Recent reviews by Storm

Even if the game has gone F2P recently, I still refuse to support Paradox's "UNLIMITED DLC WORKS" business model.

40 hours in and i've only built one large ship so far, i haven't even touched survival yet.
10/10

-1/10 can't say the n word even in private lobbies

sadly, it seems my favorite mexican plant-based aerodynamics simulator game has turned into spyware.

paradox really needs to stop with this "pay another $100 in DLC to unlock 90% of the game's features after buying the game" BS, if i buy a game then i should get a game and not a springboard for several "major" DLCs that really just do what modders were doing better for months *cough cough* synthetic dawn *cough cough*

i do admit that apocalypse seems like a decent dlc though
overall this game is a 4/10, only bought it because its one of the few decent 4x games that are actually playable

This game is everything I want out of the Civilization series, even if a bit dated. The graphics have aged fairly well in my opinion, especially for a game from the very early 2000s. The old map-like aesthetic of the game's empire view is very nice, and the unit sprites are done very well for a game from a time with extremely limited graphical capabilities. One feature I especially love that I think shouldn't have been done away with in future Civilization games is the 'aerial view', which allows you to get an extremely detailed view of your cities.

However, even if the graphics are considered lackluster by some in this time, the soundtrack still holds up extremely well and is possibly the best soundtrack out of the entire Civilization series. From the piano-based melodies of the Medieval era to the jazzy guitar riffs of the Modern era, the soundtrack is extremely immersive and well-produced. Even some DLC scenarios have custom soundtracks, which are just as well-made as the soundtracks of the main game.

The gameplay is also well-done and it isn't too easy, nor is it too hard. The difficulty scaling in this game works well enough, and you are able to even change specifics such as AI aggressiveness, something that appears to be absent from later entries in the series. The advisors in this game are actually quite helpful and their associated menu screens allow you to easily get a detailed overview of your empire in order to best manage it. My only criticism of the more domestic side of gameplay is the way corruption works in this game; it tends to be quite rampant (especially on larger maps, and ESPECIALLY in the later stages of the game) although it can be reduced with wonders such as the Forbidden Palace and buildings such as courthouses.

Combat in this game is based off of an RNG system that works fairly well, although there is the occasional absolutely ludicrous outcome where a spearman will manage to defeat a tank. Unit promotions in this game work on four levels: conscript (the starting level for conscripted units as well as units gifted by villages), regular (the starting level for built units), veteran, and elite. Each promotion grants an extra bar of health. While much more simple than the extensive promotions in games such as Civilization 5, this system still works quite well as Civilization 3 tends to focus much more on wider-scale combat and empire management than single-unit powerhouses.

Overall, Civilization 3 is an excellent -- albeit, somewhat dated -- entry into the Civilization series. I'd probably give up both of my legs to see a remastering of this game.

this game is actually pretty good and has managed to keep things fresh despite being a decade old
so yeah, i'd recommend it ig