Civilization: Beyond Earth (was: New Firaxis game being announced tomorrow)

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Bra, you just need to build a city next to their city to provide covering fire.

 

[Rhezuss]

I'm playing this all night!

 

[paperfist]

ugh the aliens sucks. leave them alone and they randomly attack your shit, attack them and they swarm you. they are everywhere.

After reading your post and playing for the first time I started my tech tree on military and that other bonus upgrade tree on the same thing. I haven't really had a problem with the alien life and am about to start off attacking some cities. That worm creature though forget it.

The combat rover seems like the best early unit.

 

[dighn]

i'll probably try a more militaristic approach as well. going pacifist/scientific early on is probably not good for a pretty hostile environment.

 

[Malladine]

Reviews are mixed as far as the soul of the game. A game that is playable and good compared to cheaply made games but one that is basically a renamed Civ 5 and something that is nowhere near what Firaxis is capable of producing. Just like Civ 5 and the newer Total War games the overall game is not that good even if some of the new ideas and mechanics have some promise. I knew right away to stay away from this game by their marketing. I could tell Sid Meier hired some professional psychologists and marketers.

So you're not buying it? You seem like a fan of this kind of game. Seriously thinking about it.

 

[KeithTalent]

Thoughts on this one for someone who has not played one of these types of games in ages? I saw it pop up on Steam and it looks really cool so I'm tempted, but would like input from ATers before paying. Assume I am a complete noob with respect to Civ and games of that ilk; worth buying?

KT

 

[Subyman]

After reading your post and playing for the first time I started my tech tree on military and that other bonus upgrade tree on the same thing. I haven't really had a problem with the alien life and am about to start off attacking some cities. That worm creature though forget it.

The combat rover seems like the best early unit.

There are three or so military traits that are awesome at the beginning for aliens. One gives you science bonuses for killing them, one give 50%xp, and the other gives a huge damage bonus. It sucks how alien apologists get mad about killing them though. I'm hoping you can befriend the aliens using harmony, but I haven't found anything yet.

My biggest problem is health. I can't seem to get it above 0. I've done all the buildings and even spent points on it. I think maybe they need to rebalance the health stuff. You'd think we'd have healthcare figured out by the time we go to another planet *rolls eyes*

 

[CWRMadcat]

I personally can't recommend the game to anyone at its current price point. $49.99 is totally unacceptable for what's essentially a Civ 5 mod.

 

[Anon_lawyer]

Thoughts on this one for someone who has not played one of these types of games in ages? I saw it pop up on Steam and it looks really cool so I'm tempted, but would like input from ATers before paying. Assume I am a complete noob with respect to Civ and games of that ilk; worth buying?

KT

If you wanted to get in to the Civ style game I'd start with Civ 5. The big selling point on Beyond Earth is the science fiction setting. That's cool and I am enjoying it, but it's not nearly as polished as Civ 5 with the expansions. Civ 5 complete edition is $49.99, same as Beyond Earth right now. IMO that's a way better deal unless you're already a big fan of the series and want a similar game in a different setting.

 

[norseamd]

Civ 4 complete is 29.99 and is a nicer game. Plus you get another game in Colonization. You can probably find it cheaper than that also.

 

[rpanic]

So tempting, bought every civ game since 1. Do you guys think it will go on sale on steam for xmas?

 

[norseamd]

Will probably go on sale sometime this year or the beginning of next year. My guess is a lot of the month one sales have probably moved over to preorders and the game industry now just is expecting you to preorder.

 

[Revolution 11]

What is the point of the tech "web" that promises creative combinations when your faction is limited to only 3 affinities? In practice, all that has been done is to create multiple tech trees.....like in every other Civ game.

 

[CottonRabbit]

The AI seems pretty bad. One declared war on me, sent 3 units which were wiped out by my city, constantly sends jets to attack one infantry unit which die instantly, and now has refused to make peace with me for 150 turns. I have no interest in conquering them, and they haven't sent any more units after me besides jets. This AI is now last in score probably because all they've done for 75 turns is build suicide jets.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the music and sound effects are extremely bland for a civ game.

 

[Subyman]

The AI seems pretty bad. One declared war on me, sent 3 units which were wiped out by my city, constantly sends jets to attack one infantry unit which die instantly, and now has refused to make peace with me for 150 turns. I have no interest in conquering them, and they haven't sent any more units after me besides jets. This AI is now last in score probably because all they've done for 75 turns is build suicide jets.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the music and sound effects are extremely bland for a civ game.

I had a funny experience with the AI too. One AI asked me to declare war on another AI with them. I did because they asked me about five times. I never saw the AI I declared war on and never engaged them. After 30 turns they asked for a peace treaty and gave me 1000 energy and a bunch of resources. Easiest money I've made so far lol.

I did get my health situation under control. I had to go to the bottom of the industry virtue tree to get out of the negative. You have to dedicate yourself to a very specific play style to be competitive. When I first saw the tech tree, I thought it would be really fun to pick and choose, but that is not the case.

