Civ IV doesn't compare to Civ III

[weasel77066]

I agree. I was dissappointed. They really butchered this game. I will, however, hold on to it for a couple months and wait for any patches. Otherwise it goes on Ebay.
My dislike is purely taste. Im sure many people like, and I certainly dont want to take away from their enjoyment.

 

[Undertaker798]

Doom and Gloom! Doom and Gloom! Repent! The franchise is DEEEAAAD! (wiggles fingers menacingly) oooooh

All you're doing is repeating history. You don't like change. Others before you didn't like change either, when Civ III, the game you love so much, was reviled by a small number of equally vocal Civ II players. The series is still here. The series is improving overall. There will be people in about five years or so lamenting the replacement of Civ IV with Civ V, which will still be the same game. Your rant was proven moot before you even made it. Your post is meaningless.

Constructive cristism is always good, lame whining and bashing is just that: LAME :shakehead

I agree, like this much: *Opens arms extremely wide*

If nobody can accept change, the world wouldn't be like it is!! Whining and whining, i haven't even got the game and i know it is good! I adpated to civ 3 very well after playing civ 2 for a long time, and i expect that i'll adapt to civ iv just as well!

 

[Gogf]

Everything seems slow, and I have a very good computer. In CIV III, I could see everything that's going on much better -- in Civ IV either I'm too close to the action (and can't see anything aroud me) or too far away (and I can't tell one group of 3 warriors from one group of 3 archers).

Also, there are far too many pictures in CIV IV -- I have to scroll my mouse over 1,000 freaking pictures to tell them apart; very annoying. Sometimes, when chaning my city's production, the only way to pick the production that I want is to scorll my mouse over 8 or 9 different pictures. CIV III had nice drop down menus that really saved a lot of time.

CIV III's interface seems a lot more polished. Civ IV has a cheap feel -- its hard to describe but its obvious to me. For example the tech tree -- I think if you were to compare them side by side you'd think CIV III was the more advanced copy.

Units in 3D just plain suck in this type of game. They are too large at times and too small at other times. I really think the move to 3d was a big failure.

Also, every time the turn ends the game sends me back and forth all over the world -- it makes me dizzy and a little sea sick. Like I'm caught in Katrina or some terrible tornado.

All the words are so small -- and there's words and small icons (to press) EVERYWHERE. I'm having to read a million messages in small text because the game progresses so fast that every turn 20 things happen.

These are only a few thoughts. I'm really disappointed in this game. THIS IS LIKE STAR WARS EPOSIDE I ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

I agree, but there are things I like too.

What I agree with:

- Tech tree. It's annoying to have to constantly scroll, and it's way too confused (techs that are required don't even have arrows pointing to the techs they enable!)
- Interface. I don't like this shiny blue. It feels more like Star Wars than a strategy game (yes if you hadn't said that I probably wouldn't have used Star Wars as an example.
- Icons. These stupid icons are unimaginably annoying. If the icons were like icons in Civ3, that would be okay, but all the buildings look exactly the same in Civ4.
- Messages popping up. I don't need a message telling me that I killed a unit.
- 3D units. They're nice looking at first, but I don't like how the game has to turn the screen and zoom in every time one of my units gets in a battle.
- Zooming. I just can't find the right zoom level.
- Screen zipping around. Now that is confusing. It follows all of my automated workers around as they zip about doing things (I'm starting to find that automated workers aren't as smart as they are supposed to be).

And I hate the new civilopedia. It's awful.

I'm sure I'll get used to it, and I won't be able to live without some of the new features, but they really messed a lot of old good things up in the process of adding some new ones.

 

[zeeter]

- Tech tree. It's annoying to have to constantly scroll, and it's way too confused (techs that are required don't even have arrows pointing to the techs they enable!)
- Interface. I don't like this shiny blue. It feels more like Star Wars than a strategy game (yes if you hadn't said that I probably wouldn't have used Star Wars as an example.
- Icons. These stupid icons are unimaginably annoying. If the icons were like icons in Civ3, that would be okay, but all the buildings look exactly the same in Civ4.
- Messages popping up. I don't need a message telling me that I killed a unit.
- 3D units. They're nice looking at first, but I don't like how the game has to turn the screen and zoom in every time one of my units gets in a battle.
- Zooming. I just can't find the right zoom level.
- Screen zipping around. Now that is confusing. It follows all of my automated workers around as they zip about doing things (I'm starting to find that automated workers aren't as smart as they are supposed to be).

