Review: Civilization VII (Civilization 7)

Developer – Firaxis Games Publisher – 2K Platforms – PC (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (reviewed) Civilization 7, the latest installment in the iconic 4X strategy series, has arrived with a mix of innovation and controversy. It’s been 9 years since the release of Civilization 6, but has all this time waiting been worth it? The sequel presents a bold new direction for the franchise, introducing significant changes that have unfortunately divided the fanbase. As a quick refresher, this is a turn-based strategy game where you guide your chosen civilization from the dawn of humanity to a prosperous future. You first select a leader and civilization with different bonuses and skills. One of the most notable additions is the Ages system, which divides the game into distinct eras: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. You start by producing scouts to explore the map and collect Discoveries, which are unique locations that grant powerful rewards. While exploring, it’s also important to keep expanding your home city and build warriors to protect your home. As you progress, you’ll need to balance city growth, technological advancement, and military strength. Cities now expand organically across multiple tiles, with districts and improvements interacting with the surrounding environment. Throughout the game, you must make decisions that align with your chosen victory condition, whether it’s Cultural, Military, Scientific, or Economic. In terms of gameplay, Civilization 7 streamlines many systems, each of which have both pros and cons. The new settlement system, which introduces towns as specialized tributaries, adds an interesting layer of strategy and the combat system introduces commanders to bundle armies for transport. However, the simplification of certain mechanics, such as the removal of builder units for tile improvements is taking a step backwards.  If you’re new to the series or the 4X grand strategy type game in general, then you should probably watch a YouTube video of some sorts to get you started because the game does a terrible job getting you acquainted with its mechanics and gameplay loop. The overall narrative elements have been enhanced, with more events and quests to guide you through each era. But to be honest, they’re not that engaging and nothing more than pop ups that fail to add any meaningful depth to the experience. But still, it’s better than nothing I guess. Many key features present in Civ 6 or earlier are missing here. For example, you can’t manually queue developments in the tech tree and there are no automated settlers. The game’s AI isn’t the brightest either, making poor decisions during city placement. This is also not to mention the lack of map variety at launch. It’s almost as if Firaxis was rushed by 2K or something to hurry up and push out an unfinished product. Visually, Civilization 7 strikes a balance between the more realistic style of Civilization 5 and the cartoonish look of 6. It’s a gorgeous game with meticulously detailed units and breathtaking landscapes to explore. I really enjoy the effort put into the environmental work, with each hexagonal tile beautifully rendered. The audio design is another highlight, with Gwendoline Christie’s narration enhancing the overall experience and the soundtrack never becoming repetitive, even after hours of play. The number one offender in the game is its user interface. To put it bluntly: it’s absolute garbage. Not only is it unfinished, and poorly optimized for PC, I also find it extremely difficult to find important information when I need it. Resource icons look outdated and the overall presentation of the game feels unfinished compared to previous entries. What happened? Funny enough, the community has already pushed out mods just for the UI. On top of the poor UI, the game is also technically unpolished. Even on an RTX 3080 GPU with 32 GB of memory, I can’t run the game seamlessly at 60 frames per second. With the graphical settings set to High, the game frequently dips into the 40s. To top it all off, it takes an entire minute to load into the game from the main menu. Yup, you heard that right: 60 whole seconds. My only surprise was that the game only takes up 18 GB on PC. Don’t even bother getting the game if you have specs lower than mine. To no one’s surprise, you need to create and link your 2K account in order to play the game online. Why can’t games just utilize your Steam profile to play with others? 2K already took down their atrocious game launcher, so I’m sure they can also get rid of their accounts that serve little to no purpose. Thankfully there is crossplay, so you can play with your friends on different consoles, but they too need an account. Lastly I want to touch on the post-game or end-game, or lack thereof. Civilization 7 does not have the traditional “One More Turn” mode that was present in previous iterations. After you “beat” the game, your world pretty much ends abruptly and you cannot keep on playing. The developers have acknowledged this already, but it’s probably likely that any additional content would probably be sold in the form of paid DLC, instead of a free update. I have no doubt that Firaxis Games will patch up and polish Civilization 7 down the line, as they have a good record of listening to community feedback, but the fact they shipped out a AAA $70 game like this is such a disappointment. Despite all this, Civilization 7 remains a competent and engaging entry in the series. It successfully maintains its addictive quality that has defined the franchise for decades. Firaxis Games has laid a solid foundation with Civilization 7, even though there are plenty of things to improve on. It has the potential to evolve into a truly outstanding entry in the Civilization series, but right now, it needs more time to cook in the oven.

