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Super Mario, Civ IV, Katamari Hands-On Impressions
The first day of the E3 show is netting hands-on impressions of some of the most anticipated games of the upcoming year. 1up.com is offering up impressions for the New Super Mario Bros. title for the DS, and We Love Katamari for the PS2. Gamespot has a hands on with the upcoming Firaxis/2K title Civilization IV. Feel the Sid Meier love. From the article: "Civ 4 will finally update the series to a 3D engine. Firaxis is using an updated version of the Gamebryo engine that was used in last year's Sid Meier's Pirates. And yes, the early screens looked a bit muddled, but the game looks a lot cleaner and more beautiful now and in person. You can zoom out and see the entire world (presented as a rotating globe) and see continents, mountain ranges, and forests."
But I'm always a bit concerned when they say they're going to 3D... 3D can be really good, IF ITS DONE WELL. Case and point is Lords of the Realm II vs III. I prefer the second one, even with all it's problems, over III because it has, imho, a really bad 3d engine interface. For some things 2D does, in fact, work BETTER (I prefer SMB3 vs Super Mario 64 or Sunshine, but I digress)
:P
The rest sounds really cool, and I trust they won't screw over a beloved franchise like Civ... but... I'll reserve judgement when it's released. If I have to constantly change the camera because the Pyramids are blocking me from seeing the invading army all the time I'll be pissed
Is anyone else wishing we would see something new?
If they're fun to play, who gives a crap?
Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
I don't see how a 3D engine will help Civ. Unless they change the gameplay significantly I can only imagine it will detract from the game. For a turn based strategy game like Civ you need to be able to assess the board as a whole easily, this is best done with flat 2D, unless of course the 3D aspects of the terrain become that much more important.