Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack
for Civilization IV - the 2005 PC Game of the Year and a major commercial
success, selling over 1.5 million units worldwide since its October 2005
release. The expansion will focus on the late-game time periods after the
invention of gunpowder and will deliver 12 challenging and decidedly different
scenarios created by the development team at Firaxis Games, as well as members
of the Civilization Fan Community. Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword
will also include ten new civilizations, 16 new leaders, five new wonders, and a
variety of new units that will offer even more fun and exciting ways for players
to expand their civilization’s power as they strive for world domination.
- Expanded Epic Game: Firaxis Games delivers a massive increase in new
units, buildings, and technologies to the epic game with additional focus on
the late-game time periods.
- New Game Scenarios: The expansion will deliver 12 new scenarios, many
containing themes never before included in the Civilization series, custom
designed by the team at Firaxis and select members of the Civ Fan Community.
- New Civilizations: The expansion pack includes ten new civilizations, such
as Portugal, Babylon and Netherlands and their associated unique units and
buildings.
- More Civilization Leaders: Sixteen new leaders including leaders for the
ten new civilizations, as well as additional leaders for existing
civilizations.
- Corporations: A new gameplay feature that allows players to create
corporations and spread them throughout the world. Each corporation provides
benefits in exchange for certain resources.
- Espionage: Now available much earlier in the game, this expanded feature
offers players many new ways to spy on opponents, stir citizen unrest and
defend their government’s secrets.
- Events: New random events such as natural disasters, pleas for help, or
demands from their citizens will challenge players to overcome obstacles in
order for their civilizations to prosper.
- New Wonders: Five new wonders await discovery including the Statue of
Zeus, Cristo Redentor, Shwedagon Paya, the Mausoleum of Maussollos, and the
Moai Statues.
- Expanded Space Victory: Winning the race to Alpha Centauri will now
require more strategic planning and tactical decision making.
- Apostolic Palace: The United Nations will become available earlier in the
game, providing a way for players to win a diplomatic victory earlier. New
resolutions will also be added which will expand the available diplomatic
options.
- Advanced Starts: A major fan request, this new feature will enable players
to “buy” components of a custom-tailored empire and begin play in the later
part of the game, allowing them to experience many of the new features of the
expansion pack in a shorter amount of time.
- Enhanced AI: The AI has received many enhancements, making it tougher to
beat on the higher difficulty levels. The ways in which the AI will attempt to
achieve victory have also been expanded.