Review: Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Developer – Aesir Interactive Publisher – Nacon Platforms –   PS5, Xbox Series X|S,PC (Reviewed) Review copy given by Publisher If someone collapsed in front of you, would you know what to do? Could you recognize the signs of a stroke? The reality is, emergencies happen when we least expect them, and knowing how to respond can mean the difference between life and death. Now, imagine stepping into the shoes of a real paramedic, racing against time to save lives. Today, we’re taking a look at Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator, a game that puts you in the driver’s seat—literally—of an ambulance, challenging you to think fast, act efficiently, and make critical medical decisions under pressure. Developed by the creators of Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, this is the first simulation game to fully immerse you in the life of a paramedic. Your goal? Navigate through traffic to reach accident sites, assess injuries, and administer first aid. But no two emergencies are the same, and it’s up to you to adapt, prioritize, and ensure your patients get the best possible care. Does Ambulance Life deliver an authentic, engaging paramedic experience, or does it flatline? Let’s find out. Set on the West Coast of the United States, Ambulance Life takes place in San Pelícano, a sprawling city with three diverse districts—from historic neighborhoods to business centers and industrial zones. Each area has its own unique atmosphere and hazards, meaning the types of accidents and medical emergencies you encounter will vary depending on where you’re stationed. The citizens of San Pelícano go about their daily lives, and at any moment, a routine day can turn into an emergency. From minor injuries to full-blown catastrophes, no two calls are the same. You might be responding to a simple case of heat exhaustion in the business district one moment and rushing to a gas station explosion the next. The game keeps you on edge, forcing you to adapt quickly and handle the unexpected. Once the dispatch alarm sounds, it’s go-time. You’ll have to rush to your ambulance, fire up the siren, and navigate through dense city traffic as efficiently as possible. Finding the best route is key—every second counts when lives are at stake. Driving in Ambulance Life is more than just getting from point A to point B. The game features realistic traffic behavior, meaning you’ll need to make split-second decisions on whether to weave through traffic or take a detour. The ambulances themselves have distinct driving styles, making vehicle control an essential skill. Upon arrival, the pressure doesn’t ease up. You’ll need to quickly assess the situation, gather information from patients and bystanders, and diagnose the issue using a variety of medical tools. The heart of Ambulance Life is its medical simulation. You’ll have access to 17 different medical instruments, including a stethoscope, oxygen mask, and defibrillator. Each case requires careful evaluation, and patients may have allergies or pre-existing conditions that complicate treatment. The game features 36 different medical complaints, ranging from minor cuts to third-degree burns. But sometimes, you’ll face large-scale disasters where multiple victims need your help. In these high-stakes moments, you’ll have to triage—prioritizing those who have the best chance of survival. These moral dilemmas add weight to every decision. No matter how hard you try, there will be times when you simply can’t save everyone. Can you handle that kind of responsibility? Whether you’re looking for a hardcore medical simulation or a more guided experience, Ambulance Life has you covered. The game offers two modes: Regardless of which mode you choose, the sense of urgency and responsibility remains the same. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator successfully captures the intensity, responsibility, and unpredictability of emergency medical work. From the realistic driving mechanics to the wide variety of medical cases, every moment keeps you engaged and challenges you to think fast under pressure. The addition of moral dilemmas adds depth to the experience, forcing you to make tough choices that could mean life or death for your patients. While Ambulance Life provides a fairly accurate glimpse into the daily responsibilities of a paramedic, the overall gameplay experience feels somewhat unpolished. The controls can be awkward, making both driving and performing essential medical tasks feel less fluid than they should be. Maneuvering the ambulance often lacks precision, and certain in-game actions seem unintuitive or underdeveloped, which can detract from the immersion. With better optimization and refinements in handling, the game could offer a much smoother and more engaging experience. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a paramedic, Ambulance Life delivers one of the most engaging medical simulations available. It’s not just a game—it’s a test of skill, decision-making, and mental resilience. The question is, are you ready to answer the call?

Is Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Releasing On Xbox Game Pass?

