User Reviews (11 - 21 of 55)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Great add-on, no complaints at all

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 17
Date: August 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

One again, the guys at Firaxis did it. The expansion set for Civ4 includes all patches up to date, some new civs, more leaders (Russia now has 3 leaders), new traits and a very important new great leader.

The element I liked most about this expansion, however, is not related to any of those I mentioned before. The expansion set brings lots of scenarios along, and if you like playing scenarios, you'll love this CD. If you don't like scenarios like I do, you should try a few of them (I specially recommend the Chinese and Barbarian scenarios) and see that being such a mod-friendly game, Civ4 redefines the meaning of the word "Scenario". Anyway, you'll love the scenarios, because it's just like having a whole new game in a completely different setting, with new tech trees, new rules, new traits, and even new religions.

There is one catch though, the opening video and menu theme are a little lame, considering the oh-so-acclaimed Baba Yetu of the original game, the opening and theme leave quite a bit to expect. This doesn't affect the gameplay or fun of this game.

Overall, the game gets 6 stars out of 5. It's everything I expected from it, and it delivers a great value with it.

Remember that you have to have the original game in order to play Warlords.

Civilization IV just got better...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: November 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I love this upgrade! There are significant advantages this game allows with new wonders, if you build them first. I love the addition of Warlords, who are famous people that allow you to build military units faster, or with more experience, or they can also give established units a large experience boost. The addition of other leaders and cultures is nice also. Well worth the money!

Hold Out with Civilization 3 Complete Instead

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 12 / 23
Date: August 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The biggest problem I have with Civilization IV: Warlords is that it comes off as such a cheap shot. Granted, there are some new features, but in all, you will probably find yourself asking, "Why didn't they just include this in the original?

For example, in the original Civ 4, you recall the Great People: scientists, artists, prophets, engineers, and merchants. Lo and behold, we discover that one crucial Great Person is missing: the Great General. I think this unit and concept should have been included in the original rather than being used to formulate a "new" product, such as the Warlords expansion pack.

Another example are all the buildings that are civ-specific. That is, Warlords offers a few more civilizations and leaders to play, with a few more personality types. This might seem like you have struck a gold mine in terms of features, but consider this: (A) they only added 6 new civilizations; (B) each new civilization got a new leader, so that means that 4 new leaders were created for other civs; (C) there are only two new leader traits (personalities); and (D) now each civilization has a unique building for itself.

Big deal! THIS is supposed to enable a full expansion pack and another $20-$30 expenditure? Well, no... Firaxis decided to add a new game interface that seems pretty cool until you get into it. They finally fixed most of the bugs, too, so trying it out offers a more fair critique.

That is, they came out with the Vassalage system. The primary additions to this interface are diplomatic: (1) when you are whoopin' on someone, they can now offer themselves as a capitulated state to your empire (or a "vassal") - this means that they essentially become your ally and are tied to diplomatically, for better or for worse; (2) when a civ is your vassal, you have more control over them.

Well, this might seem cool to some of you, but when you check out this new feature, you quickly realize the inherent flaw: when a civ capitulates to your overwhelming hordes and armies, and you decide to make them a "vassal" state of yours, immediately your friends have a problem with this. That is, if you are teamed up with another civ against another, and then you take on the foe as a "vassal," your friend - who had been fighting with you all this time - now has a soured relationship with you because you took an enemy as your new "ally!"

In other words, the Vassalage system sucks. I am also not so sure that it could not have been included in the original game - it seems like a basic, diplomatic concept.

So Civ 4: Warlords is just a shameless marketing attempt to get Civ fans to drop extra cash on a worthless product. What makes it shameless is that the developers are relying on their most diehard fans to be their biggest victims. Obviously they can't win over new fans with this kind of expansion pack. They should indeed be ashamed.

My recommendation for Civ 4: Warlords is a suggestion system: Either

1) Do not support the Civ 4 franchise until it is done being expanded so that it is less of a cheapshot then. But "Civ 4 Complete" for $30 or less. Or,

2) If you really want all the Civ 4 titles and expansions, buy Warlords individually for $15 or less. (I recommend it at $9.99.) Or,

3) Give yourself a 100% savings discount and do not support Civ 4 at all. There is a great game out there called Civilization 3 Complete. It is fully expanded and costs about $20. (I have seen it for less in bargain bins.) It is as good as - if not better than - the Civ 4 franchise. Civ 3 Complete allows you to actually modify your scenarios to allow you sweet customization. Civ 4 doesn't even have a map editor, and trying to figure out all the XML and Python programming language stuff will require you to have an advanced education simply to alter things like technologies and governments (seriously).

So my true recommendation is that you go for Civ 3 Complete instead and forget that Civ 4 was ever released, unless Firaxis comes out with a powerful, easy, and fully customizable map editor that even you and I can use. Until then, Civ 4 is a rip-off, and Civ 4: Warlords is just another example of how bad a rip off it really is.

