Wot I like!

[Greasy Dave]

Wot I like:

affinities - cool. I definitely need something new in my civ soup these days. And the pure AC Clarke sci-fi feel that that they bring to the table gets my hands sweaty before the mouse is even at my finger tips. When I ran my first Harmony special troop out onto the battle field- Asimov trembled!

Tech web - Aaah - heaven, no longer that long predictable tunnel of the tree. Because, let's be honest, it never really was a tree. I've climbed alot of trees in my time and there's one thing I know, climbing different branches onto twigs and onto leaves takes you to a side of a tree that's different from the other. THIS web is more tree-like than the older "trees" because how can it be a tree if you always end up in the same place whatever choice you take on the way?

True, maybe it's the complication and not the innovation that I like and as soon as I've found my way through the complexity and analysed beelines and best builds I'll get bored. But right now, it's fresh, interesting and I like it. And I'm crossing my fingers that al the cross web links will make infinite beelines valid.

Virtues - not so much for what they are and their flavours- but the two dimensional bonus axes is a great innovation. Again, open choice, and asymmetry. It's no longer a "yawn" choice of which policy tree and bonus gets me down my beeline as fast as I can but which policies, which bonuses which direction, horizontal or vertical? I'm hoping this, coupled with the flexible tech web is going to encourage a more creative approach to playing this game.

Aliens -aaah, the aliens. After the affinities these are the critters that make my sci fi skin prickle the most. A great innovation. I'm on a new planet and these aliens are already there and they're real. They're not barbarians due a random boot stomp. They've got territory, they're protective, they can be passive or aggressive depending on how you interact with them. I love them. They need to be modded into BNW tomorrow!

I agree, that the game lacks A LOT of polish - UI, balance, AI, all of which has been laboriously critiqued in other threads (and I've also criticised them there)

I've never played SMAC - so I'm free of making any comparisons with SMAC - and I wouldn't anyway.

But the game has some great new thinking behind it. It's civ but civ with fresh air. And I'd hate for all these great and good NEW ideas to be forgotten about because other parts of the game are weak/ poor/ lacking

If you've got other words of praise, feel free to add them below. But please leave the criticisms out- there's plenty of those posts already.

 

[beyondmiasma]

Thankyou, excellent post, sums BE up nicely.
I like the whole feel of the game and the aliens are a great element, will not forget the thrill of defeating a siege worm for the first time that had been razing my fledgling colony, it was akin to Ripley in Aliens defeating the Queen.
Loved encountering the flying insectiods, they left me alone while destroying the neighbouring war mongers.
A few mods and this could be Civ starship troopers with aliens hurling green acid up at satelites!

 

[Dasta]

Ack, ye beat me to it! Planned to make a kudos thread to the devs of features that myself and others liked. So tired of all the negativity being sent at them when all they want is to make us happy. I'd like to see some of the "complain for the sake of complaining" people try to please some X million different people with one game on release.

Anyways, without further ado, some features I really liked!

Leader Evolution.
It kind of feels like the evolution so far was the devs way of testing the waters. Seeing what the reaction would be. I think it's great! Instead of the same old screen over and over, the other leaders progress throughout the game. Gives it a feeling of moving forwards, instead of Askia holding a sword in front of a burning city in the year 2015... Or Shaka holding a spear and shield in front of a hut when he has an army of Modern Armor and X-Com Squads.... Definitely helps with the immersion a bit more. That said, I'd really like to see them go even further with the leaders. Let's get some terminator half-faces and tentacles!

Strategic Resources!
A huge failing - for myself at least - in CiV was that strategic resources became outdated and useless. Sure, Iron and Horses are great early on, but they didn't transition well at all into the late game. They just piled up until you decided to sell them off to some sucker of a Leader for gold. And when you finally did tech up to Oil, Aluminium, or Uranium, you'd already have 3-4 in your borders, and a few just outside. No problem.

Now? 6 strategic resources that you'll always need in the game. 3 of which you already know, but can't mine until 3rd(?) ring techs and 3 which you need to research to find but can mine immediately. And maybe it's just my games, but they seem to hand out a lot less resources than before. BNW, I would have stacks of 20+ Oil even after I have a navy to make the British proud, I was never worried that I wouldn't have a resource. But in the few games I've played of BE so far, I definitely have to manage my resources, plan out how I want to spend them, and factor them into my expansions vs other leaders expansions. Strategy in a strategy game for strategic resources! It's fantastic!

Don't even get me started on multiple-resource units. Approval.

Whole New Style For Mods!
So many options! CiV felt really locked into History-Only mods and Civs. I mean sure, you could download a Geth Race mod, but were your units actually Geth? That said, we've already seen Aliens and Robots in BE, so we know now that it can be done! I would love to see unit modelers step into the spotlight and start making all those units we've always wanted! Prepare for Star Wars! Mass Effect! Halo! Battlestar Galactica! Doctor Who! Let's see how many ways we can turn this game into our favorite sci-fi series!

Great job so far Firaxis! Keep it coming!

 

[Sal]

I have said elsewhere but I love the storyline elements. I like immersive play and I wonder if those criticising the decisions and quest narratives as hollow are just scrolling straight down to the options and choosing functionally. They have really put some effort into the narrative and if you take it slow and give it your full attention I think it is rewarding.

Although the graphics need polishing I like the dark feeling.

Customization of startup is good.

Factions and faction leaders all have interesting backstories if you dig into the civilopedia a bit.

 

[Kutuzov]

Affinities, Aliens, the new Tech web and Virtues are the four features new to Civ BE that I was going to post in praise of too. It's easy to overlook the good when you're frustrated with something else. I also like the new leaders too. I find they have their own unique flavor in my ongoing game.

