Sid Meier's Civilization V [Download]

by 2K Games

Product Details

• Downloading: Currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address.
• Note: Gifting is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B004774IPU
• Release Date: September 21, 2010
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,122 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #861 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #1 in Video Games > PC Games > Games > Strategy > Turn-Based
  • #5 in Video Games > Digital Games > PC Game Downloads > Strategy

Product Description

Platform: PC Download | Edition: Standard

From the Manufacturer

Sid Meier's Civilization V is the fifth offering in the multi-award winning Civilization turn-based PC strategy game series. As with earlier installments in the series, Civilization V features the famous "just one more turn" addictive gameplay that has made it one of the greatest game series of all time. In addition to this it also features improved diplomacy, unprecedented modding tools and functionality, new ranged combat over a hex oriented board rather than squares, an in-game community hub facilitating improved online play and more.

18 civilizations to choose from.
View larger.

Now fire from behind enemy lines.
View larger.

New hex oriented expansion tiles.
View larger.

Diplomacy and large-scale battles.
View larger.

Familiar deep advice system.
View larger.

A Legendary Franchise Reborn

With over nine million units sold worldwide, and unprecedented critical acclaim from fans and press around the world, Sid Meier's Civilization is recognized as one of the greatest strategy franchises of all-time. Now, Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive strategy game to unprecedented heights by adding new ways to play and win; new tools to manage and expand your civilization; extensive modding capabilities; and intensely competitive multiplayer options. Civilization V comes to life in a beautifully detailed, living world that will elevate the gameplay experience to a whole new level making it a must-have for gamers around the globe. In Civilization V, players strive to become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age, waging war, conducting diplomacy, discovering new technologies, going head-to-head with some of history's greatest leaders and building the most powerful empire the world has ever known.

Playable Civilizations

Civilization V features 18 playable civilizations chosen from every corner of the globe and from pivotal points in history. Each of these features a charismatic and historic leader who speaks in his/her native tongue, while their forces possess special abilities and units. The culture of each civilization will evolve, with players unlocking and adopting social policies over time, which bring benefits and improvements appropriate to the stage of civilization achieved to that point. Playable civilizations include:

America Arabia Aztec

China Egypt England

France Germany Greece

India Iroquois Japan

Ottoman Persia Rome

Russia Siam Songhai

Key Game Features

• Believable World - More than just a strategy game -- the expanded visuals and immersive audio invite would-be kings to take up the reigns of power and forge a mighty empire. Civilization V offers a limitless variety of vast, realistic and diverse landscapes for players to explore, battle over and claim as their own.
• Inviting Presentation - An intuitive interface eases both new players and Civ veterans into the game. Guided by a set of trusted advisors who will explain game functionality and provide counsel for significant decisions, even first-time players will be confident in the choices they make.
• Huge Battles - Combat is more exciting and engaging than ever before. Wars between empires feel massive with armies spreading across the landscape. The addition of ranged bombardment allows players to fire weapons from behind the front lines, challenging players to develop clever new strategies to guarantee victory on the battlefield.
• Live History - Write your own epic story each time you play. Choose one of eighteen historical civilizations to lead from the stone-age to the space age on your quest to build the world's most powerful empire.
• Improved Diplomacy - Negotiate with some of history's most cunning rulers, each with a well-crafted plan for victory. Successful diplomacy will depend on players carefully managing relationships with other leaders, trading items and land, plying them with gold, and deciding if they are friend or foe. City States will present a new diplomatic battleground on which the major powers of the world will vie for supremacy.
• In-Game Community Hub - Compete with Civ players from all over the globe via the Internet, offering endless ways to rule the world. The game itself now serves as the hub of community activity, featuring the ability to share scenarios, compare scores, brag about achievements and visit one of the thriving Civ fansites without leaving the game. It's now easier than ever for players to become involved in the global Civ Community.
• Modability - With unprecedented modding tools, players will have unlimited options for modifying Civilization V any way they like.
• New Hex-Oriented Play Spaces - New play area orientation into hex spaces, rather than traditional squares, offers new challenges in game area exploration and expansion.

