14 DAY TRIAL // Is better missile tech more important than improved armor? Is the solution to a losing war a bigger investment in defense or a quick peace followed by more economic development? Is it better to quickly deploy artifacts or executive orders or to keep them in reserve for the exact moment when they are needed?
Galactic Civilizations IV is developed and published by Stardock, with full launch currently planned before the end of 2022. The game uses the core turn-based strategy ideas that have driven the series for the past three installments while adding a host of improvements.
The game will be familiar for anyone who spent time with the third entry in the series. Get ready to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. There are old and new factions to choose from, with plenty of options to customize them and the galaxy in which one will be playing. A starting planet and a couple of ships are the foundation from which players can put together a sprawling democracy, a powerful empire, a tight corporate state, or anything in between.
To get there, the wise player needs to carefully evaluate his slice of space and plan what and when he wants to do. It’s hard to do everything. Military forces are required for defense, at a minimum, or to take down opponents. Planetary development is a puzzle that has no perfect solution. All research paths are important, but one needs to focus on the crucial pieces.
Leaders are introduced, capable of boosting certain areas of a political entity, and there are many choices that will shape a civilization. The game features more event chains, although not all feel compelling, and missions to push players forward.
This is a complex game with a lot of variety, enhanced but not transformed. Anyone who has played a previous GalCiv will love what it has to offer, although newcomers might struggle.
Galactic Civilizations IV is a good-looking strategy game, delivering a good mix of visual information and solid user interface design. The planetary layout is more engaging than ever. It’s easy to access all core game functions quickly. And once the galaxy is filled with colonized planets and empires, the map delivers its own beauty. The sound design does not match the visuals, with a pretty forgettable soundtrack.
Conclusion
I loved playing turn after turn, finding the best way to invest limited resources, making good diplomatic plays, turning planets into economy or science powerhouses. If Stardock manages to inject just one or two innovative concepts before full launch Galactic Civilizations IV can become a classic of the genre.
Preview code provided by the developer.
