Please convince me that the game is fun

[Joch]

I have to admit I have played Civ5 on and off, but it has never grabbed me to the extent BE has. BE is addictive, there is something about the game that just begs for one more turn.

According to Steam, a max. of 38,500 played BE yesterday. Presumably, some were having fun.

 

[Soronery]

I have about 20-30 hours of play time with it. Honestly it feels like an early access game. The city states (trade stations) feel dead. None of the city buildings feel like they do anything. They all cost a similar amount of production and give minor bonuses. City location doesn't make any difference. There is no more "Oh man this place would make a sick city!" The trade route spam gets tedious and annoying past around 4-5 cities. The optimal strategy is "Spam more cities" because of how powerful trade routes are. If you capture cities you have to set up more trade routes. It just gets annoying managing them. Wonders are junk. A few of them are good then the devs just gave up and slapped on generic bonuses.

 

[Blackw3]

Meh i stopped playing too. Not gonna lie i think the game is pretty bad. I care a lot about balance and gameflow because i only play multiplayer and the game just isnt there.

It will probably take a long time to get fixed, if at all. Aside from that im pretty pissed that they wanted full price for this considering how bad and bland the voice acting, wonderscreens, writing etc. is compared to Civ5. It just doesnt feel like a game that is on the same level production quality wise.

I actually bought Endless Legend today after AngryJoe recommended it in his BeyondEarth Review (how ironic). Very good critics from both proffesionals and players alike, cheaper too.

I wanted to like this game, correction, love this game! Followed it up eagerly up until release. Watched the Maddjin tubes, even watched pretty much all of the videos with the developers talking about the game. Hell even knew of most of the techs and virtues before the game was released. Went so far as to pre-order the game for myself and a friend, and hyped it up enough to get 2 other friends and go get a copy themselves (yes I have already apologized to both). I was a big Civ fan from way back when and I thought this can't fail with everything I've been reading and seeing. Even made a thread 2-3 days after release talking down the nay sayers when it was released, because I felt like all the negativity was having an effect on those that actually did enjoy the game (thread was closed lol). In my eyes, pretty much the perfect customer Firaxis could ask for

But I'm here now to say, that I was wrong! Dead wrong!!! After 20+ hours, I'm here to say sorry. I tried, desperately to at least like the game, but I simply can't get myself to play it any more. If I have to force myself to like it, if I have to pretend, or put self imposed limitations, or scour the net for a mod that makes it remotely playable, then something is wrong. I'd go so far as to say its was released in a worst state then Rome 2 TW, which in itself was HORRIBLE.

So from someone that did all he could to try to like it, it failed utterly and completely, in so many ways. I don't want to get into details, as there are PLENTY of them on this forum, but the accumulation of all those flaws just make it a very bland game. Is it horrible? Is it the 2/10 or 3/10 some people give it? No definitely not, those people haven't played games that were actually 2/10. Its a functional game, with great graphics, and lots to like. But it most certainly was a disappointment, especially from a company like Firaxis, and specially for a game with Sid's name on it.

After the shock settled, like many here, I stumbled on Endless Legend, and then all seemed right in the world again. The fresh game mechanics, the UI, the vastly diverse factions, the beautiful graphics. It does so many things well, and does so much many things BE neglected to do, that its really worth all the attention its getting. I'm 30+ hours into it, and I don't have to try to like it, I'm in love with the game. Can't remember the last time I played a game I was actually looking forward to getting home to play. It really is a breath of fresh air, and well worth the $35 you'll pay. Its obviously not perfect, and there are a lot of things that can be improved and hopefully will be, but its been released in a much better state. And the developers have very open lines of communication with the community and have promised to continue supporting it. Here's a game that got good reviews from not only the big commerical guys like IGN and gamespot, but also from youtubers like angryjoe. Not to mention from majority of the users that have played it. Time to join the dark side (or the light I guess).

 

[rastak]

You guys are over thinking this. If you do not think it's fun go do something else. Later patches or DLC might rekindle your interest or you can leave and again, do something else.

 

[terraslayer]

Nope nope nope nope nope!!! Don't EVER compare this release with Rome 2!!! This game is at least playable. Rome 2 on release was UNPLAYABLE for many many people. They couldn't even get to the main menu. And for those that did, the game would crash after a few turns into the game. It took like 10 patches to finally get the game up to steam. And although I love that game (Now, not before), it caused a lot of people to lose faith in CA. This game, with all its faults is not like that at all. The issues that it has are very MINOR in comparison.

 

[Manannan]

Is the game fun? Exploit the bugs with friendly aliens and xenomass to get a trillion xenomass, use said xenomass to build a trillion xeno titans (or xeno cavalry if you're in a hurry), rampage. If that isn't fun maybe remind yourself how bad CiV was when it was first released (hint: it was terrible) and be content in the knowledge that someone will probably fix the game eventually, and maybe it'll be fun then.

 

[Blackw3]

Nope nope nope nope nope!!! Don't EVER compare this release with Rome 2!!! This game is at least playable. Rome 2 on release was UNPLAYABLE for many many people. They couldn't even get to the main menu. And for those that did, the game would crash after a few turns into the game. It took like 10 patches to finally get the game up to steam. And although I love that game (Now, not before), it caused a lot of people to lose faith in CA. This game, with all its faults is not like that at all. The issues that it has are very MINOR in comparison.

Ok perhaps on the technical side BE is a lot more polished (though I had absolutely no problems running both games at release) but I think a lot of BE faults are in game play and mechanics and not necessarily tech issues. So allow me to correct myself and say, on the non-technical side, the they were both equally disappointing.

