I recently bought civ rev for 360, lured by its updated graphics and my love of all things strategy (and the fact i had a shoulder injury which prevented me from gaming on PC), and wish to air my thoughts.

Firstly i should state i had never really played Civ much prior, except a very brief encounter with Civ4.

At first, i thought it was great. and it is a good game. However, as i progressed through my first few games, i couldn't help thinking it was left impotent in some areas. a lot of units hadn't made the cut i noticed, like my favoured "early" unit the swordsman.

Also the game seemed to run to fruition to quickly for my liking. The result of my frustrations was that I returned, when my shoulder was better, to my trusty PC and broke out my copy of Civ4 Warlords.

Having got the basics down from Rev, i managed to get into the swing of Civ4 much more easily than when i had tried before, and the extra possibilities and options were gratefully received. having got to the stage of cannon and musketmen now (playing on marathon/small), and having wiped two of my foes from the world, i can say that Civ4, in all its glory, is quite an experience.

Im glad they made Revolutions, if nothing else to make people want "that little bit more" and check out Civ4 on their PC. i just hope they make civ 5 soon as i like nice graphics and it irks me that Rev looks better! (but the FR probs get me down)

*aaar me hearties, there be spoilers ahead*

Having now finished this questline on oblivion i definately think this was the best story arc i have played so far in the game. the missions were more enjoyable than the main quest/fighters guild ones, and the characters more interesting. i had a real sense of "i dont want to do this but i have to" in the cleansing quest. i didnt use the apples, i finished the job like a man. i felt i owed them that much. and oh how i enjoyed striking the traitor down to avenge lachance's unjust death.

my favorite mission of the D.B. is torn between the one that has you infiltrating the imperial prison to kill that sneering little smeghead bosmer (i started a lot of games when first playing oblivion, trying different characters, and really wanted to kill that guy), and the gold hunt mansion mission.

i honestly feel they could make a whole game out of being a dark brotherhood assassin, the consoles need an assassin game that gives you options other than a quick knife in the dark (i.e. loosening the screws on the mounted head which falls and kills the man sitting beneath - quality)

oblivion takes a lot of stick, and i know it has its faults, but honestly its the best console game i have played this gen. i must have spent 150-200 hours on it easy (i have made approx 1100 saves) and i still have the mages guild, theives guild, shivering isles questlines to complete plus a whole bunch of individual quests. i would recommend it to anyone.

general robert, (the one i mentioned in the last post who i sent on the long walk but won the battle and turned into a excellent general) has sadly died. a stinking little inquisitor snuck up on him when he was resupplying near caen and burned him at the stake *puts black armband on and salutes*

i am now raising an army of assassins and training them up by murdering any scots that wander too close to the border. next time i will be ready for you, inquisition!!!

incidentally, i just started the dark brotherhood questline on oblivion. it's really good so far (more interesting than the fighters guild at any rate). the people who wrote the quests must be a little twisted though - when the orcish assassin told me about killing a five year old girl at her birthday party after she asked if he was the clown i was a little taken aback. most games excuse "being an assassin" by only taking out evil people (e.g. assassins creed)