Leaders a lot better in Civ V and VI. These look werid.

[Ryansinbela]

Agreed, I just wished they had more unique dialogue and also a background

 

[GeneralZift]

The actual quality of the textures and models and even animations is naturally going to go up over the years. But I prefer the fact that the older games had more voiced lines (even if those languages were often wrong), and they had more animations, more text dialogue, and more often jumped in to say things.
So strictly speaking the Civ7 leaders look pretty but they should also do more and feel more alive too.

 

[Lebo44]

What I appreciated in the older Civilization games was how the leaderhead backgrounds shifted depending on the government type and the era—it added a dynamic visual flair that was really cool.

Also, the impact of different governments felt much more tangible. Democracy brought unrest during wartime, while Communism came with heavy corruption. Now with this card-based system it all feel the same to me.

 

[Siptah]

What I appreciated in the older Civilization games was how the leaderhead backgrounds shifted depending on the government type and the era—it added a dynamic visual flair that was really cool.

Also, the impact of different governments felt much more tangible. Democracy brought unrest during wartime, while Communism came with heavy corruption. Now with this card-based system it all feel the same to me.

The bonuses from governments like +20% science or +30% overbuilding are quite impactful. But I agree that you don’t really feel these somehow. They seem too passive and non-thematic.

 

[Lebo44]

The bonuses from governments like +20% science or +30% overbuilding are quite impactful. But I agree that you don’t really feel these somehow. They seem too passive and non-thematic.

Absolutely, that’s right. It could be that the sheer number of scattered bonuses influencing your civilization makes it hard to actually feel the effects tied to government choice. They kind of get lost in the noise. Maybe the government should block certain wonders or impact unit strength even to feel different... That’s clearly a discussion for a different thread

 

[Askia Muhammad]

So they cannot budget propery and somebody had to gold plate every process

Civ6 had extremely good music for example

I didn’t care for the main theme of Civ 6 but the actual civilization music was amazing. I like it overall better than 7’s music thus far

 

[reddishrecue]

What I appreciated in the older Civilization games was how the leaderhead backgrounds shifted depending on the government type and the era—it added a dynamic visual flair that was really cool.

Also, the impact of different governments felt much more tangible. Democracy brought unrest during wartime, while Communism came with heavy corruption. Now with this card-based system it all feel the same to me.

I wonder what made the leader head backgrounds seem popular and lonely tbh. The first time I would meet a civilization AI in civ 1 particularly when they were far away, they would seem popular, they were aggressive, powerful and had good technology. The background of these civilizations would seem popular at first and then as we would go to war and the AI would lose cities to me, I would see the head background again and there would be less people and the leader would seem lonelier. As we would go to war more and eventually lead the AI to defeat, the leader head background would make the leader by himself. What happened to all the people in the background? I would ask myself. Why are there less people in the background leader head? I also miss this mechanic, and I feel like if implemented in future civilization games (if they continue the series) would be particularly interesting.
I recall corruption relief in civ 1 with communism. Courthouses were no longer needed to reduce it and everything was brought to light. However, I don't really remember if with the advent of communism corruption disappeared or revolutionizing to communism made corruption disappear. I don't recall ever making a revolution when I would succeed because I would always stay despot so I think that it was the advent of communism that used to take away corruption.

 

[Lebo44]

I wonder what made the leader head backgrounds seem popular and lonely tbh. The first time I would meet a civilization AI in civ 1 particularly when they were far away, they would seem popular, they were aggressive, powerful and had good technology. The background of these civilizations would seem popular at first and then as we would go to war and the AI would lose cities to me, I would see the head background again and there would be less people and the leader would seem lonelier. As we would go to war more and eventually lead the AI to defeat, the leader head background would make the leader by himself. What happened to all the people in the background? I would ask myself. Why are there less people in the background leader head? I also miss this mechanic, and I feel like if implemented in future civilization games (if they continue the series) would be particularly interesting.

Yes, it was also cool. I believe the number of people (advisors) behind the leader was tied to military strength. More units = more advisors in the background. I think something similar was in Civ 2 but in form of weapon icons. More icons = the more powerful (in terms of military strength) civilization was.

These were the simple details that brought lots of atmosphere. Meeting a lonely leader and you instantly knew he was poor and weak. He usually smiled at you because he was aware of his weakness and angry at you only in desperation. But if you met Gandhi and saw all his advisors behind looking bad at you... you should better prepare for war.

 

[Giskler]

So they cannot budget propery and somebody had to gold plate every process

Civ6 had extremely good music for example

Look, if there's one thing everyone can agree on it's that Civ 7 also has great themes. Right?

