Review Keys Out, Embargo ends on Feb 3rd

[queenpea]

If I’m cynical about reviews, I’m not alone and am echoing a lot of the opinions posted above which reflect at least some distrust in game reviews.

Review inflation is definitely a thing.

9 remains a good indicator as Civ V scored a 9 (despite the state of the game at launch which has been widely discussed on these forums). Civ VI scored a 9.4 on IGN.

I am also looking forward to the IGN review, which is why I mentioned IGN specifically.

IGN gave it a 7.

 

[ggmoyang]

View attachment 717728
Not a bad start on Metacritic

It's just 'not bad' level I'd say. Civ 4/5/6 had 94/90/88 respectively.
But who knows, maybe it's just reviewers becoming more critical over time.

 

[Daigotsu Max]

It's just 'not bad' level I'd say. Civ 4/5/6 had 94/90/88 respectively.
But who knows, maybe it's just reviewers becoming more critical over time.

Interesting. I'm more used to using Metacritic for movies, in which this rating would be incredible.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

JumboPixel review:

TIMECARDS

0:00 - Sid Meier's Civilization 7 Review
0:37 - Civ Basics: Expand and Exploit
2:00 - Cities & Towns
4:10 - Combat and Commanders
5:03 - Age Transitions and Crisis Events
6:17 - Changing Civilizations
7:12 - Ages in Action
9:51 - Aesthetics and UI
11:29 - AI
12:35 - Civilization 7 DLC Collections
14:15 - Is Civ 7 Worth It?
14:50 - My View on Civ Ages
16:35 - Civilization has changed, but...
17:30 - Conclusion

Key Takeaways:​

• Civilization 7 revamps the classic formula, detaching leaders from civilizations and introducing an ages system that presents unique challenges and rewards for each era.
• The innovative commander system enhances combat dynamics, while the ages system fosters a sense of discovery throughout the playthrough.
• The distinction between cities and towns reduces micromanagement, and although the AI is not flawless, its performance shows marked improvements over previous versions.
• Visually, the game merges elements from Civ 5 and Civ 6, offering pleasing aesthetics despite some unit visibility UI issues.
• Regular DLC updates provide fresh content but may be viewed by some players as resembling a battle pass model.
• Despite the innovations, the core gameplay loop of expansion, exploitation, and combat remains familiar for seasoned Civ players.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

VanBradley review:

Key Takeaways:​

Fundamentally Enjoyable: Civilization 7 delivers a fun and immersive experience, surpassing the initial offerings of Civ 5 and 6, with over 60 hours of engaging gameplay across all victory conditions.
Civilization Switching Mechanic: The new feature allowing players to switch civilizations during gameplay is a standout improvement, fostering strategic adaptation through various ages.
Age System Concerns: While generally beneficial, the pacing at the end of each age needs refinement to enhance overall flow.
Combat Innovations: The game's combat system receives high praise, significantly enhanced by the introduction of commanders and flanking maneuvers.
User Interface Critique: Unfortunately, the UI suffers from inconsistency and a lack of clarity, especially when compared to Civ 6.
Overall Balance: Despite some negative elements, the game's overall balance is deemed satisfactory, with most gameplay features proving enjoyable, even if not perfectly tuned.
High Replayability: Players can expect substantial replay value, with 65 hours of gameplay reported without any noticeable drop in enjoyment.

 

[evonannoredars]

IGN gave it a 7.

Big point against it seems to be the UI's lack of clarity/navigability and that there's a lot of information the game doesn't tell you. Heard a lot of people say that, so hopefully will be a priority for improvement.

 

[ggmoyang]

More reviews are getting added, maybe wait until there are 50 reviews I guess

 

[Acken]

Big point against it seems to be the UI's lack of clarity/navigability and that there's a lot of information the game doesn't tell you. Heard a lot of people say that, so hopefully will be a priority for improvement.

It was guaranteed to be in the negative list of a lot of people. Its like the single item everybody agrees on.

 

[AD1730]

Gamespot Review

I found it interesting that Gamespot echoed a criticism I've had: the lack of a Byzantium civ. They are an essential civ if you're going to have a civ switching mechanic.

 

[queenpea]

Big point against it seems to be the UI's lack of clarity/navigability and that there's a lot of information the game doesn't tell you. Heard a lot of people say that, so hopefully will be a priority for improvement.

Other notable criticisms seem to be the design of the Exploration Age generally—a quick snipe at Civ switching—and the Culture game at large being very lacking, which includes religion during Exploration.

 

[pokiehl]

More reviews are coming in. Biggest publications so far being Gamespot (8), Destructoid (9), IGN (7), and VGC (10). OpenCritic average at 84 right now.

 

[Acken]

What is reassuring to me is that a lot of the core changes are generally viewed positively with fixable things like the Ui, lack of civs that can be worked on over the years. Hopefully.

 

[kaspergm]

Key Takeaways:

• ... and although the AI is not flawless, its performance shows marked improvements over previous versions.

That was not what I heard him say. I think in contrary he said, that he honestly could not say if the AI was better or the same as in Civ6. Did I get something wrong?

 

[Nikolai II]

German IGN giving it 6/10. https://de.ign.com/sid-meiers-civil...vilization-vii-im-test-viel-neues-wenig-gutes

 

[Siptah]

GameStar gave 82, PC Games 8.

GameStar did a separate technical test and reports that it is flawless.

 

[Sagax]

Remember, folks:

If review scores align with your preconceptions - then reviews are based, the people have spoken, and game journalism is the bastion of integrity.

If review scores don’t align with your preconceptions - then reviews don’t matter, people will eat up/dogpile on anything these days. and everyone is either a shill/hater or a bot.

 

[Siptah]

German IGN giving it 6/10. https://de.ign.com/sid-meiers-civil...vilization-vii-im-test-viel-neues-wenig-gutes

I‘m surprised that among their main critiques are useless wonders and influence being too strong.

 

[pokiehl]

German IGN giving it 6/10. https://de.ign.com/sid-meiers-civil...vilization-vii-im-test-viel-neues-wenig-gutes

This person really did not like civ switching. I think if you don't jive with the idea, then that's pretty much it for you.

 

[SupremacyKing2]

That was not what I heard him say. I think in contrary he said, that he honestly could not say if the AI was better or the same as in Civ6. Did I get something wrong?

He does say that he cannot give a final verdict on the AI. However, he does note several positives where he thinks the AI is an improvement like unit movement and city placement.

 

[Oberst Kraft]

Other not so positive reviews:

Gamepressure 55%:
https://www.gamepressure.com/editor...iled-revolution-with-a-whole-bunch-of-p/zc750

Eurogamer - 40%
https://www.eurogamer.net/civilization-7-review