Summary
Over the years,Civilizationplayers have taken the reins of some of the most powerful nations to have existed in the history of humanity through world-famous leaders in search of victory, and the journey has been a success for the franchise, winning multiple awards and gaining prominence on an international scale. Despite these numerous achievements, there’s always room for improvement, andCivilization 7would do well to shake up the mechanics set by its predecessors with one of its peoples. The Barbarians, the constant annoying buzz in players' ears, could play a much more significant role in the newCivilization, and Firaxis has all the tools to make it happen.
After seven long years of waiting,Civilization 7is well on its way, and as development heats up, theCivilizationfan base is expecting more than a few cosmetic additions in the latest installment.Civilization 6’s reviews laid down an impressive marker for its successor to follow, and there’s quite some pressure to fill those big boots after the long wait. For Firaxis to launchCivilization 7with a bang, some changes could cause quite a splash in the ocean – a new leader,Civilizationvictory condition, or even updates to familiar characters. An underutilized class, the Barbarians, might inject some flavor into the release, and revamping their mechanics is essential to fulfilling gameplay.
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Civilization’s Barbarians Have been Underrepresented
Civilization’s pristine reputation in the gaming industry comes from its fun representation of history. Players can enjoy their favorite historical weapons, from the phalanx to modern-day nukes. However, a frequently mentioned complaint among fans is the underdevelopment of the Barbarians. Players prefer to put all their energy into the economic growth of their countries at the start ofstrategy games likeCivilization, but the Barbarians are a constant threat. They harry players with scouts and hostile units, forcing investment of precious materials into military development. Apart from this, they were practically impossible to parlay with.
The addition of the New Frontier Pass mitigated this problem to an extent, and players could interact withCivilization’s Barbarians, offering bribes and paying ransoms to stop attacks on their cities and trade routes. With enough Gold, these characters could be bought over to attack other nations. TheBarbarian Clans game modein the New Frontier Pass gave the Barbarians some much-needed personality, but there’s more Firaxis could do to make them appear more than a simple game-engineered nuisance.
While every other group inCivilizationevolves, the Barbarians retain their outdated forms throughoutCivilization 6’s gameplay. The group is only interested in pillaging, and while this representation is historically accurate, it wouldn’t be outlandish to expect an improvement inCivilization 7. As the world grows into its modern ages, the Barbarians should be able to settle, while honoring their nomadic traditions with conquest by expanding their territory. They need room to grow into an actual threat, not simply remain a bothersome moving mass for entire playthroughs.
In this process, making the Barbarians a playable group becomes necessary. A victory condition of grand conquest with the Barbarians should be on the cards, and players should have the chance to sweep their great hordes across the world. To adopt this mechanic smoothly, Firaxis can look to theMongolians led by Genghis Khan, who has appeared in every edition of theCivilizationfranchise so far. In similar fashion, the Barbarian Clans should be allowed to unite under one banner and go on a rampage inCivilization 7. After years of neglect, Firaxis owes the Barbarians proper representation in its flagship, and shaking up their gameplay in the next edition could take the franchise to unmatched heights.