One thing I don't like about the size of the units is that you can't see the religions that a city has with the mech-infantry in the way. The units are a little too big in that regard, but then I find that my infrastructure is being scorched and finally find that theres a gunship there. That unit is way too small to see.

 

[omgpix]

So what you're saying is that the shift-U command doesn't work?

Upgrading a unit by moving around cities, are all at one using alt+u isn't the same as a nice advisor dialog and upgrading the ones you see fit from a single dialog.

 

[Erusama]

More like: Civ III doesn't compare to Civ IV.

When CIII come out you had the vocal minority whining about how it "didn't compare" to CII and so the cycle repeats. Though likely this time "the criticism" is really just slander from the ignorant who are upset over the fact the game won't run on their museum piece.

 

[Gogf]

More like: Civ III doesn't compare to Civ IV.

When CIII come out you had the vocal minority whining about how it "didn't compare" to CII and so the cycle repeats. Though likely this time "the criticism" is really just slander from the ignorant who are upset over the fact the game won't run on their museum piece.

The game runs perfectly on my computer. I still think they lost a lot from civ3 in the transition.

 

[gmaharriet]

I agree, but there are things I like too.

What I agree with:

- Tech tree. It's annoying to have to constantly scroll, and it's way too confused (techs that are required don't even have arrows pointing to the techs they enable!)
- Interface. I don't like this shiny blue. It feels more like Star Wars than a strategy game (yes if you hadn't said that I probably wouldn't have used Star Wars as an example.
- Icons. These stupid icons are unimaginably annoying. If the icons were like icons in Civ3, that would be okay, but all the buildings look exactly the same in Civ4.
- Messages popping up. I don't need a message telling me that I killed a unit.
- 3D units. They're nice looking at first, but I don't like how the game has to turn the screen and zoom in every time one of my units gets in a battle.
- Zooming. I just can't find the right zoom level.
- Screen zipping around. Now that is confusing. It follows all of my automated workers around as they zip about doing things (I'm starting to find that automated workers aren't as smart as they are supposed to be).

And I hate the new civilopedia. It's awful.

I'm sure I'll get used to it, and I won't be able to live without some of the new features, but they really messed a lot of old good things up in the process of adding some new ones.

I have to agree with the above and with massemo and spyder. I've spent 2 very long days playing and hoping I'll just get used to it and learn to like it, but every "just one more turn" is really just hoping it will get better.

The install went fine and it plays smoothly. There's a lot to like, such as no pollution clean-up, but I can't say I'm really enjoying the game. I'll keep trying and pray for patches to come soon. I just feel very disappointed with the interface.

 

[diamond geezer]

Bah, Civ I was the best. None of the others is a patch on it, relatively. Especially Civ III (remind me how many patches were released trying to fix this broken game...).

 

[EdCase]

I have to agree Civ IV does not compare to Civ III.
Theres nothing to compare....Civ IV once it matures (I do not deny it has had/is having teething troubles) to the level of Civ III (patches expansion packs tweaks mods and fixes) will so far outshine III that any comparison won't be worthwhile.
Be patient or keep on playing III for six months or so....then reassess your thoughts.

 

[Gogf]

Just to clarify: I like Civ4 better than Civ3. It's a better game. However, I still think that there are problems with the game, some of which were not existant in Civ3. Oh well, they will never be able to make a perfect game .

 

[diffusionx]

I knew I didnt like Civ3 from the first sit-down. However, this game hooked me from the first moment! I really like the graphics and the new features (combat levelling, great people, etc.). The interface is way better than the previous titles. Im so glad I dont have to deal with junk like pollution anymore. The game just has a je ne sais quois that Civ3 didnt have, at least at initial release (which is when I stopped playing it).

I would not be surprised if a lot of people are turned off by this game, because they did shake up the formula pretty radically. But I think it does it successfully and the game makes Civilization more initially accessible while unfolding its depth slowly - a very great feat and one that will expand the game's audience. I dont think its perfect - it needs a patch to smooth out the rough edges, but Civ2 and Civ3 were both pretty rough upon release too. But if you dont like Civ4 thats cool, but you cant really say that the game "doesnt live up to Civ3" because (A) a lot of people think it does, and think it will, (B) you are probably comparing Civ3 + expansions (two years of refinement) to an out of the box game, and (C) they're quite different in a lot of ways, though they are undeniably Civilization.

