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Civilization Revolution xbox360 Game Reviews
Civilization Revolution
Critic Score
Metascore: 85 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.3 out of 10
based on 50 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 60 votes
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Rate this game

Civilization Revolution offers players a chance to experience the epic empire-building world of Civilization in an all new accessible, visually immersive, and action-packed world specifically designed for the console and handheld gamer. Delivering Civilization's renowned epic single-player campaigns featuring vast re-playability and unmatched addictive gameplay as well as revolutionary features like real-time interaction with leaders and advisors, extensive multiplayer capabilities and integrated video and voice chat, it transports the Civilization series to a level of gameplay that fans have never seen before. Some of the key features that resonate with fans of strategy games and the Civilization franchise include 16 civilizations to master and lead to victory, an array of famous historical leaders to play as or compete against, and accessible maps and streamlined time scale for quicker games, intense combat, and constant action. In online multiplayer mode, players compete for world conquest and glory among their peers as they battle in teams, head-to-head or epic free-for-all matches. In addition, auto-matching, ranked games, leaderboards, achievements, downloadable extra content and integrated video and voice chat make the online play more versatile and fun than any previous version of Civilization and will allow players to see where they stand against the competition. Finally, the position of ruler of the world can be settled online. [2K Games]

PUBLISHER: 2K Games
DEVELOPER: Firaxis
GENRE(S): Turn-Based Strategy
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2008