I've also noticed that the AI mixes up its affinities as well. I was bee-lining Harmony and nothing else and when I opened the Diplomacy screen, I found they all had at least 2 affinities developing. I've subsequently gone for two levels of Purity to get the health buildings. Learning the new system is a lot of fun for me too.

 

[Teproc]

Just a little thing but I like the journal entries in the waiting screen. I like how they give a narrative of why your leader might go for a certain affinity.

 

[Karmah]

I m pretty sure that I m not the only one.
I have fun , I enjoy playing the game , I m still trying to figure out optimal ways to do thing. I also roleplay more than I would in civ5 , going for path that looks sligthly underoptimal just for the look n feel of my civ.

Yes the game is far from perfect , might have been rushed but I m a patient guy (up to a point) . Fireaxis vanillia game always bring good concepts on the table , but a bit oversimplistic , replayability of civ5 vanillia was far less appealing that BnW and balance is always ...imbalanced

Once you accept that's its a fireaxis game and that it will only get better and better , as civ5 did, you can overlook some MINOR flaws , and patiently wait for the first balance patch.
I will play this vanillia version for a while , then shelve it as I did with vanillia civ. The real full addiction is for later , right now enjoy the discovery !

Don't you guys remember the TP spamm period in vanillia , where you could basically rush buy everything since TPs were so much better than mines and farms ? Vanilla game was all about winning your wars by medieval/renaissance. Then GnK pushed it a bit into modern . With Bnw you really start to win at the latest era.

In this accumulation of dark threads , people whining constantly , I felt it d be good to have at least one thread that won't give fireaxis ppl the urge to hang themselves to the first rope on sight.

They did put a lot of work in the story, the politics of earths , the ambiance.
They bought a rather interresting way to deal with science , to transform a civ trough affinity , they turned the tall/wide mechanics by going for 'pioneer' game where you expand a lot in this newfound land using caravans to grow faster and get your empire going. (and no I don't think they are OP by a bit , i just think human optimize better with this tool than the AI but that's not news) .

I m actually much more fan of the accumulation of small buildings instead of having your newfound city sleeping for 200 turns building maybe 5 buildings ! At least you really feel like you are customizing and actually building things ! Yeah I love my caravans to support my evergrowing empire when I go prosperity , don' t freaking touch 'em !




Units are a blast ! Ofc balance is arguably not perfect , but you build an army that transforms with affinity , war is far more fun in MP so far (and in single player too , only the AI is still dumb ) . I really feel like I got nice toys with those units , I just love them. Last game , I was playing a relaxed coop vs AI MP with my wife and a friend . Due to the nature of this game , affinities were going in every direction since everyone wanted something different. At turn 200 I think I had a suboptimal 7-6-5 in affinities but my units where a mixture of everything and I was one happy child ( an almost 40 year old one but still).

So thx fireaxis for this game , I m having tons of fun !


EDIT : apparently I missed another happy thread , can I respectfully ask a mod to merge with http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=536727 , thx !
EDIT: thx browd !

 

[rastak]

Me too. Lots of stuff could use improvement but it's alot of fun and that's why I game.

Played a 6 hour multi-player session Friday night and had a great time. We called it a night at 12:30am and my daughter told me when she and her husband got home she started a new single player game and ended up playing until almost 4am.

I realize the hardcores are up in arms, but then again they ALAWAYS are. I mean always.

 

[Karmah]

I m also enjoying the game , and had the same idea as OP to at least have some 'happy' threads but missed this one , shame on me

Can I ask a mod to merge http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=536789 and this thread please ?

 

[Browd]

Moderator Action: Threads merged.

 

[Sprenk]

I'll add my thumbs up, although I don't have much new to add. I think any defects are pretty much inherited from CiV (semi-inept AI, poor trade unit UI, vanilla diplomacy, etc.) I like the affinity system! I was able to generate tons of science, production and culture even without many % buildings and National Wonders. I get the sense the gameplay is well-thought out.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing my first game, even though I had to stumble around a bit to find acceptable settling spots when I brought earthing settlers through the gate--I seem to have overlooked the stipulation that they needed the same space conventional cities did (pardon me, PAC, as I build a settlement right on a magrail line you have sent through a choke point!)

Can't wait to start my next game!

 

[GoodSarmatian]

I might have some rants about diplomacy and balance once the novelty wears off, but since this thread is for the good stuff...
Affinities and tech web are cool, but what hasn't been mentioned in this thread is that you can expand again and there' so much more variety in (useful) tile improvements that you can build specialized cities. No more rushing to the handful of decent city spots with luxuries that you do't have yet. No more relying on your capital for practically everything.
Those were my biggest complaints about Civ 5 that were never adressed in the expansions. I also really like the slow and steady expansion pace. I don't just found four cities in the first 150 turns. I constantly look for useful locations and work to keep my health up.
Don't be afraid to play on a massive map. The performance is much better than expected.

 

[Bezurn]

Finished my first Epic game yesterday on a massive map, and I really enjoy this game.

The music is very nice and keeps me in the one more turn mood for... too long. The different models for your units depending on their upgrade path is very neat. No longer do my infantry look the same as my rivals, they are all varied depending on affinity which I enjoy!

Tech web is wonderful in the versatility it gives you to choose your path depending on the threats and desires of your civilization. At any point there are a dozen choices you can take, and none of them are terrible.

The east eggs for Alpha Centarui are great! I grew up with that game and this game does indeed feel like a good fusion of Civ 5 and alpha centauri, with some original ideas thrown in to spice it up.

Good job Firaxis! Looking forward to balance patches and some DLC!