can terraform the land, raising and lowering mountains. You can actually put an opponents crops in a rain shadow.

For whatever reason, though, the game just never captured me to the same degree that Civ did. Couldn't tell you why.

PS - And Civ 4 is going to run away with the poll.

 

[woodaba]

PS - And Civ 4 is going to run away with the poll.

Yeah, seems that way. Looks like it's the fan favorite.

 

[Jamash]

At the moment, Civilization 4 (plus it's expansions), but the upcoming release of Gods and Kings could make Civilization 5 better becasue, amongst other things, it adds the Religion and Espionage features that make the complete Civilization 4 the best in the series.

 

[Esotera]

Civ III is my favourite, IV and V just seem to play the game for you a lot of the time. I've been told II is also really good, but haven't played it.

 

[number2301]

PS - And Civ 4 is going to run away with the poll.

Yeah, seems that way. Looks like it's the fan favorite.

I thought Civ 4 would run away with it, but it's pretty close so far.

My recommendation would be Civ V for the simple reason of tactically deep combat. Oh and no goddamn stacks of doom.

Combat in any Civ prior to V is just a matter of attrition, whoever throws the most units at it wins. In V, a small force and a little tactical knowledge can go an awful long way!

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I thought Civ 4 would run away with it, but it's pretty close so far.

My recommendation would be Civ V for the simple reason of tactically deep combat. Oh and no goddamn stacks of doom.

Combat in any Civ prior to V is just a matter of attrition, whoever throws the most units at it wins. In V, a small force and a little tactical knowledge can go an awful long way!

This is my preference for Civ V as well. The 1 unit per hex system is actually really flawed, and causes a number of serious mechanical problems, but I STILL prefer it to the "stack o' doom" system, which was hilariously awful and broken.

 

[Bostur]

I voted Civ IV because I think it's the best, but the funny thing is, it really isn't very typical for the series.

I'd like to make a case for Civilization II, because it uses a ruleset very close to the original, but with better controls and graphics.

The third implements some cool features that we have come to expect as standard. Nations and leaders with unique abilities. Borders that expand dynamically based on culture. Trading with other nations for strategic and luxury goods.

4 and 5 are really more like experimental spinoffs each with their own quircks. In that way they both make for interesting varations of the core idea.

 

[woodaba]

PS - And Civ 4 is going to run away with the poll.

Yeah, seems that way. Looks like it's the fan favorite.

I thought Civ 4 would run away with it, but it's pretty close so far.

My recommendation would be Civ V for the simple reason of tactically deep combat. Oh and no goddamn stacks of doom.

Combat in any Civ prior to V is just a matter of attrition, whoever throws the most units at it wins. In V, a small force and a little tactical knowledge can go an awful long way!

I do like Civ V's combat, it lets you make blockades and other stuff that makes warfare very interesting. However, my problem with that game is the borderline insane and bi-polar AI.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I do like Civ V's combat, it lets you make blockades and other stuff that makes warfare very interesting. However, my problem with that game is the borderline insane and bi-polar AI.

Insane, bi-polar and cheating AI is a staple of the series.

The main difference for Civ 5 is the AI doesn't send a stack of 551 elephants over your border after it declares war out of left field.

 

[number2301]

I do like Civ V's combat, it lets you make blockades and other stuff that makes warfare very interesting. However, my problem with that game is the borderline insane and bi-polar AI.

Insane, bi-polar and cheating AI is a staple of the series.

The main difference for Civ 5 is the AI doesn't send a stack of 551 elephants over your border after it declares war out of left field.

Ghandi still nukes you at the drop of a hat though, so all is right with the world

 

[LetalisK]

I prefer Civ IV for a variety of reasons, but when I just wanted to fuck around, I hated how incredibly difficult Civ V made it to edit shit in comparison. Of course, this is when it first came out and the editing tools hadn't been fully released, I think.

 

[gigastrike]

Civ IV has a nice advantage in that all of it's expansions are already out. Try asking this again when Gods and Kings is released.

 

[lacktheknack]

It's a tough choice between Civ4BTS and AC.

AC is the more balanced game and it even has a story, but the civ games have somehow always felt more lively, probably to do with bigger impact the techs and civics have. AC is a bit more about balancing and acquiring more small increments in numbers.

Interesting... is the story just backstory, setting everything up, or does it actually progress through the game?

There's surprisingly little backstory, actually. But the story cuts in at significant moments and tracks along with your research into the alien life forms that are attacking you. For instance, after having a city attacked by mind worms for the first time, a story screen will pop up explaining what happened and how the worms attack. When you learn a certain tech involving the aliens, another screen pops up involving a scientist learning that the aliens have a specific ability, etc.

Plus, the backdrop that we ARE given is brilliant. The population of the spaceship divided into seven factions, so you're forced to have seven factions on every map with predictable personalities. Plus, there's logical diplomacy involved. If you decide to be BFFs with the UN Peacekeepers, don't be surprised when you find yourself at war with the Communist Despot.

 

[woodaba]

It's a tough choice between Civ4BTS and AC.

AC is the more balanced game and it even has a story, but the civ games have somehow always felt more lively, probably to do with bigger impact the techs and civics have. AC is a bit more about balancing and acquiring more small increments in numbers.

Interesting... is the story just backstory, setting everything up, or does it actually progress through the game?

There's surprisingly little backstory, actually. But the story cuts in at significant moments and tracks along with your research into the alien life forms that are attacking you. For instance, after having a city attacked by mind worms for the first time, a story screen will pop up explaining what happened and how the worms attack. When you learn a certain tech involving the aliens, another screen pops up involving a scientist learning that the aliens have a specific ability, etc.

Plus, the backdrop that we ARE given is brilliant. The population of the spaceship divided into seven factions, so you're forced to have seven factions on every map with predictable personalities. Plus, there's logical diplomacy involved. If you decide to be BFFs with the UN Peacekeepers, don't be surprised when you find yourself at war with the Communist Despot.

I...want...need...must...