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

I like it. If they would incorporate more AC features I'd like it more. I like that it allows one to go wide rather than tall easily. the stations are just a PITA

 

[Pusherman]

Game has many problems and definitely needs some fixing, but it's still pretty fun. Most the problems are pretty minor, not really enough to keep me from playing. Already sunk 50 hours into it.

 

[Rakshasa72]

After the shock settled, like many here, I stumbled on Endless Legend, and then all seemed right in the world again. The fresh game mechanics, the UI, the vastly diverse factions, the beautiful graphics. It does so many things well, and does so much many things BE neglected to do, that its really worth all the attention its getting. I'm 30+ hours into it, and I don't have to try to like it, I'm in love with the game. Can't remember the last time I played a game I was actually looking forward to getting home to play. It really is a breath of fresh air, and well worth the $35 you'll pay. Its obviously not perfect, and there are a lot of things that can be improved and hopefully will be, but its been released in a much better state. And the developers have very open lines of communication with the community and have promised to continue supporting it. Here's a game that got good reviews from not only the big commerical guys like IGN and gamespot, but also from youtubers like angryjoe. Not to mention from majority of the users that have played it. Time to join the dark side (or the light I guess).

Yet, when I check the other day EL had the same rating as BE on Metacritic 82%.

I feel it's not a fair comparison to compare the two games at an equal level. Endless Legend was a pretty much scratch build game. Beyond Earth was built on CiV and, saddled with many of it's failings.

That being said Endless Legend is clearly a great game and, worth checking out. It ticks a lot of boxes for what features I'd like to see in Civ6.

 

[spfun]

The rule in corporate America do little as possible for maximum profit.

This game fits the bill, its an in between generation game, its what i consider a .5 game. ( its the inbetween game of a full release, like Civ 4 colonization ) It was always going to feel like a re-skinned previous generation.

Got the game for free but pretty disgusted the price is $90 AUD. 2k, That's blatant price fixing and a scam. You should feel bad.

 

[Kutuzov]

That being said Endless Legend is clearly a great game and, worth checking out. It ticks a lot of boxes for what features I'd like to see in Civ6.

Oh, I'll be picking it up around Christmas, that's for sure. But from what I've read, the AI is not very good at war either. The poor quality of the AI stopped me from picking up Endless Space and I love space 4x games. For all their glamour, and they are beautiful looking games, poor quality AI seems to be the real issue with the Endless games.

Their tech webs are innovative and have already influenced the granddaddy of all 4x games. I hope that Civ VI will 'learn' from this and not resort to the old tech tree of the past.

 

[m15a]

Convince you that the game is fun? Sure:

 

[Fabio1701]

These comparisons to SMAC are like mmo gamers comparing everything to Wow. SMAC was one of the good 4x game but everyone thinks this is SMAC 2 its not. You play BE awhile try different things and see if you like it or not. Should not have to convince you this game is fun.

I disagree, but this did make me laugh as ex-wow player.

Thing is that CBE is supposed to be a spiritual successor, other MMO's are not remotely related to WoW.

I am hoping the mod community will step up and tune this into SMAC 2, with ideologies, awesome science quotes, attrocities, mindworms and planet busters.

 

[Sequitor]

REX like mad, exploit the imbalances, beat the highest level AI any way you want to ... it's basically back to Civ I-III (and SMAC) days where there's no big brother telling you you're doing too well and to get back in your growth/expansion cage.

Those days were a whole lot of fun.

For those who don't know what REX means (which included me until 5 minutes ago) it stands for "Rapid Early Expansion"? Is this different than ICS?

 

[manu-fan]

I have about 20-30 hours of play time with it. Honestly it feels like an early access game. The city states (trade stations) feel dead. None of the city buildings feel like they do anything. They all cost a similar amount of production and give minor bonuses. City location doesn't make any difference. There is no more "Oh man this place would make a sick city!" The trade route spam gets tedious and annoying past around 4-5 cities. The optimal strategy is "Spam more cities" because of how powerful trade routes are. If you capture cities you have to set up more trade routes. It just gets annoying managing them. Wonders are junk. A few of them are good then the devs just gave up and slapped on generic bonuses.

That pretty much sums up the way I feel about it now. Add in that all the leaders seem pretty generic and I can't even remember who's who all the time.

 

[Minor Annoyance]

I don't know what game other people are playing because it doesn't sound like the game I'm playing. "early access"? Eye roll smilie, hashtag over dramatic.

 

[m15a]

For those who don't know what REX means (which included me until 5 minutes ago) it stands for "Rapid Early Expansion"? Is this different than ICS?

REX refers to the speed at which you expand (and often, but not always, implies building more cities than you would otherwise). ICS refers to the placement of the cities - placing the cities as close as possible in a grid-like manner (i.e., not looking for the best spots) so that you can maximize the number of cities you have (which probably would involve REXing unless it is the case that you have limited space to settle).

 

[Aeson]

It says a lot about what they did to expansion in Civ V that REX is no longer in the CivFanatics' common vocabulary.

In CivBE REX could benefit from wider spacing simply to lock up more tiles faster. Colonists have 2 movement, newly founded Outposts can turn around and build (chop/whip) a Settler right off. The maps just won't hold as many cities either. So the exponential factor is less than it was in I - III and SMAC.

ICS could then be employed by backfilling but isn't necessary. At least the V/BE version of ICS, which is actually about as wide as OCP (Optimal City Placement .. which wasn't really optimal at all) was back in the day.

 

[Pheylan]

I'm having fun. I check out the forums, and I get down on the game, then I go back and play it and have a good time. I think it could be better. I'm hopeful for the future. I'm definitely having more fun than I did with vanilla Civ IV or CiV.