System Requirements

	Minimum:	Recommended:
OS:	Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/ Windows 7	Windows Vista SP2/ Windows 7
Processor:	Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz	1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU
RAM:	2 GB RAM	4 GB RAM
Hard Drive:	8 GB or more
Video Card:	256 MB ATI HD2600 XT or better, 256 MB nVidia 7900 GS or better, or Core i3 or better integrated graphics	512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better
Sound Card:	DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX:	DirectX version 9.0c	DirectX version 11
Other Requirements:	Initial installation requires one-time Internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries and Microsoft DirectX.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1,958 of 2,093 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Like watching paint dry... October 16, 2010

By CentauriPrime

Platform for Display:PC|Edition:Standard

Fun: 2.0 out of 5 stars   

Just to give this review some perspective, I've been playing the various iterations of Civ for a very, very long time. I remember playing the original like it was yesterday. Beavis and Butthead on the TV, Nirvana on the radio, and me on my Packard Bell. I spent hours in my mom's basement, wasting away from rickets while the normal kids were soaking up the sunlight, going out on dates, playing sports, and leading generally normal, productive lives. Civ 1 really messed up my life...but in a completely awesome way.

I mean, I couldn't get enough. Doubly so with Civ 2. The things you could do with that game. It had...personality. I remember little stuff, like the different architectural styles, that gave the game such an immersive quality. I remember how every time I played, the world had its own story, and how things would seem to take on a life of their own. The endless war with the Mongols, my alliance with the Germans, butting heads with Caesar. I learned more about history there than I ever did in school. It was fantastic. I didn't even play to win most of the time. I was a fifteen year-old kid in a sandbox.

I got older, and Civ grew with me. I spend endless hours on 3 and 4, balancing game commitments and my real life. When Civ 5 was announced, I didn't hesitate. I bought it immediately.

In short, it didn't take me long before I realized that this new Civ was nothing like the Civ of old. I've never played Revolutions, but I've heard there is a lot of overlap. I don't know. What I do know is that this game is boring. Really, really boring. Never have I clicked the "next turn" button like I have here. Maybe it's because it takes forever to build anything...so long, in fact, that it's easier just to hoard gold and buy things.... Maybe it's because expansion and/or conquest isn't really encouraged. The seemingly massive happiness hit just makes it unreasonable. So I sit there, just watching the world slowly go by.

And how slow it is...the loading screen between turns has become my nemesis. I've turned the "superb" graphics down to their lowest setting, just to speed things up, and to keep things from jumping from one side of the world to the other every time I scroll my mouse. Just to be clear, I have a computer that can run all the latest shooters, yet cannot run a turn-based strategy game aimed at a mass audience.

The AI is dumb and unfinished. If my dog had fingers, he could win on prince at least. I don't consider myself the smartest strategist, but I have never lost a war in Civ 5. Ever. I started on warlord, then prince, then king. Onward and upward I went, until I quickly realized that the AI wasn't getting smarter. It was just cheating. This was acceptable 15 years ago, not now.

Why is Gandhi determined to kill me? After 2000 years of good relations, he wants to kill me. Not a biggie, mind you, because all he does is park archers next to my swordsmen, where I can promptly slaughter them. After I defeat his army (without taking any cities), he offers me all of his resources, all of his gold, and all of his cities (except for his capital, of course). He just gives up. I take him up on his offer, because I am obviously smarter than him. But that means my happiness tanks, my production stops, and my steady income stream is now in the red. Whatever. I still have 3 swordsmen and 2 archers. I can conquer the world with that. Screw culture.

Did I mention the music? Man, it's boring. No more period specific soundtrack, tribal or classical. Just the turn-based equivalent of elevator music. I'm sure the graphics are the bees-knees, but with me playing on the lowest graphics setting, I will never know. City-states, which were made out to be a big deal, are not. They ask for stuff, you give it to them (or not). They give you stuff (or not). That is the extent of the city-state strategy. Boring.

Actually, the city-state thing reminds me of a problem I have that extends beyond the poor quality of this game. Professional reviews. Why did every professional game review outlet give Civ 5 high marks. 9/10. A+. Really? Every review I've seen has been the same. "It has hexes!" "It has city-states!" "One unit per tile!" "Ranged combat!" "Beautiful graphics!" I even saw reviews gushing over how cool the opening sequence was (you know, the one you can't skip).

For one, I am tired of seeing the old man in the hut every time I load up. I find it oddly fishy that no "professional" reviewer has brought up the bugginess; the fact that you need an internet connection; the fact that you need Steam; the fact that the AI stinks; etc, etc, etc. Just hexes and city-states. Either they were told to write a good review by the "powers that be," or they spent a total of 3 hours playing before writing their reviews. Either way, I will never trust a professional review source ever again.

I gave this game 2 stars, because I believe it still has the potential to be good. After a few expansions, some mods, a Rhys and Fall, a Fall From Heaven. Yeah, it could be good. I've played around 60 hours, and still see a spark of genius here. But it will take an awful lot of work. Right now, it's like watching paint dry. Read more ›

706 of 760 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars One step forward, two steps back September 27, 2010

By Torger

Platform for Display:PC|Edition:Standard

Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

As a longtime fan of the series, I unfortunately have to say that Civ5 has been vastly overrated by professional reviewers. That's probably because the game looks great and the real flaws don't start to show up until after a few hours of play.