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Gaming Nexus
In comparison to the amount of fun you have, those are middling problems at worst. Civilization Revolution is easy to learn, hard to put down, and a blast to play.
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100
Gaming Age
Most importantly, we're happy to report that the ebb and flow of the game, the technology race, the expansionistic urges, the cycle from martyrdom to world conqueror and back, have been expertly captured in Civilization Revolution.
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91
Game Chronicles
And even though I still have no desire to play Civilization on the PC, Civilization Revolution has become one of my favorite 360 games of the year.
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90
Gamervision
Ultimately, Civilization Revolution gives back as much as you put into it. It’s a wholly satisfying experience whether you play alone or online.
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90
Team Xbox
My immersion in the gameplay experience is a good part of why this review is going up a bit later than planned. I often had a tough time pulling myself away from the playing to write this up.
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90
Worth Playing
Revolution makes a great starting place for new gamers to learn the ways of Civilization while avoiding being overwhelmed by the massive amount of things present in Civilization 4.
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90
Cheat Code Central
An exquisite experience for strategy junkies. PC purists may turn up their noses at it, but I dare them to play through multiplayer with a pair of headsets on and not get giddy.
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90
GameSpot
It's incredibly easy to get engrossed in the rhythm of expansion and evolution, and you can happily lose hours and hours at a time.
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90
WonderwallWeb
A great RTS with plenty of pick up and play appeal, perfect for the console generation.
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90
ZTGameDomain
Much of the changes in Civ Rev are of the give and take variety ultimately streamlining gameplay with little sacrifice.
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90
Gameplanet
A fantastic, frantic combination of pretty much all the highlights of previous Civilization titles rolled into one single package. Finally, a worthy way to experience Sid Meier's legendary franchise on your console!
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90
Game Informer
This is hands down the best pure strategy title to appear on consoles to date, and easily worthy to bear the Civilization name. [July 2008, p.83]
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90
Official Xbox Magazine
Civilization Revolution's sunny presentation and bountiful depth might not be sufficient to draw legions of newcomers to turn-based strategy, but it easily the single greatest example of the genre ever to grace a console. [Aug 2008, p.70]
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90
Gamestyle
There's plenty of depth and challenge that even the best strategist may find hard to conquer. Controlling a civilization has never been so fun.
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89
Console Monster
Civilization Revolution is how all console strategy titles should be. Fun, easy to pick up with a good degree of difficulty.
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89
GameZone
Fitting right at home on the console, Civilization Revolution is a genuinely addictive simulator that will not fail to impress and please fans of the Civ series.
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89
Gamer 2.0
Civilization Revolution is a benchmark in the turn-based strategy series for console games both now and in the future.
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88
Extreme Gamer
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is the most immersive strategy game on the consoles to-date that can offer up this much fun, offline or online and for multiple skill levels.
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88
GamingTrend
CivRev has been an extremely pleasant surprise. It’s not perfect, but it does a fantastic job of taking one of the most complex gaming franchises and boiling it down to the fundamental aspects that make it so much fun.
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88
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The controls are indeed a dream, effectively putting to rest the notion that a strategy game can't work on a console. [Aug 2008, p.70]
88
IGN
The developers of Civ Rev made some tough but smart compromises, which resulted in a great console strategy game that could do with just a bit more depth. Overall though, this one’s a winner.
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86
GameFocus
Easy to pick up and play.
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85
Xbox World Australia
Civ: Rev is a great game, and I think most people will have a great time with this game, both online and offline.
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85
Xbox360Achievements
Fun, simple and addictive, this game is a worth-while addition to the 360 roster, but is a little light. Hardcore Civ fans may want to stick to the PC versions, but newcomers will feel right at home.
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85
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
While far from as deep as the PC games, Revolution is a fine achievement, extremely accessible and great fun to play.
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85
Game Over Online
More options would have been huge in adding a bit of spice to the repetition that sets in after a few games, but what comes in the box is good enough to recommend to anyone with a taste for a little strategy and a penchant for world domination.
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85
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Much more than a simple conversion to consoles, Revolution is a Civ experience built and tailored specially for these machines. And it really shows. It’s, in nature, a very addictive experience and the gameplay really suits the different console controllers. [Aug 2008]
85
GamerNode
It may not be as deep or entertaining as the PC counterparts, but it's still one hell of a game, and it will still cause thousands of people to lose out on sleep.
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84
Console Gameworld
Definitely created for players who've never played the series before, Civilization Revolution is a great entry title for console gamers.
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83
1UP
But Revolution's greatest omission is testament to just how addicting the game is. It's disappointing not having the option to play "one more turn..." after a victory condition is achieved and continuing to build (or rebuild) your empire.
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81
MEGamers
It is a solid effort that fits well as a console game. We just wish some more details made it across from the PC series.
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80
games(TM)
One of the most enjoyable strategy games to hit consoles in a very long time. [Aug 2008, p.110]
80
EuroGamer
This slick new Civilization may be more reduction than Revolution, but it's easily one of the most distinctive games on 360 and PS3. I can't see myself playing much more of the single-player, but I genuinely cannot wait to war over landmass with a few like-minded chums.
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80
G4 TV
This is far more than just a port; it's a comprehensive console-specific retooling. The thought of that may make some fans sick to their stomach, and yes, some of the more detailed options for taxation and civilization management have been automated to a greater or lesser degree, but there's still plenty of strategy here for even hardcore fans to appreciate.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
It presents a solid, fairly streamlined experience that's accessible to console players while still providing an engaging layer of depth.
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80
VideoGamer
The key is that you can get a hell of a lot of enjoyment out of Civ Rev without getting completely bogged down by the game's statistics.
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80
MS Xbox World
If you like strategy games and playing god, then I can fully recommend this game as it offers hours of strategic entertainment. However, for those of you with less patience, then I will say that there's quite a steep learning curve compared to more accessible games.
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80
PALGN
Sid Meier's Civilization: Revolution is easily the most effective and most addictive strategy game ever to be released on a console, and is worth a shot for anyone interested in the franchise or genre at all.
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80
Gameplayer
Old diehard fanatics will no doubt shake their fists at the slight console-friendly tweaks of the original formula and the light-hearted nature of the graphics – but hey, it’s successfully infecting a whole new generation of gamers with Civ love, so get over it.
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80
Official Xbox Magazine UK
Civilization Revolution is currently the best strategy game available on the console. It has the controls, it has the pedigree, it has the depth, it has the multiplayer and most of all it has the accessibility. [July 2008, p.80]
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80
Gamer.nl
Exactly the right things have been made more simple and the essence of the game is still there.
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80
Hardcore Gamer Magazine
While a bug-squishing patch would be nice, Civilization Revolution is an excellent revision of the series despite the trades it makes for accessibility over depth.
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80
Thunderbolt
To PC gamers this will feel like a tutorial for the “real” thing, but for everyone else Sid Meier has breathed fresh air into the console market with a title that lets you kill and maim in a completely different way.
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80
Giant Bomb
While Sid Meier has been quoted as saying that this is the Civilization game he always wanted to make, Revolution's got plenty of shortcomings, and the scope of its vision can sometimes outstrip its mechanics. That said, this is a really satisfying strategy game, and though it might be old hat for PC players, there are few experiences quite like it on consoles.
Read Full Review
78
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Civilization Revolution feels like a bloated XBLA or PSN game. Strip away the disappointing visuals, bloody annoying introduction video that plays every time you start a fucking match, all the bells and whistles and you’re left with something could have been a true revolution. As it stands, this is just a good case of Civilization Devolution.
Read Full Review
77
Planet Xbox 360
Thanks to a slow, unbalanced Live experience, the game falls well short of delivering the kind of replay value that the price-tag demands.
Read Full Review
75
Game Revolution
Fortunately, the 360 version is blessedly free of the slowdown and Civilopedia bugs that mar the PS3 version, leading to a much more relaxing experience.
Read Full Review
75
NZGamer
For new players, it may be a stepping stone to true greatness. Fans of the older Civ games may enjoy it for nostalgia. It may also serve as a 'nicotine patch' for megalomaniacs; a healthier alternative to wasting whole days taking over the world. The serious Civ fans, however, should keep to their PCs: this one isn't for them.
Read Full Review
70
X360 Magazine UK
A game with such subtleties and fine detail as Civilization IV would never have worked on a console, and so while purists might carp at Revolution’s necessarily stripped-down feel, its injection of pace makes for a more exciting – if marginally less cerebral – strategy game. And more importantly, it’s still as life-suckingly addictive as ever. [Issue#34]
70
GameSpy
While Civilization Revolution does a great job of introducing the concept and gameplay of Sid Meier's classic PC series to the consoles, it falls just short of true greatness due to a lack of depth in the AI and multiplayer options.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 60 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jason F. gave it a4:
I didn't think it was possible to mess the online multiplayer for 360 up so bad. This was the only reason I bought it and thet really made it bad. From long waits to spazzes to freezing it overall really sucks.

