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Humankind, a French historical management video game to compete with Civilization

2021-09-25T16:38:02.038Z


With this ambitious title, the French of Amplitude put you in command of a people, from the Neolithic to the conquest of space. In itself


Conquer the world and nothing less. Humankind, from the Parisian studio Amplitude (Endless Space, Dungeon of the Endless…), places you at the head of a people at the dawn of humanity. It's up to you to make it thrive through the ages, founding and expanding cities, and developing your technological knowledge until you send a rocket to Mars, one of the game-ending achievements. Historical management game called "4X" (for exploration, expansion, exploitation and extermination), Humankind irremediably evokes the reference of the genre "4X", namely the Civilization series, so much does it resemble this illustrious predecessor whose last iteration, Civilization VI, was released in 2016.

Each of these games, Civilization like Humankind, asks you to develop cities, collect food to increase your population, erect Wonders (like the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal) - which grant bonuses -, and to strike down on neighboring empires to seize their territory.

Both games make you feel the same pleasure in sending ships across the map to discover new continents to colonize, and the same urgency to improve the technological level of your proteges to produce more and more formidable armies.

We also find there these same unbalanced battles when, because of the different development of the belligerents, crossbowmen of the Middle Ages find themselves facing tanks.

It's not the revolution

If Humankind is highly inspired by its august predecessor, it is however not a pale copy of it. Without trying to revolutionize anything, Amplitude wanted to innovate in all the ingredients that make the recipe for historic “4Xs”. The management of diplomacy, religion and even relations with neutral cities have for example been slightly revised. Note that events appear regularly with multiple choices, as in another video game classic, Crusader Kings 3. We learn, for example, that divination games are increasing in your empire or that your villagers are threatened by wolves: he intervene or let it happen? From your choices, an advantage or a bad surprise may arise.

But the first difference with Civilization, and the main selling point made by Amplitude by the way, is that your beloved people will change their culture in each of the six eras they go through.

Thus, if you opt for the Egyptians in Antiquity, those can become the Mayas or even the Romans in the following era, then turn into Franks or Khmers in the Middle Ages and so on.

Each culture gives access to a special armed unit and above all to a bonus that lasts until the end of the game, such as an advantage in food or even in construction.

The graphics are particularly neat.

Let's face it bluntly, this ever-changing culture isn't the best idea in video games.

It's not so much that it has no historical coherence - it's a game, not a lesson - but because it quickly turns into a big mess.

Indeed, your enemies also pass from one culture to another.

Did you fight the Mongols?

Now it is the Mings at your frontiers.

Ah, no, sorry, they just turned into Zulus.

Good luck to find you there.

You yourself will be hard pressed to remember the six different cultures that you will endorse over the course of a game.

Especially since the choice of a culture, simply synonymous with a bonus, does not require you to radically adapt your way of playing.

We have seen better to identify with his people.

A card cut out like a puzzle

So, to throw out Humankind?

Let's not go so fast, because a handful of things are a game changer.

First, impossible to multiply the cities.

The number of metropolises you can own is limited.

Then, unlike Civilization, the map (generated automatically) is divided into zones, like a puzzle.

Founding a city or an outpost blocks access to the entire corresponding area for other players.

Result: the map is conquered much faster.

Another novelty, during a confrontation, it is possible to zoom in on the battle and the combat is resolved without ever exceeding two turns of playing time. No more wars in Civilization which dragged on over turns and turns.

These modifications in the mechanics of the game have one virtue: it speeds it up.

Where part of

Civilization

ambitious could exceed 100 hours, with too many cities and armies to manage, part of Humankind is resolved in ten hours, without sacrificing too much on the depth of the game experience. as much more pleasant as Humankind is, it should be noted, particularly beautiful. Zooming in on the map allows you to see magnificent landscapes where mountains, plains, beaches, rivers and snow-covered lands intermingle ... It is in this setting that our beloved people build their buildings, whose appearance changes according to the chosen culture. Ultimately, its fast pace and successful graphics make Humankind an excellent entry point for beginners tempted by a “4X”. Or a completely honest stopgap for experienced gamers who like to take over the world.But only have a few hours ahead of them to devote to it.

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Humankind, available on PC, Game Pass and Stadia at 50 euros.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2021-09-25

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