I’ve been playing Revival: Recolonization lately, a turn-based strategy game in Early Access. It has some truly unique ideas, but also some rough edges that need smoothing. Let’s break it down.
Revival throws a great twist on the 4X genre: terraforming. Right from the start, you can reshape the land to suit your needs. Different tribes have preferred climates, and your civilization inherits one at the beginning. Terraforming lets you adjust the environment to match, allowing your towns to thrive. It’s a neat concept that adds a strategic layer to map control.
Another thing I enjoyed was unit customization. You can outfit your troops with different weapons, armor, and off-hand items. Researching new technologies unlocks more options, letting you create specialized forces for various situations. This adds a nice layer of depth to combat.
The world of Revival feels fresh and interesting. The visuals are decent, creating a pleasant atmosphere for your exploration and conquest.
Despite the terraforming and unit customization, the core gameplay loop feels similar to other 4X games like Civilization or Humankind. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it might not be enough for players seeking a truly revolutionary experience.
The AI in Revival seems to prioritize rushing through the tech tree, which can force you to do the same to stay competitive. This can lead to a lot of skipped technologies, making unit customization feel less impactful. The AI’s diplomacy also feels basic, with limited options for interaction.
Battles, while visually appealing, lack depth. Often, it comes down to building a strong army and overwhelming the enemy in a single attack. The current lack of victory conditions beyond “last one standing” can make the late game feel repetitive.
Some key information is missing from tooltips, making certain mechanics less intuitive. The user interface could also benefit from some polish, with aspects like movement point display feeling clunky.
Ultimately, Revival is a mixed bag. It has some truly innovative ideas and a beautiful world to explore. However, the familiar gameplay underneath and some user interface issues can leave you wanting more. If you’re a die-hard 4X fan looking for something completely groundbreaking, Revival might not be it. But, if you’re intrigued by the terraforming and unit customization and are willing to overlook some early access bumps, it could be worth keeping an eye on as development progresses.
Personally, I’m holding off on finishing a full game for now. Revival has potential, but it needs some work on AI behavior, combat depth, and user interface polish. I’ll definitely check back in a few months.
