Sid Meier’s Civilization Beyond Earth – Rising Tide

amazon Sid Meier’s Civilization Beyond Earth – Rising Tide reviews

Background and Context

Civilization: Beyond Earth was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed “Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri” and as a futuristic reimagining of the traditional “Civilization” formula. Set in a distant future where humanity has colonized an alien planet, the game departs from the historical settings of its predecessors, instead focusing on speculative science fiction themes. While “Beyond Earth” introduced players to a new world filled with advanced technologies, alien life forms, and the promise of shaping a new civilization, it was met with mixed reviews. Critics and players alike praised the game’s ambition but often criticized it for lacking the depth and polish of earlier “Civilization” titles.

“Rising Tide,” released in October 2015, aimed to address many of the criticisms levied against “Beyond Earth” by expanding the game’s scope, refining its mechanics, and introducing new features. The expansion pack promised to elevate the base game’s experience by adding aquatic gameplay, enhancing diplomacy, and offering more strategic choices. However, the question remained: could “Rising Tide” fulfill its promise and deliver a compelling experience that lived up to the legacy of the “Civilization” series?

Gameplay Mechanics and Features

Aquatic Gameplay

One of the most significant additions in “Rising Tide” is the introduction of aquatic gameplay, which fundamentally changes how players interact with the game’s world. In the base game, oceans and seas were primarily obstacles or barriers to expansion, with limited utility. “Rising Tide” transforms these vast bodies of water into viable and strategic territories for expansion and development.

Players can now establish aquatic cities, which float on the ocean’s surface and can be moved to different locations. This mobility introduces a new layer of strategic depth, allowing players to adapt their city placements based on resource availability, proximity to enemies, or environmental factors. Aquatic cities can exploit oceanic resources, such as geothermal vents and coral reefs, which provide unique benefits and opportunities for growth.

The addition of aquatic gameplay also comes with a host of new units, technologies, and buildings tailored to life on the ocean. Naval units, which were somewhat underutilized in the base game, now play a central role in both exploration and combat. The game’s tech tree has been expanded to include advancements that enhance aquatic cities and units, further encouraging players to embrace the new gameplay possibilities.

Enhanced Diplomacy System

Diplomacy has always been a crucial aspect of the “Civilization” series, and “Rising Tide” introduces a more nuanced and dynamic system designed to reflect the complexities of inter-civilization relationships. The new diplomacy system is centered around the concept of diplomatic capital, a resource that players can use to influence other civilizations, negotiate deals, and improve their standing in the global community.

One of the key features of the enhanced diplomacy system is the ability to establish dynamic traits. Each leader has a set of traits that evolve over time based on their actions, decisions, and interactions with other civilizations. These traits not only define a leader’s personality and behavior but also provide gameplay bonuses. Players can change their traits by spending diplomatic capital, allowing them to adapt their strategy based on the changing political landscape.

The new diplomatic system also introduces the concept of favors, which can be exchanged between civilizations as a form of currency. Favors can be used to secure future support in diplomatic negotiations or to call in favors when needed. This adds a layer of long-term strategy to diplomacy, as players must consider the implications of their actions and alliances over time.

While the enhanced diplomacy system adds depth and variety to the game, it is not without its flaws. Some players have found the system to be overly complex or difficult to navigate, particularly in the late game when managing multiple alliances and rivalries can become overwhelming. Additionally, the AI’s behavior in diplomatic interactions can sometimes feel inconsistent or illogical, detracting from the overall experience.

Affinity System Overhaul

The affinity system, which represents the philosophical and ideological paths that civilizations can follow, is another area that receives significant attention in “Rising Tide.” In the base game, players could choose from three primary affinities: Harmony, Purity, and Supremacy. Each affinity offered a distinct approach to technology, society, and interaction with the alien planet, with unique units, buildings, and bonuses associated with each path.

“Rising Tide” expands on this system by allowing players to pursue hybrid affinities, combining elements of two different ideologies. This hybridization offers greater flexibility in how players develop their civilizations, enabling more diverse strategies and playstyles. For example, a player might choose to blend the eco-friendly, alien-integrating approach of Harmony with the advanced technology and militarism of Supremacy, creating a civilization that values both coexistence with alien life and technological superiority.

