The "Civilization VI" previews have been very impressive. Our early report even praised it as being the possible "best entry in the franchise." However, the early access spoiled the fun when the game received a "Mixed" rating on Steam.
As much as most people appreciate this new approach, the criticism seems to point to the UI.
The Main Flaw: UI Looks Like it Was Created in Alpha Stages
The radical approach to structure that "Civilization VII" takes to the game: It is so new that every player has to change their civilization in each of the three acts, moving from one "Age" to the next. Of course, not everyone is feeling the same curiosity and skepticism when it comes to this bold new mechanic, as the community applauds it the most, according to PC Gamer's Rick Lane.
As per Lane, Steam user WillNever commented that the new mechanics are "pretty interesting," but that's not the same reaction from the other fans.
While the new mechanics are divisive in games like Civ, most seem to be welcoming the change. Some even admitted that change is necessary for the series to evolve, though they were initially divided.
Con, another negative reviewer, stated, "Mechanics are fine and change is necessary and will always divide the community at the start." This implies that the core gameplay innovations are not the heart of the complaints of the players.
The thing that frustrates players of "Civ VII" apparently is its interface. Several reviewers have cited it as one major problem that thwarts the gameplay experience.
Most players feel it is underdeveloped, clumsy, and must be greatly streamlined.
WillNever claims that the UI design looks like from its alpha stage. It feels like it's ported from a very old console in the worst way possible.
This criticism is not in isolation, as many players have made similar comments regarding the UI being unpolished. Such issues can make the game less intuitive and frustrating to navigate, especially concerning for fans of the "Civilization" series, who are accustomed to a more polished and intuitive experience.
Other Common Complaints: Limited Features
Aside from UI issues, some other aspects of "Civilization VII's" design have been cited by some players as its weakness. Some of these are: limited map choices wherein the game's largest possible map is set at 'Standard,' quick move and quick combat features which some claim can accelerate the game, and thus more accessible.
These are not UI-like glaring issues, but they do add up and contribute to a feeling that perhaps Civ 7 has not been fully realized as people had hoped.
At £60 or $70 for the standard edition, and costing even more for the Founders Edition, the expectations of experience both by the title of being put together and pushed to a high level are not quite met for avid fans looking for the next big installment in the franchise.
Firaxis Should Fix This ASAP
However, despite the scathing criticism it received early on, "Civilization VII" still looks promising, with many of those negative reviews taking into account the bold changes made by Firaxis. Still, some people will prefer to play "Civilization VI" than its successor.
"Civ VII" is still in its early days, and players are hopeful that Firaxis will take the feedback into account and make improvements before the full launch on Feb. 11.
If "Civ VII" is your first "Civilization" game, here are the 10 gameplay tips you need to know first before you dive into the game.