A no brainer...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 58
Date: July 26, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you like Civilization games, you're going to love this expansion pack. It's as if they read your mind. Whenever you were playing Civ IV and thought "Boy, I wish I could do ...", well, now you can. Those of us that wish for more and more power will be pleased. This is the ultimate power trip. Of course, if you don't have Civ IV, pick it up pronto - awesome game.

Like the Civ 3 Expansions, good but expensive

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The expansion pack adds great generals, which allow you to make some really super units (that don't lose experience when you upgrade them). It adds some scenarios (I don't play those, so I have no idea how good they are). It adds some civilization traits that are mostly fighting-based. It adds some new civilizations, which aren't exactly earth-shattering.

If you play scenarios, you might find this worth the money. If you only play the main game, get this if you're a HUGE Civ fan. If you can wait, wait for the inevitale price drop.

Latest in a Fine Franchise

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: November 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Civ IV is one of the finest strategic games on the market today. It has built upon its earlier editions, preserving most of the unique features. The developers have especially turned out new educational content, plus great richness and variety in the content overall. I use Civ III in a middle school strategic gaming club I run with my son, and the only way we could improve on it is by upgrading to Civ IV.

Like other game producers, Firaxis has adopted the policy of publishing games that are slightly lean in content but with an enriching expansion planned. To fully appreciate this game, it would be nearly essential to have the expansion ... plus, of course, the original, as the expansion won't play without both.

Many gamers these days don't like turn-based games, such as this one, but in a multiplayer game with 'simultaneous turns' checked, you have most of the seat-of-the-pants fun of other strategy games. A big plus with this game, especially if you are going to use it in the schools as we do, is that it can be played and won in a variety of non-violent modes.

sid meier's rocks again.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 29, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Although some would find that the expansion pack was just more of the same I would say to them don't buy expansion packs if you want a different game. The expansion did just that it expanded the story line with more cultures and a few more characters. It took out all the flaws of the original and built a better world. For me it was fun, rewarding and a great game. It has true playback qualities and I play it as often as I can and never seem to tire as it always seems different. Great game wish all games had this depth.

Great Addition to the Core Game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have been a fan of the Civilization series since Civ II came out and, after the great additions to the game that Civ IV brought (especially unit promotions and religion), I'm a little disappointed with this expansion pack. The warlord unit is a much needed addition, taking a place similar to Armies from Civ's of the past. The improved AI makes the game much more exciting, and challenging, but those are the only useful changes in my opinion.

New leaders are a time-tested way to make a Civ expansion pack interesting, but themselves don't really improve the game that much. The new leader traits provide a similar benefit, and the Charismatic and Imperialistic traits are much more powerful than any traits from the base game, but like the new leaders themselves you really have to be using them for that change to matter. Finally, custom buildings should go the way of the Dodo, none of the them are very powerful and some are downright useless (sort-of like the Spirituality leader trait).

Turning to the scenarios, they are poorly done overall and none are impressive. I have not yet played them all, but none have yet provided any of the unique game aspects and complexity that made scenarios in past versions such an exciting alternative to the main game. Specifically, I was hoping the Chinese Unification and Vikings scenarios would present similar aspects that the Sengoku Japan and Age of Discovery scenarios from Conquests did, but was sorely disappointed.

Civ III: Conquests was easily the best expansion pack ever, and Civ IV: Warlords, despite the similar name and theme, doesn't come close. Overall, the Warlord unit and the Imperialistic and Charismatic traits combine with the new AI to make combat in the main game much more exciting, but only if that's your favorite aspect of the game should you let this expansion pack separate you from your gold.

A Necessary Expansion

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: August 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Civilization IV is great, and Civilization IV: Warlords makes it even better.
It adds 6 very good civilizations: the Carthagian empire, Celtic empire, Korean empire, Ottoman empire, Viking empire, and the Zulu empire.
The new leaders in this game are Hannibal, Brennus, Wang Kon, Mehmed II, Ragnar, Shaka, Winston Churchill, Augustus Caesar, Ramesses II, and Josef Stalin.
In addtion it also includes several more amazing scenarios, new buildings, 3 new leader traits, and the very helpful 'Warlord' unit.
This expansion adds many more ways to enjoy the Sid Meier's Civilization series, and is a wonderful thing to have.

Allows builders and micromanagers to become warriors.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The Warlords Expansion Pack is just what I needed to add some spice to Civ IV.

I have always enjoyed the building and cultural aspects of Civilization. Preferring to create a Wonder of the World over an army, my late games became kind of stale. You can only go for the space race win so many times.

With the addition of Great Generals you now have some interesting options. Should you have them join your city, thus giving new units extra experience? Should you have them create a military academy, thereby increasing your military production rate? In addition, you can have them join a standing army with the benefit of splitting 20 experience to the stack.

While I agree with others that it would have been nice to have this dimension at initial release, it may have overshadowed the power of religion and culture for some.

Overall, I give this expansion 5 stars for bringing life to one of my favorite games.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next 

Actions