The introduction of hybrid affinities also impacts the game’s tech tree, which has been restructured to accommodate the new possibilities. Players can now unlock hybrid units and upgrades that combine the strengths of different affinities, offering new tactical options in both combat and city development.

While the affinity system overhaul adds depth and replayability to “Rising Tide,” it also presents some balancing challenges. Some hybrid combinations can feel overpowered or underdeveloped, leading to imbalances in gameplay. Additionally, the progression of affinities can sometimes feel disjointed, with players struggling to achieve a coherent strategy that aligns with their chosen hybrid path.

World-Building and Narrative

Environmental Design and Alien Ecosystems

“Rising Tide” continues the strong environmental design seen in “Beyond Earth,” with the expansion pack offering even more diverse and visually striking landscapes. The addition of aquatic cities and naval units brings the oceanic environments to life, with rich underwater ecosystems and vibrant coral reefs adding depth to the world. The alien creatures that inhabit the planet are also expanded, with new species introduced to challenge and interact with players.

The environmental storytelling in “Rising Tide” is enhanced by the inclusion of new biomes and map types, which offer different challenges and opportunities. From icy polar regions to tropical archipelagos, the game’s environments are not only visually distinct but also have a direct impact on gameplay. For example, some biomes may be rich in resources but difficult to navigate, while others might be strategically advantageous but offer fewer natural benefits.

The interaction between human civilizations and the alien ecosystem remains a central theme in “Rising Tide.” Players must balance the exploitation of resources with the need to coexist with—or dominate—the planet’s native life forms. This tension is reflected in the game’s narrative and mechanics, as players must make decisions that impact the environment, their relationship with alien species, and the overall health of their civilization.

Storytelling and Narrative Choices

While “Rising Tide” does not feature a traditional linear narrative, it offers players the opportunity to craft their own stories through gameplay. The choices players make, from their affinity path to their diplomatic relationships, shape the narrative arc of their civilization. The game’s quests and events offer additional opportunities for storytelling, with players faced with moral and strategic decisions that have long-term consequences.

The expansion pack also introduces new narrative elements, including faction leaders with more distinct personalities and backstories. These leaders are more than just AI opponents; they represent different philosophies and approaches to colonizing the new world, adding depth to the game’s political landscape. The interactions between these leaders, whether through diplomacy, warfare, or trade, contribute to the emergent storytelling that is a hallmark of the “Civilization” series.

However, the narrative experience in “Rising Tide” is not without its shortcomings. Some players have criticized the game for lacking a cohesive overarching story or for failing to fully explore the implications of the choices presented. While the emergent storytelling is compelling, it can sometimes feel disjointed or incomplete, particularly in longer playthroughs where the focus shifts more towards gameplay mechanics than narrative development.

Graphics and Sound Design

Visual Presentation

“Rising Tide” continues the visual style established in “Beyond Earth,” with a focus on futuristic aesthetics and alien landscapes. The game’s graphics are vibrant and detailed, with the new aquatic environments adding a fresh visual dimension to the world. The floating cities, in particular, are a highlight, with their sleek, futuristic designs and dynamic movement across the ocean’s surface.

The alien creatures and environments are well-designed, with a variety of species and biomes that feel both otherworldly and believable. The game’s use of color and lighting is effective in creating distinct atmospheres for different regions of the map, from the eerie glow of bioluminescent plants to the harsh, icy landscapes of the polar regions.

While the overall visual presentation is strong, “Rising Tide” does have some graphical limitations. The game’s engine, while capable, is starting to show its age, with some textures and animations feeling outdated compared to more recent titles. Additionally, the game’s performance can be inconsistent, particularly in the late game when the map is filled with units, cities, and environmental effects.

Audio Design and Music

The audio design in “Rising Tide” complements the game’s futuristic setting, with a soundtrack that blends orchestral and electronic elements to create a sense of grandeur and otherworldliness. The music is atmospheric and dynamic, shifting in tone and intensity based on the circumstances of the game, such as exploration, diplomacy, or warfare. Composer Geoff Knorr, who worked on the original “Beyond Earth” soundtrack, returns with new compositions that enrich the overall experience. The soundtrack successfully conveys the feeling of venturing into the unknown and the excitement of building a new world.

