Humankind, a French historical management video game to rival civilization

Conquer the world and nothing less. Humankind, from the Parisian studio Amplitude (Endless Space, Dungeon of the Endless…), puts you at the head of a people at the dawn of humanity. It’s up to you to make it prosper through the ages, establish and expand cities, and develop your technological knowledge to even send a rocket to Mars, an achievement that ends in the end game. The historical management game called “4X” (to explore, expand, exploit and exterminate), mankind irreparably evokes the “4X” genre reference, the Civilization series, very much like this brilliant predecessor whose last iteration, Civilization VI, was released in 2016.

Each of these games, a civilization like the human race, asks you to develop cities, collect food to increase your population, set up wonders (like the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal) – which give rewards – and strike down neighboring empires to capture them. Area. Both games make you feel the same fun sending ships across the map to discover new continents to colonize, and the same urgency to improve the technological level to protect you to produce more and more formidable armies. We also find there these same lopsided battles when, due to the different development of the belligerents, medieval archers find themselves facing tanks.

It’s not the revolution

If humanity is heavily inspired by its majestic predecessor, it is nonetheless not a fading copy. Without trying to revolutionize anything, Amplitude wanted to innovate in all the ingredients that make up the historic “4Xs” recipe. For example, the administration of diplomacy, religion, and even relations with neutral cities underwent a slight revision. Note that events regularly appear with multiple options, as in another classic video game, Crusader Kings 3. We learn, for example, that divination games are increasing in your empire or that villagers are threatened by wolves: do they step in or let that happen? From your choices, an advantage or a bad surprise may appear.

But the first difference with civilization, and the main selling point made by Amplitude by the way, is that your loved ones will change their culture in each of the six ages they go through. Thus, if you choose the Egyptians in antiquity, then those can become the Mayans or even the Romans in the next era, and then turn into the Franks or Khmer in the Middle Ages and so on. Each culture grants access to a special armed unit and above all a bonus that will last until the end of the game, such as an advantage in food or even construction.

Let’s face it frankly, this ever-changing culture isn’t the best idea in video games. It’s not about a lack of historical coherence – it’s a game, not a lesson – but because it quickly turns into a big mess. In fact, your enemies also move from one culture to another. Did you fight the Mongols? Now the Mings is on your frontier. Ah, no, sorry, they just turned into Zulus. Good luck finding you there. You’ll be hard-pressed to remember the six different cultures you’ll support over the course of the game. Especially since choosing a culture, simply synonymous with reward, does not require you to radically adapt the gameplay. We have seen that it is better to get to know his people.

A card cut like a puzzle

So, to expel mankind? Let’s not go so fast, because a handful of things are game-changing. First, it is impossible to multiply cities. The number of megacities you can own is limited. Then, unlike civilization, the map (which is automatically generated) is divided into areas, like a puzzle. Establishing a city or outpost blocks access to the entire corresponding area for other players. Result: The map is invaded faster. Another novelty, during the confrontation, it is possible to enlarge the battle and the combat is resolved without exceeding two cycles of playing time. No more wars in civilization wandering on twists and turns.

These modifications in the mechanics of the game have one virtue: they increase its speed. There, where part of civilization Ambition can exceed 100 hours, with too many cities and armies to manage, a portion of the human race is dissolved within ten hours, without sacrificing much the depth of the game experience. . Zooming in on the map allows you to see picturesque landscapes where mountains, plains, beaches, rivers, snow-covered lands intertwine … In this place, our beloved people build their buildings, the appearance of which changes in accordance with the chosen culture. Ultimately, its fast pace and successful graphics make humanity an excellent entry point for beginners who are tempted by “4X”. Or a completely honest alternative solution for experienced players who want to take over the world. But they only have a few hours to dedicate to it.

> Mankind, available on PC, Game Pass and Stadia at €50.