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On the one hand I can respect the streamlined and console-friendly take on Civilization, but it also feels terribly derivative
Considering the fact that I’ve been a fan of the Civilization series from its humble origins all the way through its most modern incarnation I’ll say I’m a real fan of its style of global strategy. That also makes it very easy to spot games that are clearly aping its style, and there’s no doubt at all that Battle of Polytopia is doing just that, essentially offering up a console-friendly version of the series, which is admirable, but there’s a heavy cost that comes along for the ride unfortunately. Granted, dragging all of the complexity of the Civ games away from a trusty and keyboard and mouse would likely result in a catastrophe of sub-screens and frustration, but in this case I’d say that the strategic play has been so thoroughly watered down that it doesn’t make for a very engaging experience, at least for those who know what they’re missing. One the other hand, people who aren’t so familiar with the classic 4X strategy style, and are looking to dip their toe into that pool, will likely find this to be a pretty accessible variation on that formula. That makes it a bit of a draw depending on your experience and what you’re looking for, there’s both good and bad to be found here.
Justin Nation, Score:Good [7.5]