The sound effects in “Rising Tide” are equally well-crafted. From the hum of futuristic technologies to the calls of alien creatures, the audio environment helps to immerse players in the game’s world. The sounds associated with different actions—whether it’s the construction of a new building, the deployment of a unit, or the initiation of combat—are satisfying and contribute to the overall feedback loop that makes the game engaging.

Voice acting in “Rising Tide” is limited, but the brief voiceovers for faction leaders and certain events add a touch of personality to the game. These voiceovers are well-performed and help to establish the character of the various leaders, making diplomatic interactions feel more meaningful. However, given the game’s emphasis on emergent gameplay rather than a scripted narrative, voice acting plays a secondary role to the other aspects of audio design.

If you’ve ever been interested in deep-sea-based games like Submarine Titan or Anno 2070, the Rising Tide expansion of Sid Meier’s Civilizations: Beyond Earth will also give you the inspiration of similar contact. When people began to reach out to dominate the oceans, the traditional gameplay of the game series was radically changed.

Taking over the ocean means that you will no longer protect the borders of nature. The units can operate quite freely on every “corner” of the map, even the worker units (workers) can “go out” to build works on the sea, exploit the resources or simply create travel routes.

The units at sea became stronger, able to penetrate deeper into the enemy’s territory with a fairly “strong” blood level, strong attack power, enough to pave the way for infantry units to take over. This makes the gameplay “Domination” fierce and difficult when the battlefield exists everywhere.

In Rising Tide, you will also encounter many alien “sea monsters” units, including some special creatures that can be tamed to create “powerful fighters”, such as the monster Kraken can duel. Paired with the three old Cruisers. Like in the old version, you absolutely can choose to develop a military using humans Purity or “exploit” these powerful native monsters to strengthen your navy.

A few new constructions are also “added” to Rising Tide, bringing with them some new abilities that also have a certain impact on the player’s tactics when bringing both positive and negative effects compared to the original version. For example, the defense systems at sea make cities more “strength” with the ability to travel short distances and huge production capacity.

These new elements bring a new wind to Rising Tide, creating new challenges as well as new feelings for those who are too “similar” with land-dependent gameplay as in the original version.

Unlike previous versions that only allowed players to depend on a nation, a certain leader with traits with certain advantages, Sid Meier’s Civilizations: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide gives players the ability to customize these personalities thanks to the “diplomacy” point.

With dozens of new “bonus” divided into three main groups: Science, Military and Economy, players can completely develop according to their plans. not dependent on the “personalities” predefined in the game. If there are reasonable plans and options, the development of these “bonus” points can give the player a strong acceleration compared to other opponents in Rising Tide.

With so many “new” things like that, players have to “get acquainted” almost entirely in Rising Tide to be able to make the most appropriate and strategic development directions. However, AI (Artificial Intelligence) only stops at the old version, so the game seems… easier, even though the player chooses the highest difficulty.

The strength of the units was also not balanced, making the “battle” much more difficult than in previous versions if you were mistaken for a few technical upgrades that were already very troublesome in the original version. Besides, the number and types of “personalities” also contribute to complicating the game, making Rising Tide “difficult” for “new fans” of the series.

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Conclusion

“Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide” is an expansion that ambitiously seeks to elevate its base game by introducing new mechanics, refining existing systems, and expanding the possibilities for players. The addition of aquatic gameplay, the overhaul of the diplomacy system, and the introduction of hybrid affinities all contribute to a richer and more varied experience that addresses some of the criticisms of “Beyond Earth.”

While “Rising Tide” succeeds in many areas, it is not without its flaws. The complexity of the new systems can be daunting, and the game’s narrative depth may still fall short for players looking for a more cohesive story. Additionally, the balancing of the new mechanics, particularly the hybrid affinities, can sometimes feel uneven.

Despite these challenges, “Rising Tide” offers a unique and compelling experience for players who are willing to embrace its futuristic setting and complex gameplay. It stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the “Civilization” series and the willingness of its developers to explore new frontiers, even if the results are not always universally acclaimed. For fans of “Civilization” who are looking for something different, “Rising Tide” is a worthy addition to the series, offering both familiar strategic depth and new opportunities for exploration and discovery.