Sid Meier's Civilization VII: A Disappointing Debut
High expectations surrounded the release of Sid Meier's Civilization VII, but early Steam reviews paint a grim picture. With over 1,000 reviews and a dismal 37% score at the time of writing, the game is facing significant backlash. Players are overwhelmingly critical of its underdeveloped state, citing a clunky interface, outdated visuals, and a general feeling of incompletion.
One user, Cool CGI Dog, after just 1.5 hours of gameplay, expressed profound disappointment: "The game feels so blatantly incomplete, especially by Civ standards. The resource icons look like they're from 1998, the interface is terrible, and everything is extremely sloppy. There's a lack of discernible care, which is shocking from Firaxis. Civ VI's release is a world away from this unfinished mess. At the very least, Civ VII's interface needs a complete overhaul to justify its exorbitant $70 price tag." The user further added a strongly worded statement expressing their dissatisfaction.
Another player, WillNever, echoed these sentiments after 2.5 hours: "The interface looks and feels like an alpha build, untouched and unimproved. While the new mechanics are interesting, navigating this awful interface isn't worth the effort. Months of refinement are needed to make this game enjoyable."
The consensus among reviewers is that Civilization VII launched prematurely and requires substantial improvements. The $70 price point is particularly contentious, deemed disproportionate to the game's current quality.
Fans remain hopeful that Firaxis will address the criticism through updates, restoring the series' renowned quality and attention to detail. While the Civilization franchise is known for its polished gameplay, this latest installment, in its current form, falls far short of expectations.