Jason L. gave it a10:
Great game, easy to pick up and play. There is one annoying bug, that freezes the game up when you try to take a city using catapults. But, other than that, it's a great game.

Trevor G. gave it a10:
"Eric N. gave it a3: Good single-player, but CANNOT save multi-player games! Who have time to play six hours in one sitting?" Lol....how are you going to save a multi-player game? Do you expect real people to put down their controllers and be ready to play when you load them back up? LMAO!

[Anonymous] gave it a5:
I ended up downloading the demo for the Xbox 360 and ended up turning it off after about 30 minutes. While I've played Civilization II through IV on the PC, the game felt too different, harder to control (when you're used to the NumPad, it's hard to switch to the thumbstick) and the city building was confusing. The technology tree was so much different than its PC components that I was a bit frustrated that when I got a technology that I thought would give me a unit/building I wanted and it wasn't there. I remember being aghast at the fact that you had to research a technology to build a barracks. The advisers were a bit annoying and "childish" (for lack of a better word). While I'm sure they reduced the amount of time it takes to complete a game, Civilization IV did that as well. I can easily play a full space race game in about 5 or 6 hours. If you like the PC versions, I would caution against buying the console version until after you've tried the demo out first.

Matt P. gave it a7:
I don't get the fact that it is soooooo short. Just as you're getting into it and your civilization is flourishing the game ends. Each turn is 50 years for gods sake!!

Crunk P. gave it an8:
Overall I'm a fan of the Civilization series and I'm pretty happy with Civ Rev. While I'm impressed with the way they've managed to streamline controls for a console, there are still some minor things that bother me. The problem being, that when you play a game constantly, over and over, the minor things start to be major annoyances - like the music turning loud suddenly, leaders constantly asking you the same thing you've rejected for the last 100-200 turns (can there be a "yes," "no," and "never?") Why doesn't the magnifying glass give me any info about the terrain it's over? And I feel some concepts aren't explained well, for example, the first civ to research literacy gets a "+1 bonus to science production in all cities." Is that a one turn bonus? Is it ongoing? Do I get it even in cities that are producing gold? Nowhere does it fully explain what that means... But, again, I am a fan of the game, I'm just hoping they clean it up with a patch, or else I'm already waiting for Civ Rev 2 where the gameplay will be less buggy, hopefully. The game of the week is great too. I usually play it repeatedly throughout the week just because it's fun to see what you can do on a map that you're familiar with.

Gator B. gave it a9:
As a hard-core Civ 4 player, I was very skeptical of a console version. Amazingly, Sid Meier’s team comes through in spades! No, it doesn’t have the micro-management and options of the PC version, but as many people have noted, this isn’t a PC port. It accomplishes the key points, which is to bring the “fun” of a Civ game to a new audience without dumbing down the strategy. The controller scheme also works very well (after the RTS debacles of C&C 3 and LOTR 2, I didn’t have high expectations). I look forward to a multi-player match, but I’m having problems setting enough time aside (could take 3-5 hours). I am very glad that I own both versions of this excellent game.

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