Civilization 7’s Exploration Age: Unlocking Global Domination

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Instead of the traditional approach with multiple eras in past versions, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 compresses the gameplay into three distinct epochs: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each of these periods introduces fresh gameplay elements, introduces a new civilization for players to control, and offers unique civic and tech trees. This departure from past games provides a fresh experience, but it’s worth noting that one age in particular – the Exploration Age – could benefit from some enhancement through post-release updates or DLC.

As a dedicated gamer, I find myself embarking on an exhilarating journey in the Exploration Age, abandoning my homeland’s familiarity to set sail for uncharted territories ripe for colonization and conquest. This phase serves as the pulsating heart of the game, where I strive tirelessly to transform my civilization into a dominant global force. Yet, despite its promising potential, certain elements seem to hinder it from reaching its full glory. Thankfully, Firaxis is working diligently on refining this age, and if they can strike the perfect balance, then the Exploration Age in Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 could well be the pinnacle of gaming experiences.

Civilization 7’s Exploration Age Falls Short of Greatness

AI Civs Do Not Seem to Be Operating Like the Player’s Civ

In the Exploration Era of Civilization 7, the main emphasis lies on its mechanism for discovering remote territories. Any continent other than the one the player initially chose is classified as a remote land, and the objective becomes colonizing it. This aspect significantly contributes to the game’s Legacy Paths and is vital for gaining an advantage during this era. However, it appears that the civilizations inhabiting these distant lands are not pursuing the same objectives.

Currently, all players initially find themselves on a shared continent. During the Exploration Age, another continent becomes accessible and is populated solely by AI civilizations. It’s important to note that this continent where players begin isn’t considered distant or unexplored by these AI cities. Therefore, they are not engaged in simultaneous colonization and conquest of the same continent as the player. Consequently, they function more like city-states than fully developed civilizations, as they don’t compete for any victory types with the player.

Firaxis Needs to Make This Age a Bit More Engaging

In this current age, the difference between AI civilizations on distant lands and those on the initial continent hinders it from reaching its full potential. While venturing into vast oceans and uncovering new territories is entertaining, these newly found societies should be behaving identically. The age could benefit immensely by intensifying competition and presenting players with additional challenges. However, these civilizations primarily act as adversaries to either conquer or form alliances with, as part of the player’s journey to secure one of the numerous victories in Civilization 7.

Furthermore, multiplayer games should allow players to begin on distinct continents. If one player spends an era developing their own continent while the other is yet undiscovered, it could result in a unique experience. This competition to colonize each other’s lands would add excitement, and the initial age of isolation could create a distinctive quality for this game compared to others.

According to Firaxis, they’ve hinted at making some adjustments, but there’s no word yet on when or if that will occur. Furthermore, they haven’t given many details about what these changes might involve, suggesting they may not be as significant as one might hope. Whatever improvements the studio has in store, fans are eagerly waiting for them since they could really enhance the uniqueness of Exploration Age within the three ages.

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2025-02-19 00:05