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 enlarge | From: Take 2 Interactive
Category: Video Games
List Price: £39.99
Buy New: £19.15
You Save: £20.84 (52%)
New (18) Used (13) from £17.65
Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 947
Platform: Playstation 3
Genre: historical-strategy-games
Media: Video Game
Operating System: Playstation 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 5.3 x 0.6
EAN: 5026555401265
ASIN: B0015RPF3Y
Release Date: June 13, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 why no Celts? June 10, 2008
0 out of 15 found this review helpful
why no Celts - does anyone know if you can ever play as the barbarians?
 Fun while it lasts... June 14, 2008
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
I bought Civ Rev on the back of what I felt was a decent showing from the US PSN store demo, as positive reviews overall from sites like Eurogamer. Unfortunately, the demo's shortcomings are even more evident in the full game.
I would really, really love to avoid using terms like 'it's a dumbed-down version', and maybe use words like 'simplified' or 'streamlined' - but essentially they all point to the same issue - this is no 'revolution', it's just Civ Lite, or Diet Civ, or whatever you want to call it. And the fact that the publishers are passing it off as 'what console gamers want' is bull, and subsequently the reason that it manages to avoid the top scores.
I'll admit, the last Civ I played was Civ III, as I could never afford enough ram for IV - although it's required spec are probably not so substantial nowadays - and so I may be out of touch with drawing parallels to Civ Rev's most recent PC incarnation, but I never remember Civ III lleaving me feeling so... unfulfilled. In Civ Rev, the map size has been limited and timescales for research and construction shorterned to inject pace into the game and to allow for the world to be conquered in an afternoon, which sadly betrays the depth in game that Sid Meier's series is famous for. Everything works as it should, the control interface is slick and logical, the gameplay allows for the player to win by various means and thereby tailor the experience to the player's requirments. The problem is, it's all over far too quickly.
With games like Elder Scrolls, or GTA IV, the Final Fantasy series, or Pro Evo's master's league - it's not a complete shock to find a game taking in excess of 40 or 50 hours to get the most out of. And these are all console games - so it's a bit of a sickener to find that Civ Rev's brevity is almost used as a selling point when it becomes the game's ultimate weakness. I can afford to lose a few weeks wiping the Aztecs off the map, giving the Russians their rightful place as world leaders - so why won't the game let me? To be fair, though, the game length suits the multiplayer mode well and may well prove to be Civ Rev's lasting legacy - much like Call of Duty 4, another case of an awesome and re-playable multiplayer experience saving a game with excellent but brief single player mode.
Having played previous Civs, it is hard not to feel short changed by this latest version, and even newcomers may be disappointed by the lack of a game of substance to really get absorbed into. Ultimately, what has been included makes a great game, but there just isn't enough of it to warrant the top marks. Maybe next time around the developers will allow the player to choose how much of the Civ experience they want.
Civ, but not as you know it June 18, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I greeted the news of this first Civilization game on consoles since the PS1 days with something of a reserved excitement. After all, Sid Meier himself was on board (usually a sign of quality) however there remained in me a fear that a console specific Civ game would be simplified for the sake of being a console game. As suspected, I was right to expect a more streamlined game however I must say that I discovered by removing a lot of the micromanagement and complexity, Firaxis have succeeded in making a more focused game, easier to penetrate and a great multiplayer one to boot as well.
For the uninitiated, Civilization is a turn based strategy game. You begin with a small group of settlers based on the great Civilizations (Rome, Greece etc) and strive towards building a vast empire, growing by expanding your culture, developing scientific advances, creating new units and wonders and of course destroying your enemies.
The series began on the Amiga in 1993 and has spawned several sequels and add-ons over the years. With each successive instalment the game has increased in complexity adding new layers that present fresh challenges. Civ 3 and 4 are so in-depth that you could literally spend weeks playing just one game. The scope of the game is truly massive, encompassing all the ages and centuries. Games are played against a variety of other Civs (either AI or player controlled) and various factors can determine the winner; cultural, diplomatic, winning the space race or annihilating your opponents amongst them.