FWIW I got the game on GMG for $37, so I'm happy with my purchase.

 

[BlueWeasel]

If you wanted to get in to the Civ style game I'd start with Civ 5. The big selling point on Beyond Earth is the science fiction setting. That's cool and I am enjoying it, but it's not nearly as polished as Civ 5 with the expansions. Civ 5 complete edition is $49.99, same as Beyond Earth right now. IMO that's a way better deal unless you're already a big fan of the series and want a similar game in a different setting.

Also, Civ 4 complete is currently on sale at Amazon for $7.50 (non-Steam though) and Civ 5 complete commonly goes on sale for $15-$20.

 

[norseamd]

Also, Civ 4 complete is currently on sale at Amazon for $7.50 (non-Steam though) and Civ 5 complete commonly goes on sale for $15-$20.

Any one who does not have Civ 4 Complete needs to get that game if it is only $7.50. Does it come as a Steam code or something?

 

[KeithTalent]

If you wanted to get in to the Civ style game I'd start with Civ 5. The big selling point on Beyond Earth is the science fiction setting. That's cool and I am enjoying it, but it's not nearly as polished as Civ 5 with the expansions. Civ 5 complete edition is $49.99, same as Beyond Earth right now. IMO that's a way better deal unless you're already a big fan of the series and want a similar game in a different setting.

OK, thanks. The Sci-fi setting is a big part of why I am intrigued. Maybe if I just wait a while it will go on sale and get some of the bugs sorted. I am sort of getting sucked into DA: Origins and I imagine it will take me a while to finish that.

KT

 

[BlueWeasel]

Any one who does not have Civ 4 Complete needs to get that game if it is only $7.50. Does it come as a Steam code or something?

No, the Amazon sale is for the non-Steam version. The downloads are standard installers and I think they are DRM free.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

I'm not going to lie, I kinda hate the art direction. It's difficult to differentiate different tiles as everything is just one big dark pastel mush. How do you turn on the resource tile markers like in Civ5? I can't find a button or menu option.

 

[paperfist]

I personally can't recommend the game to anyone at its current price point. $49.99 is totally unacceptable for what's essentially a Civ 5 mod.

No offense, but this game was always Civ set in a time after you launched your space ship to Alpha Centauri. There's no way it couldn't be very similar.

I will agree though that some of the dialog is rehash from Civ V and shouldn't be. Some of the sound effects sound similar too, but I'm not 100%.

The setting feels alien, but so far I wish it was a little more so.

 

[paperfist]

I'm not going to lie, I kinda hate the art direction. It's difficult to differentiate different tiles as everything is just one big dark pastel mush. How do you turn on the resource tile markers like in Civ5? I can't find a button or menu option.

In Civ V there was an icon in the bottom right I believe that let you see food overlays, resources, etc. I don't see the same in Beyond Earth. It's kind of hard for me to pick a site to settle without really knowing the resources.

There are three or so military traits that are awesome at the beginning for aliens. One gives you science bonuses for killing them, one give 50%xp, and the other gives a huge damage bonus. It sucks how alien apologists get mad about killing them though. I'm hoping you can befriend the aliens using harmony, but I haven't found anything yet.

My biggest problem is health. I can't seem to get it above 0. I've done all the buildings and even spent points on it. I think maybe they need to rebalance the health stuff. You'd think we'd have healthcare figured out by the time we go to another planet *rolls eyes*

The science bonus is great for killing aliens! Seems like strange AI with the alien apologies. They are condemning me and then they turn around and kill them themselves only I can't seem to condemn them back.

Health is an issue for me too. It was going well until I took over and city and it's dropped down to 8 now. Not sure if it's a penalty for civil unrest or expansion though I only have 4 cities.

 

[Tifosi248F1]

I'm not going to lie, I kinda hate the art direction. It's difficult to differentiate different tiles as everything is just one big dark pastel mush. How do you turn on the resource tile markers like in Civ5? I can't find a button or menu option.

It's a button in the top right section of the UI. The eye that kinda looks like the CBS logo in the corner of the mini map.

I've had limited time with the demo, so there isn't much I can say about the game itself. I do get a feeling from what I've read and the little bit I played though that I'm better off waiting for things to get patched up and/or expansions, and for it to be on sale.

I do like most of the UI though, and it would be even better if some icons were a bit smaller.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

hahaha CivFanatics is tearing this game apart. They're always harsh, but even with CiV most of their issues were over key balance decisions. This game they're shredding nearly top to bottom.

 

[paperfist]

Thoughts on this one for someone who has not played one of these types of games in ages? I saw it pop up on Steam and it looks really cool so I'm tempted, but would like input from ATers before paying. Assume I am a complete noob with respect to Civ and games of that ilk; worth buying?

KT

Looks like there's a demo you can try out:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/65980/