 

[reddishrecue]

Yes, it was also cool. I believe the number of people (advisors) behind the leader was tied to military strength. More units = more advisors in the background. I think something similar was in Civ 2 but in form of weapon icons. More icons = the more powerful (in terms of military strength) civilization was.

These were the simple details that brought lots of atmosphere. Meeting a lonely leader and you instantly knew he was poor and weak. He usually smiled at you because he was aware of his weakness and angry at you only in desperation. But if you met Gandhi and saw all his advisors behind looking bad at you... you should better prepare for war.

Yeah, lonelier leaders weren't that aggressive. So true.

 

[evonannoredars]

Sadly this seems to be the norm now for a lot of AAA games. Where the hell are these budgets actually going?

Why would they be putting their budget into undoing stuff they've already put their budget into doing

 

[Crashdummy]

What i found very weird and kind of shocking was the Leeaders "talking" to each other instead than talking to me

I didnt like this new approach, its yet one more thing that removes immersion

I didnt mind them that much artistically, but i didnt mind them artistically in the previous titles either

I dont see Civ 7 having much better music than previous titles, so if the money went there, it was a bad decision

 

[wilcoxchar]

I don't think that the leaders in Civ VII look weird at all, or that V or VI look better. Each game was trying for its own style, and each game did its particular style equally well.

This video does a great overview of what makes Civ VII's leader animations stand out. They did so much with the animations to give each leader a distinct personality and a subtlety to their animations, from the way each leader carries their weight or holds their respective accessories. Even if maybe a bit more voice lines in the diplomacy screen would be nice, it really shows just how much you can do with purely physical acting without requiring much dialogue.

 

[Ryansinbela]

Even if I want more dialogue atleast they gave them nice animations

Atleast give backgrounds though

 

[wilcoxchar]

What i found very weird and kind of shocking was the Leeaders "talking" to each other instead than talking to me

I didnt like this new approach, its yet one more thing that removes immersion

I didnt mind them that much artistically, but i didnt mind them artistically in the previous titles either

I dont see Civ 7 having much better music than previous titles, so if the money went there, it was a bad decision

I like having the leaders talk to each other because it always felt strange you only saw your own leader in the selection screen and never got to see them again once the game started. This way you actually get to see the leader you picked and their animations during the game, and since leaders are decoupled from civs having that is even more important and immersive now.

 

[Ryansinbela]

I like having the leaders talk to each other because it always felt strange you only saw your own leader in the selection screen and never got to see them again once the game started. This way you actually get to see the leader you picked and their animations during the game, and since leaders are decoupled from civs having that is even more important and immersive now.

It also gives the game somewhat of a stage play vibe (especially with certain defeat screens)

 

[Lord Lakely]

Unpopular opinion but I loved the cartoon leaders in Civ VI, especially the animations. Alexander swooshing his hair or Wilhelmina with her umbrella always put a smile on my face. The later leaders in DLCs seemed a bit bland in comparaison.

I don't like the face to face leaders of Civ VII. It's not immersive enough for me.

This really shouldn't be an unpopular opinion. Civ 6 nailed characterization.

I personally like the Civ7 models, especially in the main menu where the animators have put a LOT of personality into the fidget animations (Friedrich whistling along with Live Gloriously, Tubman rubbing her wrists, Trung Trac practising her swordplay). The mortal combat diplomacy is not good though. It's very... console-y (highly derogatory.)

 

[Piranga]

The leaders themselves, their animations, look good to me. The problem is they should have Civ V backgrounds/be involved with their surroundings. Having leaders on flat maps in 6 or even worse infront of nothing in 7 makes the AI visuals less immersive.

I still remember my first civ 5 game, my first opponent I met was Elizabeth. That zoom into her on the throne was amazing.

and no I dont' want to see my own leader in the menu. I prefer previous versions of civ, first person view where I'm the leader.

 

[Ryansinbela]

I don’t know I can’t get myself to hate the third person perspective, I like to remember who I am I think
I do wish there were 3D backgrounds, don’t know why those got phased out

 

[GeneralZift]

They should have your leader appear in other screens but not the Diplomacy screen.

For example when you fill in the government slots, the leader can look pensively at it, and react positively when you switch them out. Sounds kinda corny but kinda fun at the same time right?

I don't know if your leader appears when you pick leader upgrades in Civ7. But that's a smart place to put them. We love the King day or whatever popup is another nice place to put the leader. (in this case, just have a still of them on the UI for the popup when you click on it.)

Just to add, it does 'make sense' in the diplomacy screen BUT it's just not as good as those full immersive 3d backgrounds, dedicated music, and so on.

By the way, that was alllll the way in Civ5. Imagine what kind of backgrounds they could make with today's technology.