Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

Firaxis Games · Jul 23, 2007

Everyone10+

About

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Civilization IV. The expansion focuses on the late-game time periods after the invention of gunpowder and includes 12 different scenarios, ten new civilizations, 16 new leaders, five new wonders, and a variety of new units that offer more ways for players to expand their civilization’s power as they strive for world domination.

Trailers & screenshots

Scores by platform

PC

Critic 8.3 (6 critics) · Gamer 9.3

Critic reviews

CVG
Chris Buxton · Aug 01, 2007
7.4
As an expansion it's patchy, in more than one sense. The new elements it adds feel more like a patch than a genuine expansion whilst the mods are hit and miss - and you can already get the best ones for nothing. Would I want to go back to playing Civ IV without what Beyond the Sword adds? No. But should I have to pay this much for the privilege of balancing a game that, by the very intent of this expansion, its developers clearly feel needs it? Again, no.
IGN
Steve Butts · Jul 26, 2007
8.9
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword makes an already phenomenal game even better. The new espionage elements and the Apostolic Palace work together to make the game's diplomatic system more interesting and a lot more flexible in terms of projecting your will on your enemies without resorting to open warfare.
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GameSpot
Andrew Park · Jul 25, 2007
8.5
Beyond the Sword's additions are primarily to Civ IV's core gameplay, so the expansion doesn't make a huge leap forward in terms of graphics or sound. But that's just fine, since the game's thematic, instrumental score continues to work well with the game, and the new graphics (in the form of new mod units and movies, as well as new leaders with new animations) fit into the game without a hitch.
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Game Zone
jkdmedia · Jul 23, 2007
9.0
I love Civilization IV, and I love this new expansion. New gameplay features, new units, new leaders and new scenarios all add up to an amazing amount of content. Plus, it’s all mostly great content. The interface could use some improvement, but I have to say this is one of the best games I’ve played in the last several years, and this expansion has reminded me of this fact. All Civ players need this expansion.
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Euro Gamer
Alec Meer · Jul 24, 2007
8.0
If you only quite like Civ 4, then it's still worth a look for the custom scenarios. These are officially-made or approved mods for the game, and offer some really dramatic twists. Afterworld is a pseudo-X-COM, basic but impressive in the distance it flees from the Civ template; Next War throws in a load of future tech; Final Frontier takes Civ to the stars in an attempt to recapture some of Alpha Centauri's lost magic.
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jeuxvideo.com
Superpanda · Jul 23, 2007
8.0
Avec Warlords et Beyond The Sword, Civilization 4 bénéficie de deux add-on qui ont su corriger ses lacunes tout en enrichissant son contenu. Se concentrant sur le futur et les scénarios originaux, Beyond the Sword est une extension très convaincante qui en plus, est disponible à un tarif intéressant. Il n'y a donc aucune raison de s'en priver.
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