DON’T NOD is set to release its newest narrative adventure IP, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It takes place in 2022 while also revisiting the past of Summer 1995 which provides a lot of nostalgia given its setting. It has been confirmed already that Lost Records: Bloom & Rage will be available on PlayStation Plus which means it’s free to all that subscribe to the service. Will Lost Records: Bloom and Rage come to Game Pass? It doesn’t come as a surprise due to their past actions but DON’T NOD will not be making Lost Records: Bloom and Rage available on Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass. This could change in the future, but as it stands don’t expect Lost Records to become available. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage can be purchased on the Xbox Store for its normal price of $39.99.

Xbox Showcases will include PlayStation and Nintendo logos in trailers

Microsoft has made it clear that Xbox games will continue to be released on other consoles. Recently, we saw that Forza Horizon 5 will be coming to PS5 this Spring and there have been hints at Halo coming to the Switch 2 and PlayStation consoles. In an Interview with the XboxEra Podcast, Head of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer shared that during Xbox Showcases the PlayStation and Nintendo logos will appear at the end of trailers. This would mean people watching will know right away what platform a game will be released on. Here is what Phil Spencer said in the interview via XboxEra: I think it’s just being honest and transparent about where the games are showing, and we actually even had this discussion last year for the June showcase, and by the time we kind of made our decision, we couldn’t get all of the assets done and it felt weird to have some of them in and some of them out. But I just want to be transparent with people – for shipping on Nintendo Switch, we’re gonna put that. For shipping on PlayStation, on Steam…People should know the storefronts where they can get our games, but I want people to be able to experience our Xbox community in our games and everything we have to offer, on every screen we can. And obviously not every screen is equal. Yeah, like there’s certain things we can’t do on the other closed platforms that we can do on open platforms, cloud – it’s different. But games should be the thing that we’re focused on. And the strategy that we have allows us to do big games, while also supporting our native platform from hardware to the platform and services that we have and that’s going to be our approach. And I know it’s not what everybody else is doing, but I just believe games should be the thing that’s at the forefront. Maybe it’s because of how I’ve grown up in this industry. I came from building games. But I think the games are the things that I see growing in their strength in what we’re doing and it’s because more people can play. So yeah, I’m just trying to be open and transparent with people. Normally Microsoft will host its next major presentation in June which be upwards of 2 hours long including a large showcase for its next biggest title. With PS5 and Switch logos coming up at the end of trailers will do potential customers well instead of thinking it’ll be exclusive to the Xbox platform. What do you think of the move by Microsoft to do this?

Ubisoft announces Rainbow Six Siege X, full reveal coming in March

The annual Rainbow Six Siege Invitational is happening this weekend and it was rumored a major announcement would be coming. Today, Ubisoft has officially announced Rainbow Six Siege X, the sequel to the 10-year-old title. What they showed today was a forty-second teaser that says “A New Era of Siege Is Coming”. Ubisoft announced that a Rainbow Six Siege X showcase will be taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT on March 13, 2025. “The event promises to be an immersive and one-of-a-kind Siege experience” where players, creators, and developers come together as they reveal all the evolutions coming. The announcement stated that the R6 team has been diligently working on the most significant transformation in the game’s history. This transformation aims to strengthen Rainbow Six Siege’s status as a leading tactical first-person shooter by introducing new ways to play. Does Siege X Have A Release Window? Ubisoft has not provided any details about the release window for Siege X nor which platforms it will come to. There’s no question it’ll come to PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. But Nintendo Switch 2 might be in question. Are you looking forward to Rainbow Six Siege X?

GTA 6 will come to PC in early 2026, says Corsair Gaming

Take-Two Interactive held its latest financial results earlier this month and reiterated that GTA 6 is still planned to be released in Fall 2025. That would be for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 only. A PC release has yet to be mentioned by Take-Two or Rockstar Games. If anything is like GTA 5 and how it was handled the PC version will come later on. According to Corsair Gaming’s financial VP, Ronald van Veen, he believes GTA 6 will be coming to PC in early 2026.  “Yeah, GTA 6 is probably the one everyone is talking about. And we’ll get a glimpse of that, I think, later on in the year for console. My understanding now it’s going to come out in the fall for console, and then early 2026 for PC.” Earlier in the month Take-Two Interactive’s CEO mentioned they would like to support the Switch 2. They’ve had a longstanding relationship with Nintendo and have supported the platform when it made sense.  With Borderlands 4 set to release on September 23, 2025, speculation about the launch date for GTA 6 has increased. Many publishers are expected to plan the launch of their games around the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 which could be in October or November.  Source: VGC