Sid Meier's Civilization VII: A Disappointing Debut
Many Firaxis fans eagerly awaited the next installment in the Civilization franchise, but Civilization VII's Steam launch has been met with overwhelmingly negative feedback. Players are expressing significant disappointment with the game's current state, citing a subpar user interface, outdated graphics, and a general feeling of incompleteness.
At the time of writing, the game boasts over 1,000 reviews, resulting in a dismal 37% positive rating.
One user, Cool CGI Dog, after just 1.5 hours of gameplay, voiced their frustration:
"The game feels incredibly unfinished, especially for a Civ title. The resource icons look like they're from 1998, the UI is atrocious, and everything feels incredibly sloppy. There's a distinct lack of polish, which is shocking from Firaxis. Civ VI is worlds apart from this mess. At the very least, Civ VII's interface needs a complete overhaul to justify its exorbitant $70 price tag. This feels like a personal insult."
Another player, WillNever, echoed these sentiments after 2.5 hours:
"The interface looks and feels like an alpha build. While the new mechanics are interesting, navigating this awful UI is a major deterrent. Months of refinement are needed to make this game enjoyable."
The prevailing opinion among reviewers is that the game was released prematurely and requires extensive improvements. The $70 price point is particularly under fire, deemed disproportionate to the game's current quality.
Civilization fans are hopeful that Firaxis will address the widespread criticism through substantial updates, restoring the series' renowned quality and attention to detail. While the Civilization series is known for its polished gameplay, Civilization VII, in its current form, falls far short of expectations.