 

[ibcoltscrew]

i haven't even got the game and i know it is good! I adpated to civ 3 very well after playing civ 2 for a long time, and i expect that i'll adapt to civ iv just as well!

Beleive me this one isnt the one you think.... Civ 1-2-3 are pretty similar due to the fact it is not in 3d... the 3d engine make this game very different... i am a big big big fan of Civilization 1-2-3 but Civ4 ... after 7-8 games i must say Civilization is not civilization any more... It's just a new game and i don't think ill get use of it... so different.
My point for this Quote is... i was exactly like you... i was like, this game will be the **** ... its gonna be the best game ever and blablabla... but now after only a couple game, i start a game, 5 min after, i press pause then quit to desktop... why ? Because it's not Civilization anymore... You can say CiviliReligion or CiviliBigSquareNoSpaceToBuild tooo but it is not Civilization anymore... The Magic is gone... am i too old or is it the Programmer ?

Good Luck

 

[Doh??]

I have to agree Civ IV does not compare to Civ III.
Theres nothing to compare....Civ IV once it matures (I do not deny it has had/is having teething troubles) to the level of Civ III (patches expansion packs tweaks mods and fixes) will so far outshine III that any comparison won't be worthwhile.
Be paitent or keep on playing III for six months or so....then reassess your thoughts.

I think Civ3 was playable from beginning. It had simple and user-friendly interface + scenario editor so you was able reslove balancing issues without waiting half year till official patch.
Sure it had several tech problems, but it's nothing compared with ugly Civ4 interface and boring game process where you just build buildings till industrial era (say hello to 400 turns and 1 turn research limitations).

 

[Erusama]

The game runs perfectly on my computer. I still think they lost a lot from civ3 in the transition.

The thing is this game is not Civ 3.5, it's different and it's going to take some getting used to.

 

[Iceman_IX]

Everything everyone is mentioning is "I can't get used to it..." "I don't like it..." "It's bad." ...all opinions or personal preferences with no recommendation for improvements except "make it like Civ3." Maybe if you offered actual solutions or changes that might be implemented in a patch... but you guys are just whining.

Most of the complaints occurred in previous Civ games, too (zooming around to show other units movement, icons, etc.)

Anyone who speaks positively of Civ 3 is on crack. Civ 3 was garbage compared to Civ 2 when it came out. Sounds like you started playing Civ 3 with the complete expansions and didn't realize how much it evolved... after feedback from the gaming community.

 

[EdCase]

@Doh
Balancing issues? ICS infinite forest chop...corruption...a little more than balancing issues my friend.

Still its natural to view the past with/through rose colored glasses...I undeniably have had many hours of fun with all the versions of Civ...each had its advancements..(and quirks)...I expect to get the same from IV..
With regards to the interface.....if Civ is ALL you've played then yes I can see its a shock..but if you play across the spectrum of genres...then you should be aware that icons ,whilst being unwieldy during the initial "what the hell does this do?" phase, are ultimately more intuitive to the "flow" than reading text boxes continuously.

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

- 3D units. They're nice looking at first, but I don't like how the game has to turn the screen and zoom in every time one of my units gets in a battle.

You can turn off the zooming for combat in the gfx options. I really recommend that.
Haven't found a way to stop the zooming for wonders, though. But that one is rare enough to not be too annoying.

Otherwise, I agree with your points.

 

[Iceman_IX]

A lot of these things can be changed in options, as well, as the poster above points out. Problem solve.

 

[Charles 22]

Upgrading a unit by moving around cities, are all at one using alt+u isn't the same as a nice advisor dialog and upgrading the ones you see fit from a single dialog.

Excuse me if I was wrong, but I was thinking the en masse upgrading for a single unit, units that were also in cities was a shift-u instead (though it hardly matters) in CIV3. I guess you're saying the game doesn't provide the same sort of upgrading at one time that it did in CIV3. The nice thing about doing it that way, though I didn't always use it, was that you could just attempt it and then you could easily see how many were in cities and how much it would cost. I sure hope CIV3 lets me see on a menu just what units are in the cities, without HAVING to get in the cities themselves (the F3 command in CIV3) and also will let me sort it by to total of the unit types and also being able to pinpoint just where they are by putting the cursor over them. It it doesn't do this, CIV4 and I may become enemies real fast. That amount of covenience, if lost, surely isn't worth the mediocre 3D graphics.