Summary
Civilizationhas always been a complex strategy series with a focus on in-depth and historically accurate conflicts, but the franchise could improve by adding some more outside-the-box fantasy elements inCivilization 7. As the series moves forward, withCivilization 7hopefully setting a new standardfor the 4X strategy genre, the sky is the limit when it comes to providing players with the tools needed to create experimental and enjoyable gameplay scenarios.
While few would call theCivilizationfranchise historically accurate–players can force Gandhi to send nuclear missiles to his enemies if they want–it is still mostly grounded in reality. The games center on fictionalized, player-orchestrated scenarios between real-life leaders and societies, which means that, while the conflicts aren’t based in reality, the characters, social customs, and institutions of the game very much are. This is a major part of the appeal of these games, but ifCivilization 7is going to shake things up, it would do well to tweak the series' formula by adding the option to engage with and explore mythological aspects of various societies.
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Why Civilization 7 & Fantasy Would Be a Surprisingly Good Match
TheCivilizationfranchise is one that focuses heavily on the cultures of the societies players can take control of. Just about every culture has some form of mythology behind it, and the next game in the series could leverage this mythology to produce truly unique and thrilling playthroughs. InCivilization 7,implementing these mythological aspects could have a major positive impact on warfare, trade, and more.
For example, leaders of Scandinavian civilizations could invoke the power of gods like Thor during warfare, leveraging powerful lighting attacks against their enemies. This would be amajor change for theCivilizationfranchise, but it would fit with the cultural background of the various leaders in the game, allowing them to make use of the powerful mythological beings of their culture’s history. This wouldn’t have to be limited to the battlefield, either. Continuing the Scandinavian example, players could unlock abilities along the lines of Odin’s all-seeing ravens, which could serve as powered-up versions of spies in classicCivilizationgames.
BecauseCivilizationallows players to choose which religion their society follows, these fantasy elements wouldn’t need to be strictly tied to real-world history. Players controlling a United States civilization could follow pagan beliefs and get the according abilities, or an Indian civilization could follow Greek mythology. IfCivilization 7focuses on ancient societies, then the potential for this system could be even greater.
Mythological & Fantasy Elements in Civilization 7 Should be Restricted to Specific Game Modes
Of course, there are a number of complications that would arise from the implementation of this system. Assuming that these fantasy mechanics would be optional, it would give players an unfair advantage over civilizations that chose to go a more traditional route, potentially trivializing the game or leading to frustrating multiplayer experiences. If the mythological and fantasy mechanics were not optional, they could makeCivilization 7stand out from the rest of the franchise in a negative way.
With those issues in mind, it would be best for these features to be restricted to an alternate game mode. This mode could serve as aspin-off of traditionalCivilization, giving players the chance to experiment with more out-there mechanics and choices in a sort of “God Mode” setting. By relegating these fantasy elements and powers to a unique mode,Civilization 7could provide a fun alternative option while still maintaining the series' identity.
There are other hurdles this system would have to overcome as well. If it were to follow the mythologies of various cultures, it could be tricky to navigate; boiling down real-world spirituality to gameplay mechanics could be harmful and hurtful to many people, even if certain mythological pantheons have been considered to be more or less fair game in the world of video games. Handled deftly and sensitively, though, these elements couldexpand the civilization abilities ofCivilization 7, while introducing a memorable and interesting way to engage with the game.
