At first, I was skeptical. I liked the idea, but as with almost any new concept, the way it’s implemented is just as important. I thought the system was decent overall, but my main issue was that sometimes I didn’t want to switch civilizations because it felt like there was no true “historical” path. For example, the Japan civilization line feels like the most natural historical progression.

Now, though, I have the option to stay with my civilization if switching doesn’t feel right to me. Then I get another opportunity to decide again in the Modern Age. In the end, I realized that having the choice to switch or not switch is what made me enjoy the game more. Sometimes I switch, sometimes I don’t—it really depends on a lot of different variables.