Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword (2007)

4.21 from 270 ratings

2067 members have it in their collection · 8 playing now · 1335 backlogged · 31 wish listed

How long? Main story 16h · 100% 16h (from 3 logged playthroughs)

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Civilization IV - the 2005 PC Game of the Year that has become a worldwide hit. The expansion focuses on the time periods after the invention of gunpowder and delivers 11 unique and challenging scenarios created by the development team at Firaxis as well as esteemed members of the Civ Community. Civ IV: Beyond the Sword also includes ten new civilizations, sixteen new leaders, five new wonders, and a variety of new units that offer even more fun and exciting ways for players to expand their civilization's power as they strive for world domination. Expanded Epic Game: Adds a massive increase of new units, buildings, and technologies to the epic game with a tremendous amount of effort focused on the late game. New Game Scenarios: 11 new scenarios custom-designed by the team at Firaxis and some members of the Civ Fan Community. New Civilizations: 10 new civilizations, such as Portugal, Babylonians, and Netherlands and their associated unique units and buildings. More Civilization Leaders: Sixteen new leaders, both for the new civilizations as well as additional leaders for existing civilizations, including Hammurabi of the Babylonians, Abraham Lincoln of the United States, and Sitting Bull of the Native Americans. Corporations: A new game feature similar to religion allows players to found companies and spread them throughout the world. Each corporation provides benefits in exchange for certain resources. Espionage: Now available earlier in the game, this feature offers players many new ways to spy on opponents, stir citizen unrest and defend government secrets. Events: New random events - such as natural disasters and pleas for help or demands from their citizens - challenge players with obstacles that must be overcome for their civilization to prosper. New Wonders: Five new wonders await discovery, including the Statue of Zeus, Cristo Redentor, the Shwedagon Paya, and the Mausoleum of Maussollos. Expanded Space Victory: Winning the race to Alpha Centauri will now require more strategic planning and tactical decision making. Apostolic Palace: The United Nations is available earlier in the game, providing a way to win a diplomatic victory earlier. In addition, new resolutions expand the available diplomatic options. Advanced Starts: A major fan request, this new feature enables players to 'buy' components of a custom-tailored empire and begin play in the later part of the game, allowing one to experience many of the new features of the expansion in a shorter amount of time. Advanced AI: The greatly-enhanced AI now relies more on smart play and less on handicap bonuses to remain competitive, providing a more consistent challenge throughout the course of the game, both economically and militarily. The ways in which the AI attempt to achieve victory have also been expanded. Read less

Details

Release dates

Jul 18, 2007 (Worldwide) PC (Microsoft Windows)

Jul 27, 2009 (Worldwide) Mac

Rating distribution

5 stars

115

4 stars

105

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Community All Reviews Statuses

Review Chauliodusi 5/5 · May 8, 2022

Tectonics

I believe I will be playing this game for life. Depends on whether a more complex game is born which can emulate this feeling. Starting a new game is just so comforting. Once one gets used to the strategy it has a replay value akin to Chess.

I have a ton of praise for the Tectonics, Earthlike map generator engine. …

I have a ton of praise for the Tectonics, Earthlike map generator engine. It creates a diverse array out of the rivers, mountains, and resource tiles that always has a fresh natural beauty. It gives each city a unique and vibrant character. For instance, a Khmer city with a population hovering around 6 million with fish, bananas, stone, and dye towering above the jungle with Hanging Gardens and Angkor Wat, with a lot of the internal population devoted to Hindu priesthood within the stone caverns. With that kind of foresight it is a special feeling to discover a beautiful spot for colonization. Such as the satisfying coziness of setting up by a mountain and arctic tundra with deer, fur, and marble.

Civ IV has helped me become more tolerant/appreciative of other cultures. Years ago when I played this in my youth I just could not wait to invent Scientific Method because I was a fervent Atheist. Are you losing sleep over the state of modern India? Well... Shiva and Shakti are pretty awesome once you get to know them. Just show India how it's done by carrying them to the modern era with proper resource and population management. It gives one a good perspective of the cross-section of world events. Bolsonano is just spamming "Build Farm" on his Jungle tiles. Who cares about wiping out exotic insect populations when you have to compensate for all the hammers wasted on Cristo Redentor.

On Noble difficulty, the AI and player both follow the same rules and restrictions. The scenario everyone spawns in plays a big part in how the game will play out for each nation. (with Tectonics) It is comfortably asymmetrical and forces one to work with the unique blessing of your God-given nation. The AI is opportunistic and relentless. The AI has exploitable flaws but it knows how to effectively succeed and is not afraid to dominate.

Marathon is recommended especially because it gives the games the time to have wars at the same pace as technological advance. I find that the unit stacking is balanced well by the collateral damage of siege weapons. Air striking, flanking, and great generals give the combat character. It still has its simplicity and repetitive strategy with the combat. If one is patient you can squeeze fun unique moments out of Civ IV: BTS such as sieging cities with firework artillery and war elephants, or running zeppelin airstrikes on a massive approaching medieval army.

Read less

1 Comment