Civilization Revolution differs from its PC cousins. There are fewer units to build, fewer scientific advances. Gone are the complex negotiations you would carry out with other leaders and concepts like vassalage and unbreakable alliances. To give an example of how limited micro-management has become I can point out that workers are now automatically generated when you build new cities, and roads are simply purchased (and automatically built). The whole game has been stripped from the opening screen onwards. For example you now select your Civ and difficulty setting. You cannot choose the amount of opponents, map size or other variables. Real hardened fans may find this too simplistic, those coming into the series for the first time will find it perfectly balanced and not as intimidating as later Civs can prove to be on PC.
The interface is clean and has been cleverly designed around the PS3/360 pad. The developers have taken care not to utilise every button on the pad and this makes it easier to navigate. Selecting units, entering a city screen or engaging in diplomacy is all straight forward and players will adapt after a few turns. The game itself runs at 1080p and looks impressive for a strategy game, the humorous caricatures capturing the essence of the historical people they are meant to portray. The sound is inoffensive and forgettable, the simish speak grating after a while.
The average game lasts about 3-5 hours and those who enjoy the game on the easier settings will be eager to beat the more difficult settings. There are also scenarios, a game of the week mode and online multiplayer to add to the longevity of the title.
So is this worth getting? If you haven't experienced turn based strategy before then this is a great starter, if you absolutely hate strategy games then it is unlikely to convert you. For Civ fans I would say yes to all but the die-hards who must control every aspect of the game, they may find this too condensed for comfort. Others I believe will find it a breath of fresh air.
Good for newbies August 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love the PC Civilisation games and their genre. I am more than happy spending days playing one game and slowly and methodically working my way through the ages. So having had a go on the demo I purchased the full version.
If you are a devotee of the previous Civilisation games then do not assume that this is a games console version of the same. It is not. In my opinion the game is "dumbed down", being far shorter, offering far less options and being less involved. Other reviews call the game "Civilisation Light" and I think this tag is an appropriate one.
However, is this a bad thing? Not necessarily - if you want a "quick" game (i.e. a few hours) rather than a epic marathon struggle lasting days then it is still a turn based strategy game with a lot to offer.
For my 10 year old son it has introduced him to the strategy game genre, and he loves it. In time I'll move him on to the more involved PC versions. The graphics are colourful and engaging for the younger audience - the animated units means that battles have some interest for the console generation. My son's friend remarked, "I thought this would be boring, but it looks quite good."
So for experienced strategists - take it for what it is, but as a game to interest younger players or convert new audiences to the strategy genre then a worthy purchase. As with any game, download and try the demo first before you part with your cash.
Main criticisms - the in-game advisors and leaders. They appear constantly (you can't switch them off) and repeat the same gibberish in "sim-speak" over and over. Within minutes it becomes tedious. Also the game has frozen several times and I've had to reset the console - very annoying when you've been playing for a few hours and you lose all your progress. I presume this a problem with the game, as I've had no problems with any other titles.
Absorbing & fun July 9, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
First a warning... if you're a fan of strategy games, then this game will have hooked from the start and soak up all your free time, you'll have to find a way to wean yourself off. You have been warned!
The graphics are superb, the game play balanced (some of the more time consuming elements available on the PC version have been removed to allow the game to flow along quicker), and an element of humour added with the various caricatures of world leaders and advisors.
Although some elements of the game have been simplified, the depth to the strategy is still abundant, the 'Game of the Week' mode provides a set map and a set world power, having played this mode several times I was surprised how different each game turn out.
The only reason I haven't given this game 5 out of 5, is that there is no way to speed up the battle scenes, although these have been wonderfully animated, they can become a bit tiresome after a week or so.
Well done Sid Meier (and team) on another hit...
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