Since its inception, Civilization of Seyed Mayer The franchise has been one of the biggest names in 4X gaming. Between six different main titles and several spin-offs, Firaxis has given players an exciting adventure through history, with the future continuing. Civilization of Seyed Mayer 7 One of the biggest titles to date due to its success, it's easy to see why other studios would want to offer a similar experience. And Oxide Games has done just that Ara: untold history.
It was announced in 2022, Ara: untold history step by step Civilization of Seyed Mayer franchise by allowing players to forge their own path through history. They will once again take over a civilization, lead it through multiple eras, and hopefully make their mark on the world before being kicked out. But, while this core gameplay loop can be fun, the way Ara: untold history Its approaches leave a lot to be desired.
Ara: History Untold game loop can be exciting
Anyone who has ever played Civilization of Seyed Mayer He should know exactly what to expect Ara: untold historyThe main gameplay loop. Before starting the game, players have to choose their country and choose from more than 40 different real countries. Each leader has advantages and disadvantages, each with three different appearances to choose from. Once players find one that suits their play style, they can then tweak the settings to create their own experience before jumping into the game world. Ara: untold history.
once Ara: untold history To begin, players are given a starting city and must build from there. They have to train scouts to explore their surroundings, start construction of some useful buildings in their town and start their first research. Then, they hit the next round button, sit back, and wait for their current projects to finish. And when they are, they do it again.
As players progress further through the game, they will encounter other dangerous civilizations, tribes, and animals that roam the land. If they want to survive in this world, they must do their best to keep their neighbors friendly or prepare for grueling wars and destruction. Furthermore, they must be careful not to fall behind the tech tree or risk disappearing from the face of the world forever.
While this gameplay loop isn't all that different from what it used to be, it's still very satisfying Ara: untold history. Oxide Games seems to understand what the titles are about Civilization of Seyed Mayer Tick, so decided not to change it too much. That being said, there are a few unique mechanics that keep things a little fresh, but also a little boring at times.
Ara: Untold History injects some interesting mechanics into its cities
One of the biggest changes in Ara: untold history It is the way cities grow. Instead of waiting for the city to claim a hex on its own, when a city levels up, players are prompted to claim a new piece of land. Each layout has its pros and cons, so players will want to plan accordingly to make sure their city has everything they need. Then, after claiming said lands, they can make various improvements to help their civilization grow.
These improvements come in the form of various buildings, and since there are no builders here, players build things like farms or mines. Additionally, these buildings do much more than provide a background bonus. Instead, they actually require players to build various resources like those Anu series These resources can help cities when using amenities or may be needed as part of a construction project.
However, the sky is not the limit when it comes to these buildings. In fact, each piece of land actually has a predetermined number of buildings that can be built on it. Therefore, players will want to make sure they use their space wisely, as once the slots fill up, they will either have to destroy some improvements or wait for the city to level up again. And if they want to create some game wins, they'll have to give up an entire zone just for that.
Besides that, as the city levels up, it also unlocks some experts from time to time. These specialists can be used in certain buildings and given rewards such as faster production or more food. There isn't really much more to these specialists outside of that, but their presence helps cities become more functional, which is nice to see.
While all of this adds more life to cities, as artisans are constantly producing goods and things always need managing, it's also one of those things. Ara: untold historyProblems arise. It may be a 4X game, but it can get pretty fast at times, especially when players have multiple cities. The fact that the UI is often frustrating to navigate and it's not always clear how to find certain things doesn't help matters. And after a while, players can get burned out from the sheer number of things they have to juggle.
Ara: Unspeakable acts and times of history is a unique twist
very similar Civilization of Seyed Mayer, Ara: untold history It also places great emphasis on research into new technologies. This research gives players more to improve their civilization, unlocking more exciting technologies as they progress through the ages. But, while this too isn't all that different from what's come before, the way these tech courses work feels incredibly unique.
As players build things, research technology, and participate in various actions, they earn prestige points. These prestigious points are earned all over the country Ara: untold historyThree main acts, with each civilization displayed on the leaderboard. As actions progress, civilizations are divided into three different levels depending on the number of points they have. The top three tiers are safe, but if the bottom tier isn't careful by the end of the action, those countries will be eliminated. This means there's a constant race to make sure players have enough prestige points, or the world can go on without them.
When a certain number of civilizations reach a certain technological period, Ara: untold history Starts counting down to the end of the current action. So, if players aren't near the end of their current tech tree, they can actually skip their progression if they want to. They'll miss out on a lot of prizes, but if it's the only way to survive, then it's what they have to do. Fortunately, some future tech will include those bonuses, but some may be gone forever. This makes for a fascinating research system. However, it can also be a little aggravating, as players have to spend more time collecting credits than actually following their path through history.
Ara: Untold History Falls Short of Being a Great Genre
Not only can the UI be cumbersome and the game's multiple systems a bit overwhelming, but there are a few other aspects that let you Ara: untold history Bottom Line For starters, the game's battles are relatively low-key, mostly focused on capturing or protecting a city. This means that players won't get the massive 4X battles they might want, especially since the units don't have 3D models unless players specifically choose to watch the battle. Instead, they send a giant icon representing their unit type with a number to attack the other, quickly ending the battle before it even begins.
On top of that, there's barely an option for diplomacy, random missions aren't all that useful, and it's not always clear what players should be focusing on. While it does offer some strategy thrills, all this really holds it back from being another masterpiece of the genre. With future DLC and updates, it might have a chance to fix its weaker aspects. But, outside of a few unique twists, it feels like it's missing something to really make it worth accepting.
Final score: 6/10
