Civilization 7’s Greatest Loss: The Downfall of Great People

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In essence, although the fundamental Civilization gameplay remains unchanged, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI has undergone significant modifications compared to its predecessors. Key elements like Builders have been eliminated, the game is now divided into three main eras, combat mechanics have been redesigned, and various systems have been revamped to offer a fresh strategic perspective. Most of these alterations appear to be met with approval by the gaming community, but there’s one aspect that’s conspicuously absent in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Great People.

In Civilization 6, players frequently spend their gameplay accruing Great Person points with the aspiration of acquiring iconic historical figures, powerful in their own right. However, Civilization 7’s method for incorporating Great People is significantly altered compared to its predecessor. The system has been streamlined, leading to a less engaging feature overall. While this change doesn’t necessarily detract from the game, some players might deeply miss the Great Person system in Civilization 6.

Civilization 7’s Great People Pale in Comparison to What Came Before

Civilization 6 Made Great People Feel Essential

In the game “Civilization 6”, players accumulate points for Great Persons as they contribute to and shape the world. These points are derived from resource gains and serve to unlock renowned figures from history who possess unique, powerful abilities. For instance, these abilities could include free technology advancements, quicker construction of Wonders, or improvements in their military units. The pursuit of these Great Persons is a shared objective among players, fostering a lively competitive environment that keeps everyone alert and engaged.

In the previous versions of Civilization, there were nine distinct categories of Exceptional Individuals, each offering advantages in their specific areas. Naval matters benefited from Great Admirals, construction tasks were made easier with Great Engineers, resource production was significantly increased by Great Merchants, and Great Scientists aided in speeding up research. Culture-wise, Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians played crucial roles, while Great Prophets were essential for the establishment of religions. Although some were undeniably more potent than others, they all contributed towards giving players an edge in competition. Unfortunately, Firaxis has decided to eliminate this feature in Civilization 7.

Civilization 7 Has Stripped Down the Great People Feature Considerably

In Civilization 7, Great People are no longer obtained through accumulating Great Person points, as these have been eliminated from the game. Now, each civilization possesses its own distinct Great People that can either be bought or produced. These unique characters require certain conditions to be fulfilled before they become accessible and offer players beneficial perks, albeit the method of unlocking them seems less thrilling compared to how it functioned in Civilization 6.

One of the standout aspects of playing a game like Civilization is that it allows players to chart their unique course through history. By enabling competition for significant historical figures, the experience becomes even more immersive and engaging. In the world of Civilization, Sir Isaac Newton doesn’t necessarily have to hail from Britain; instead, players can incorporate such iconic figures into the narrative of their own civilization, fostering a sense of personal storytelling and empowerment.

Beyond this, engaging players in a struggle for a collection of Great People significantly enhanced the competitive spirit of the game. These influential figures weren’t handed over to just any player; they were earned through a system where players had to strive harder to accumulate more points than their opponents. Failing to keep up could result in missing out on valuable upgrades, and neglecting Great Prophets might even bar them from achieving the Religious victory altogether.

It’s pleasing that Civilization 7 retains the concept of Great People, but I found the way Civilization 6 implemented it more engaging. As for how this system might develop with DLC and updates, it probably won’t revert to its previous format. Here’s hoping a future Civilization game will reintroduce the competitive elements of Great People in some manner.

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2025-02-13 22:56