Sid Meier's Civilization IV
Release Date: October 25, 2005
Strategy, economic, turn-based, 4X, sandbox, war strategy, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
Steam
The fourth installment of the bestselling turn-based strategy games series launched back in 1991 by the gaming industry legend, Sid Meier. Civilization IV is another important step in the development of the franchise, combining the classical solutions of its predecessors with modern graphics and introducing a number of novelties and changes.
Last Update: January 9, 2006
Sid Meier's Civilization IV Game Guide
The economy, City managing, Empire Management. Civilization IV has already been heralded as one of the top ten games of 2005, and a must-have for gamers around the globe!
October 7, 2021
Why No One Challenged Civilization?
Although the Civilization series has been incredibly successful, few have tried to follow in its footsteps. Over the years it has not lived to see any "clone" or serious competitor. But why, exactly?
Videos and Screens
[1:10] Sid Meier's Civilization IV #1
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Gameplay: Users consistently mention that the game is entertaining and addictive, making it a favorite within the Civilization franchise.
- Narration by Leonard Nimoy: The narration adds a unique charm to the game, enhancing the overall experience.
- High Quality: Many players regard Civilization IV as the best in the series, praising its depth and complexity compared to later iterations like Civ 5 and Civ 6.
- Social Interaction: Players have formed friendships through the game, indicating its capacity to foster community.
- Timeless Appeal: Users note that the game remains enjoyable even years after its release, with some mentioning they still play it regularly.
The main cons of the game
- Outdated Graphics: Some users feel that, compared to newer titles like Civ 5 and Civ 6, the graphics of Civ 4 are lacking.
- Steep Learning Curve for New Players: Newcomers to the franchise may find the mechanics of Civ IV challenging to understand without prior experience.
- Limited Replayability: While many enjoy the game, some players feel that it can become repetitive over time.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Modern Mechanics: Some players noted that newer titles have introduced features that Civ IV lacks, such as updated diplomatic systems and improved user interfaces.
- Localization Issues: There were mentions of difficulties with language support and the need for community-created mods for better accessibility.
- Updates and Expansions: Users expressed a desire for more modern expansions or downloadable content (DLC) that could enhance the gameplay experience, especially since some expansions are not integrated into Steam's playtime tracking.
Summary
- Overall, Sid Meier's Civilization IV is celebrated for its engaging gameplay and historical significance, while also facing criticism for its outdated visuals and complexity for new players.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 3717 votes. 10 players anticipated the game.
Sid Meier's Civilization IV Description
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV for PC is another installment in the cult strategy game series with a nearly fifteen-year long tradition, designed by one of the best designers that the industry has seen, Sid Meier.
Gameplay
In Sid Meier’s Civilization IV the form of government is no longer imposed on the players; this solution was replaced with a user-friendly system that lets us apply individual laws and regulations. Thanks to this, the game allows us to, for example, create a harsh police state in which democratic elections may respected or not, depending on the player’s liking. Comfort and luxury, elements characteristic of the title’s predecessors, were also removed and replaced with "culture", which serves the exact same purpose and — additionally — influences the overall development level of our civilization. It is of great importance when we come into contact with other nations, which, by the way, finally learned the principle of border inviolability. By manipulating options offered by the diplomacy, we can completely separate ourselves from the opponent under the threat of war or allow them to freely trade within our country’s territory.
The game puts major emphasis on religion. Every nation that successfully discovers one of the most important spiritual movements establishes a holy city, which gradually expands its influence to other metropolises. The process can be advanced by employing missionaries. Of course, other civilizations will try to convince your people to their faith which can spawn the presence of numerous religious minorities in your dominion.
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV offers new units (some of which are civilization-specific), nations (18 in total), inventions and resources that can be traded with other countries. The game also features an extensive multiplayer mode which can work in both a classic turn-based and a new real-time style. The solo gameplay only allows for the former.
The user interface was greatly simplified, thanks to which the primary map is no longer infested with useless icons. Firaxis Games provided a lot of so-called tooltips in their game, so that even a player who has never played a Civilization game before can easily obtain detailed information on each and every aspect of the game without having to read the manual or the so-called Civilopedia (a built-in encyclopedia that serves as a complete knowledge database).
Technology
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV for PC underwent revolutionary changes in terms of graphics. The game is powered by the Gamebryo engine, technology previously used in Sid Meier’s Pirates!, allowing the world map to contain a myriad of animated objects, for instance: animals that react lively to the development of subsequent metropolises. What is more, the player can now freely operate the camera that not only allows him to observe the land at any angle, but also to freely zoom in or out.
Last updated on January 12, 2016
14
GAMES
in Sid Meier's Civilization Game Series
Game Series
Sid Meier's Civilization Series
A series of turn-based 4X strategies, considered one of the milestones in the development of the genre. The series was created by the MicroProse studio, but over time the development team of Firaxis Games took over, while the intellectual property rights were owned by the Take-Two Interactive publishing concern.
14 video games
Sid Meier's Civilization IV Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: Take-Two Interactive
Sid Meier's Civilization IV System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 512 MB RAM, graphic card 128 MB (GeForce 4 Ti4200 or better), 1.7 GB HDD, Windows 2000/XP
Sid Meier Doubts He'd Play Civilization if it Came Out Today
Sid Meier gave an interview in which he advertises his autobiography and shares his thoughts on the game world. He also confessed that today he probaly wouldn't have created Civilization.
video games
Aleksandra Dziwinska
September 9, 2020