This is a major change in formula. You could absolutely play the first one without feeling like it’s the same game. The story in the second doesn’t require you to play the first one though.
I think it’s worth playing the first because it’s a much smaller scale and sets up the world. This one is set 30 years later so the society from the first game has significantly grown and expanded, with a lot of the evolutions in gameplay stemming from that. You probably could jump right into the second, but you may feel like you’re missing something at the start.
Any point in playing the first one beforehand? Or is this just an improvement on a formula?
This is a major change in formula. You could absolutely play the first one without feeling like it’s the same game. The story in the second doesn’t require you to play the first one though.
I think it’s worth playing the first because it’s a much smaller scale and sets up the world. This one is set 30 years later so the society from the first game has significantly grown and expanded, with a lot of the evolutions in gameplay stemming from that. You probably could jump right into the second, but you may feel like you’re missing something at the start.
I’ve not played the second, only the first but it didn’t really have a set story as far as I’m aware, so should be fine
I figure that it’s like CIV in that regard