Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords (2006)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 8 minutes read

Summary

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords (2006)

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords is the first expansion pack for the award-winning game that has become an instant world-wide hit. Paying homage to some of history’s greatest military leaders, the expansion delivers six unique and interesting scenarios, giving players the chance to change the course of history with the help of their new powerful “warlord” unit. Civ IV: Warlords includes new civilizations, leaders, units, and wonders that offer even more fun and exciting ways for players to expand their civilization’s military power as they strive for world domination.

New Features

  • Warlords: The expansion’s namesake feature is the new warlord unit. Warlords are powerful units that can be recruited by any civilization and can be used to lead armies, conquer cities, and raze enemy territory. Warlords gain experience as they fight, and can be promoted to higher ranks, giving them new abilities and bonuses.
  • Scenarios: Civ IV: Warlords includes eight new scenarios that offer players a variety of challenges and historical settings to play in. These scenarios include:
    • Alexander’s Conquests: Play as Alexander the Great and conquer the Persian Empire.
    • Fall of Rome: Play as the Roman Empire and defend against the barbarian invasions.
    • Rise of the Mongols: Play as Genghis Khan and conquer the vast Mongolian Empire.
    • The Peloponnesian War: Play as either Athens or Sparta and fight for control of ancient Greece.
    • The Viking Invasions: Play as the Vikings and raid and conquer the coasts of Europe.
    • The Hundred Years’ War: Play as either England or France and fight for control of the French throne.
    • The American Civil War: Play as either the Union or the Confederacy and fight for control of the United States.
    • The World War II Pacific Theater: Play as either the United States or Japan and fight for control of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Civilizations: Civ IV: Warlords adds six new civilizations to the game:
    • Carthage: Led by Hannibal, Carthage is a powerful maritime civilization with a strong military.
    • Ethiopia: Led by Haile Selassie, Ethiopia is a unique civilization with a strong emphasis on religion.
    • Indonesia: Led by Gajah Mada, Indonesia is a powerful naval civilization with a strong economy.
    • Korea: Led by Sejong the Great, Korea is a technologically advanced civilization with a strong military.
    • Netherlands: Led by William of Orange, the Netherlands is a powerful maritime civilization with a strong economy.
    • Portugal: Led by Afonso Henriques, Portugal is a powerful maritime civilization with a strong military.
  • Leaders: Civ IV: Warlords adds 10 new leaders to the game, including leaders for the new civilizations as well as additional leaders for existing civilizations. These leaders include:
    • Alexander the Great (Macedon)
    • Annibale Barca (Carthage)
    • Ashurbanipal (Assyria)
    • Boudica (Celts)
    • Catherine the Great (Russia)
    • Frederick the Great (Prussia)
    • Genghis Khan (Mongolia)
    • Haile Selassie (Ethiopia)
    • Justinian I (Byzantium)
    • Napoleon Bonaparte (France)
    • Tokugawa Ieyasu (Japan)
    • William the Conqueror (England)
  • Units: Civ IV: Warlords adds a number of new units to the game, including:
    • Warlord: A powerful unit that can be recruited by any civilization and can be used to lead armies, conquer cities, and raze enemy territory.
    • Catapult: A siege unit that can be used to attack city walls.
    • Chariot Archer: A fast-moving unit that can be used to attack enemy units from a distance.
    • Great General: A unique unit that can be recruited by any civilization and can be used to provide bonuses to nearby units.
    • Legion: A powerful infantry unit that can be used to conquer cities and defend against enemy attacks.
    • Musketman: A ranged unit that can be used to attack enemy units from a distance.
    • Pikeman: A defensive unit that can be used to protect cities and defend against enemy attacks.
    • Trebuchet: A powerful siege unit that can be used to attack city walls.
  • Wonders: Civ IV: Warlords adds a number of new wonders to the game, including:
    • The Great Wall of China: A defensive wonder that can be used to protect your civilization from invasion.
    • The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: A wonder that can be used to increase your civilization’s happiness.
    • The Pyramids: A wonder that can be used to increase your civilization’s production.
    • The Statue of Liberty: A wonder that can be used to increase your civilization’s culture.
    • The Sydney Opera House: A wonder that can be used to increase your civilization’s tourism.
    • The Taj Mahal: A wonder that can be used to increase your civilization’s happiness.

Gameplay

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords is a turn-based strategy game in which players control a civilization and attempt to build the greatest empire in the world. Players can choose to play as one of 32 different civilizations, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Players start the game with a single city and a few units, and must expand their empire by conquering new cities, building new wonders, and developing new technologies.

Players can win the game by achieving one of several victory conditions, including:

  • Conquest: Conquer all of the other civilizations in the game.
  • Domination: Control 60% of the game’s landmass.
  • Cultural: Convert all of the other civilizations in the game to your own culture.
  • Scientific: Be the first civilization to research all of the game’s technologies.
  • Diplomatic: Be the first civilization to build the United Nations.

Reception

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords was released to critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising the expansion’s new features, scenarios, and civilizations. The expansion was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.

Conclusion

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords is an excellent expansion pack that adds a lot of new content and features to the original game. The expansion’s new scenarios, civilizations, and units offer players a lot of new ways to play the game, and the new warlord unit is a particularly welcome addition. If you’re a fan of Civilization IV, then Warlords is definitely worth checking out.

Review Score

9/10

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Christopher has carved a niche for himself as an authority on retro pre-2000 computer games. With a passion that borders on reverence, Christopher delves deep into the pixelated past of gaming, unearthing gems and sharing insights that resonate with both nostalgic players and curious newcomers. His articles serve as a time machine, transporting readers back to an era where gameplay and creativity often trumped graphical fidelity. Cristopher's expertise isn't just in cataloging these classics; he analyzes their design, the context of their creation, and their impact on the gaming landscape, offering a comprehensive look at the evolution of digital entertainment. Beyond mere retrospectives, Christopher champions the relevance of these retro games in today's high-definition world. He skillfully draws parallels between the foundational mechanics of yesteryear's titles and the modern gaming innovations they inspired. His work goes beyond mere preservation; it's an ongoing dialogue between the past and present of gaming. Christopher's content educates, entertains, and ignites discussions within the gaming community. His dedication not only keeps the legacy of pre-2000 games alive but also highlights their importance in shaping the future of video gaming.

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