There are certain things I really like about this game. City states were a great addition and make the game a lot more interesting. Being able to purchase land is awesome and realistic. Easier rushbuying is a lot of fun and doesn't unbalance the game.

The new combat system is pretty goofy (for example, archers are a ranged unit but riflemen are not). It's a bit more fun than the old "stacks of doom," but I see reviewers praising the new combat system as "more streamlined" when it is definitely not. Moving an old stack of doom required 2 clicks (click on SOD, click on destination). Now you need to do the same thing 5-10 times as much to move an army.

The new Civic talent tree offers more customization of specific traits, which is fun to plan around. However you can't swap civics to match a change in strategy in-game (eg. teching up at the beginning of the game and then turning to a warlike theocracy once you realize you're likely to lose the space race). This is disappointing. Overall, when Civ5's civics are compared to Civ4 its a wash.

In-between-turn load times suck. On a normal size map in the modern age, I was sitting and watching the hourglass for an average of 15 seconds in between each turn--even when I wasn't watching animations of enemy moves. I'd blame my computer but it runs pretty much every other game at high settings without a hint of a problem.

Music is poor, particularly the asian themed music which sounds like a bad parody of its genre....

It's hard to believe they wasted time animating leaders and making them talk in their own languages. It doesn't add anything to the game and some of their voices (Queen Elizabeth) actually detract from it by being annoying.

The lack of science/gold/culture sliders takes away a lot of customization potential that was fun to tinker with in previous Civ games. This became painfully apparent when going for a cultural victory. A cultural victory doesn't require the last 25% of the tech tree, but you can't stop researching until you run out of money. And in the meantime, because you're still researching new tech, your puppet states are building more and more new buildings and costing you more money. And when you run out of money you can't do a LOT of things, like rush-build or more importantly buy luxury resources and establish good relations with city states that provide culture. Basically you lose the ability to do the things that make the game fun. This is especially frustrating when it have been so easily solved with the old-school sliders, which were never that difficult to manage in the first place.

Civ5 reminds me of Civ3, in that it attempts to add a couple of new game concepts and surprisingly flops at aspects in which its predecessor excelled. Overall, it's an interesting but ultimately flawed game that doesn't hold a candle to its predecessor and will most likely be remembered as one of the weaker chapters of a great series. Read more ›

107 of 121 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars it's so painful to be this disappointed with a great series.... November 9, 2010

By Aaron Fineshriber

Platform for Display:PC| Edition:Standard|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 2.0 out of 5 stars   

i'm just stunned, really.

i've played probably 30 hours of civ5 now, and i keep thinking, "maybe i'll like it more as i learn more about it." or sometimes i think, "i'm just not used to it, once i get in the groove it'll be great."

but you know what? i don't like it, and it's not getting any better.

listen to all the reviews here (aside from the complaining about Steam) - the hexes ARE cool, and ranged units are a good introduction. the graphics are pretty, mostly, minus the mini-map which is cartoonish sadly. but all of this is totally obviated by the complete console-ization of this game.

it's clearly made to look, feel and act like a console game - it's like Sid stared at console games, read some article about how console gaming is getting bigger and bigger and decided he'd try to capture that market as well. and in trying to make this pc/console hybrid, he's managed to produce a civ2/call to power 2 - a version of a great franchise that people would just assume didn't ever happen.

there are good ideas here, i don't mean to say it's all bad. but it's just so obvious to me that they'd have had a complete winner if they just cleaned up civ4 a bit, added the hexes and new battle stuff and introduced the new ideas in a less destructive manner and stayed true to the platform that makes this game what it is. and i can't figure out why this didn't occur to them as well through the very long dev process. surely *somebody* raised a hand and said "this is kinda not what this game has ever been. should we think about this?"

one of the other reviewers made this point, and they are right: why is it that each and every gaming site gave this such immensely high ratings, when nearly everyone else who's playing it seems to think quite the opposite?... was each reviewer SO taken with hexes that they just couldn't keep focused? did they just not play that long?

in the end, i guess i'm just disappointed this game isn't what it should have been. it's not the revolution the series needed and i have great hopes that the next step in Civ is already underway and that i can find enough in civ5 to wait the 5+ years until the next try. or that i can't make my peace with playing civ4 instead and skipping this altogether. i can't play minecraft instead forever :)

try it at your friend's house first, or just skip it. you'll save the [...] bucks extra they're charging now, and the [...] bucks they want for new civs, another silly change to an unbroken model. Read more ›