Ben Fletcher

This game is an unmitigated disaster, a testament to the depths to which the industry can sink when creativity and player respect are thrown out the window. First off, navigating the map is like trying to read a book with half the pages glued shut – you can’t rotate it to get a proper view, leaving you to fumble in the dark. Then there's the building mechanic, or should I say, the test of patience, as constructing anything of value takes an eternity. And don't get me started on city management. Once you've established a link to your capital, forget about building in that city ever again. It's as if the developers thought, "Why not just restrict player creativity further?" Meanwhile, the AI operates with the impunity of a spoiled monarch, conjuring up structures and units at will, making any semblance of balance a distant dream. From start to finish, this game is an exercise in frustration, a poorly conceived and even more poorly executed attempt at strategy gaming. To even suggest it's worth the plastic it's printed on would be an affront to all things of value. The developers, alongside Sega, have squandered both time and resources on this abomination. Comparing this to Civilization is like comparing a masterpiece to a toddler’s scribble. These developers have proved themselves nothing more than imitators, lacking any semblance of innovation or skill. This will be the last time I ever entertain the notion of purchasing a game tarnished by the Sega brand.