Since the establishment of the company Sid Meier's Civilization The franchise is one of the biggest names in 4X gaming. With six different main games and several spin-offs, Firaxis continues to offer players exciting adventures through history. by this upcoming game Sid Meier's Civilization 7 It is one of the biggest names to date. due to success It is easy to understand why other studios to want to provide a similar experience to their own And Oxide Games has done just that. Ara: Untold History–
Announced back in 2022 Ara: Untold History Following in the footsteps of Sid Meier's Civilization franchise by allowing players to create their own paths throughout history. They embrace civilization again. Guide it through the ages and hope to make their mark on the world before they are exterminated. But while the main gameplay loop can be fun, Ara: Untold History So close that there are only so many desired things left.
Ara: History Untold's gameplay can be exciting.
Everyone has played. Sid Meier's Civilization You should know what to expect. Ara: Untold HistoryThe main gameplay concerns Before the game can start Players must choose their country. There are over 40 real world countries to choose from. Each leader has different advantages and disadvantages. Each has three different looks to choose from. Once players find something that suits their play style They can manipulate the settings to create their own experience before jumping into the world of Ara: Untold History–
One time Ara: Untold History To start, players are given a starting city and must build it from there. They had to train scouts to survey their surroundings. Start construction of useful buildings within the city. and began research for the first time Then they press the next turn button, sit back, and wait until the current project is finished. And when they're done They did it again.
As players progress in the game They will encounter civilizations, tribes, and other dangerous creatures roaming the land. If they want to survive in this world They must do their best to keep their neighbors friendly. Or prepare for brutal war and destruction. Additionally, they must be careful not to fall behind in the technology tree, or else they risk disappearing from the outside world forever.
Even though this gameplay loop isn't much different from what's come before, But it's still extremely satisfying. Ara: Untold History– It feels like Oxide Games understands what makes a game what it is. Sid Meier's Civilization Tick chose not to change too much. As already said There are some unique mechanics that keep everything looking fresh. But sometimes it can be a bit frustrating.
Ara: Untold History injects some interesting mechanics into the cities.
One of the biggest changes of Ara: Untold History It's how cities grow, rather than waiting for cities to claim hexes on their own. When the city increases in level The player will be prompted to claim a new piece of land. Each surrounding plot has both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, players will want to plan accordingly to ensure that their city has everything it needs. Then, after claiming the territory, They were able to create various improvements. to help their civilization flourish
These improvements come in the form of different buildings. And because there is no creator here This is where players build things like farms or mines. Additionally, these buildings not only provide background bonuses, but also provide additional bonuses. Instead, they require players to create resources, similar to something like Anno set. These resources can help give bonuses to cities if used as amenities. Or it may be required as part of a construction project.
However, the sky is not the limit when it comes to these buildings. In fact Each plot of land has a predetermined number of buildings that can be built within it, so players will want to make sure they use their plot wisely. Because when the channel is full They will have to demolish some improvements or wait for the city to level up again. And if they want to win the game. They had to set aside an entire area just for it.
In addition, as the city levels up, It will also unlock some experts from time to time. These specialists can be applied to certain buildings. By giving them bonuses such as faster production or more food. Other than that, there wasn't much else to these experts. But their presence gives the city a bit more functionality. Which is nice to see.
Although all this makes the city a little more lively. This is because artisans are always creating products and things need to be managed. This is one of them. Ara: Untold HistoryIssues come into play. It might be a 4X game, but it can sometimes become overwhelming at times because there's just too much going on. Especially when the player has multiple cities. The whole thing isn't helped by the fact that the UI is often boring to navigate. Where it is not clear how to search for something And after a while Players may feel tired of things. There's so much they have to juggle.
Ara: The action and era of History Untold is a unique twist.
like very much Sid Meier's Civilization– Ara: Untold History There is also a great deal of emphasis on researching new technology. This research gives players new things. more in developing their civilization and as they progress through the ages They will unlock even more exciting technology. But even that is not different from what has happened before. But the way these technological eras work feels incredibly unique.
When players create things, research technology. and participate in various actions, they will earn Prestige Points. These Prestige Points will be earned throughout Ara: Untold HistoryEach civilization's three main actions are displayed on the scoreboard. As the action progresses Civilizations are divided into three different levels depending on how many points they have. The top three levels are safe. But if the bottom layer isn't careful when the action ends. Those countries will be eliminated. That means there's a constant race to make sure players have enough Prestige Points, or the world might go on without them.
When a certain number of civilizations reached a certain technological age. Ara: Untold History A countdown will begin until the current action ends, so if the player is close to the end of the current tech tree, They can skip ahead if they want. They will lose many bonuses. But if that's the only way to survive It is what they have to do. Fortunately, some future technologies will include those bonuses. But some may be lost forever. This makes for an interesting research system, however it can also be a bit harsh. This is because players spend more time accumulating fame than actually finding their way through history.
Ara: Untold history isn't just a great genre.
Not only is the UI cumbersome and the systems The game's feel was a little overwhelming. But there are a few other aspects that make Ara: Untold History Down. For beginners. The game's wars are quite boring. Most focus on capturing or defending a single city. This means that players won't get the large 4X wars they want. This is especially true when units have no 3D models unless the player specifically chooses to watch the battle. Instead, they send giant icons showing unit types along with numbers to attack the other side. The battle ends quickly before it even begins.
Additionally, there are hardly any options for diplomacy, the random missions just don't feel worthwhile. And it's not always clear what players should focus on. Although it does offer strategic thrills. But all of this is preventing it from becoming another thing that matters with future DLC and updates. There may be an opportunity to correct its weaknesses. But aside from a few minor improvements, It feels like it's missing something to really make it worth the price of admission.
Final score: 6/10
