What an awesome excuse to sink some more hours into Civ V. Not that I need an excuse. But still, I was pleased to get tasked with checking out this DLC so that I could revisit one of my favorite games. While playing Civilization V never really feels like a waste of time, I’m wondering about this DLC.
Scrambled Continents is the latest addition to Civilization V. As explained by Firaxis:
The Scrambled Continents map pack includes real geographic locations with special scripts that produce randomized interiors each time a new game begins. While the familiar outline of the continent’s geography stays constant, the inner heart of the world changes each time you play for endless replayability on countless plausible worlds.
That’s right, the outline and shape of the continent will be familiar to you if you know about the real world, but the interior is completely randomized. This means that areas that are normally swamps may become mountains, while rivers and natural wonders have relocated. In fact, you may get the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Canada like I did on one play through. Scrambled Continents offers 10 new maps: Africa, Thawed Antarctica, Earth, East Asia, Middle East, North America, Oceania, Small Continents Plus, South America and Western Europe – with the exception of Antarctica, these were all maps I already had under “additional maps”.
I’m not quite sure I understand the appeal of this map pack. When I play Civ V, I either want a world generated under certain conditions (Pangea, continents, etc) or I want to play on a map that simulates reality. It’s fun to run around as Ghandi in Europe, or to take over all of the Americas as Carthage. However, I never found the real world maps to be boring or repetitive – the other civilizations and City-States provide enough variety to make each play-through something different. Besides, I normally play on various sized maps and with new leaders each time. So, how much new variety does this map pack add?
I suppose this will be a nice DLC for those who feel like they have already exhausted all the topographical options in Civ V. Although, to be honest, I’m not sure that this will add much value. Look, you can play in Africa but there’s a bunch of swamps and the resources aren’t where you expect them to be, or in a scrambled version of the South Pole. Does that really add hours of new gameplay for you? It’s not a bad DLC, but it feels like a ploy for money. It only costs $5 on Steam, making it feel like a micro-transaction to me: low-cost, low-value add-on.
C’mon Firaxis, I expect better from you. If you want to release a map pack, just give it to us. Or, make it something truly unique and interesting that adds some new game play to an already varied experience.
Last Updated: October 29, 2013
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| was reviewed on PC | |
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 13:41
*yawns* Civilization… no thank you, never ever EVER!
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 13:46
Its so much more fun in space you know.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 13:55
really?
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 14:07
Well, depends on who you ask, but I do prefer the space 4X vs Civ
hubble19
October 29, 2013 at 15:01
Sorry to jump in but I’ve been wanting to play a good space 4X for a while now, what would you recommend?
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 15:11
Well I’ve got Endless Space at the moment. Its not the best, historically, but it is good, and worth the price. They’ve recently released a DLC which I’m planning on getting as well. Galactic Civilizations is rated as the best, and GalCiv 2 was certainly my favourite historically. They’ve recently announced GalCiv3 though, which is music to my ears as a fan of the series and genre.
If you can get GalCiv2 anywhere that’ll run on Windows 7 or 8, its a good buy, but otherwise Endless Space will scratch that itch until GalCiv 3 is released. No official date yet.
hubble19
October 29, 2013 at 15:23
Thanks, I’ll look out for both
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 14:03
Oi! Civ is cool.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 14:04
shut up and look at your new avatar! no legs and all!
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 14:07
Works well-enough for me. Still hasn’t got the artistic authenticity of mine, but it’ll do.
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 14:08
Its way more badass dude.
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 14:09
I will concur, it is.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 14:15
I think its sweet!
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 14:15
Should I add a painting in the background for the artistic authenticity?
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 14:16
No please, I like the white background. It’s my thing
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 14:08
See its cool man!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
October 29, 2013 at 13:47
Confession bear time….
I’ve never played any civilisation game
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 13:48
Civ 5 is actually cool. But its a time sink. I prefer 4X in space though. Same thing, just cooler.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
October 29, 2013 at 13:49
Time sink is good
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 14:09
Yes, if you have a few hours to spare. 🙂
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 13:51
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?????
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
October 29, 2013 at 13:52
Yeah. 🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 29, 2013 at 13:53
But you play on a PC don’t you? So by default anything you play is civilised.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
October 29, 2013 at 13:53
hehehehe
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 13:53
LOOOOOOOL, well played Trev
RangerMossel
October 29, 2013 at 14:48
hahaha!!! Nice.
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 13:54
I was working on a project away from home, boring work, but Civ4 helped me through those days and nights
Vampyre Squirrel
October 29, 2013 at 13:47
Civ 5 is actually pretty cool… just very involved… you gotta have more than just a couple brain cells alive to play it properly.
Which of course counts me out from playing it very often at all.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 13:55
Where’s John I made him a new profile!!
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 14:03
Hello. Went out for lunch
loftie
October 29, 2013 at 16:12
ill stick with Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri thanks!