History YMMV / CivilizationBeyondEarth

** The lack of a Germanic/Northern European-flavoured faction has been met with scrutiny by some portions of the fan base, and surely modders will be quick to pick up on this. Presumably, many Purity fans would like to emulate the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer40000}} Imperium of Man]]. ''Rising Tide''[='=]s INTEGR (based in Germany/Central Europe) and North Sea Alliance (the British Isles and Scandinavia) may satisfy them, though.

** Another one that circulated the various fan forums once the affinity special units were revealed is ''[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Civilization: Dawn of War]]''; with Purity standing in for the Imperium of Man, Supremacy for the Necrons, Harmony being the Orks, Purity/Harmony being the Craftworld Aeldari, Purity/Supremacy being the Tau, and Harmony/Supremacy being Chaos.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: One of the most common criticisms leveled at the game is that "it's just ''Civ V'', [[RecycledInSpace but in space]]". In terms of overall gameplay it's not entirely wrong, though individual systems, such as research, have been reworked.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The intro cinematic manages to create highly realistic-looking humans without falling into the UncannyValley. This only accentuates the [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesomeness]] and [[TearJerker sadness]] of it.

* EsotericHappyEnding: The Affinity-specific victories have a certain sinister cast to them, making it hard to believe that you've truly "won". Harmony factions awaken the planet and enter ecological Nirvana... at [[AssimilationPlot the cost of humanity's individuality]]. Supremacy reunites with Earth and establishes a relief effort to help any surviving Earthlings... by crushing any dissent with a massive military presence and [[UnwillingRoboticisation "freeing" all humans from the limitations of their biological forms]]. Purity rescues and resettles Earthling refugees... but [[GaiasLament Earth itself is still dying, and you've probably wiped out most of the new planet's indigenous fauna as well]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Each of the affinities can be interpreted differently, depending on both personal preference and roleplaying style. A case can be made for assuming each affinity is radical, conservative or willing to TakeAThirdOption. Furthermore, since getting some leaf techs (ie. "3D" on the tech web) for your primary affinity may require you to first research techs for the other affinities, going purely one affinity is very difficult.
** Supremacy:
*** Are they {{Science Hero}}es, willing to defy age-old dogmas and do what it takes to secure humanity's place in a vast uncaring universe?
*** Are they blindly rushing down the ScaleOfScientificSins and preparing to become [[Franchise/StarTrek The Borg]] [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul by another name?]]
*** Are they treading a fine line, curious about alien civilizations but unwilling to be seduced by their promise and preferring to advance on their own terms?
*** Are they [[MachineWorship machine worshippers]] with varying degrees of religious dogma, ranging from GoodShepherd to ChurchMilitant?
*** Are they trying to bring forth TheSingularity and believe the purpose of man is to create an [[DeusEstMachina AI of godlike power]]?
*** Are they developing a society that they believe humanity has always wanted, basing it on [[CannotTellFictionFromReality skewed interpretation of surviving science fiction?]]
*** Are they seeking to create a universal species out of humanity that will gain immortality thanks to the BrainUploading and matchless cybernetics and will also flourish in the conditions of even the most extreme world?
** Harmony:
*** Are they taking the lessons of the Great Mistake to heart and committed to [[GreenAesop ensure humanity will not destroy its environment again?]]
*** Are they misguided [[GaiasVengeance eco-terrorist]] fools who willingly or [[UnwittingPawn unwittingly]] give in to TheCorruption?
*** Are they striving for balance between the old and the new, relying on nature itself as their guide?
*** Are they trying to create OrganicTechnology and adapting their bodies to use it properly strictly because it's a very pragmatic and low-cost approach?
*** Are they [[TheHedonist hedonists]], willing to forsake dreams of interstellar conquest to recreate an {{Arcadia}} of simple pleasures and communion with all living things?
*** Are they subconsciously aware that the planet is a GeniusLoci and trying to unite with it as a spiritual experience?
*** Are they slowly being [[UnwittingPawn manipulated by the planet]] into [[LetsYouAndHimFight exterminating their fellow humans]], allowing their very biology to disintegrate until they're just another of the planet's native lifeforms?
** Purity:
*** Are they the [[OnlySaneMan only sane ones]] in a world where everyone else forsakes humanity and [[TranshumanTreachery rushes off to become cyborgs and mutants]]?
*** Are they SpaceRomans who hopelessly cling to outdated traditions of EvilLuddite / MugglePower / NoTranshumanismAllowed bigotry?
*** Are they believers in the fundamental goodness of human nature, unwilling to compromise due to remembering well the lessons of humanity's bitter past?
*** Are they afraid of the known or unknown implications of transhumanism and willing to resort to violence to protect their own humanity?
*** Are they simply too proud to admit weakness, and would instead find unity in their shared suffering and longing for home?
*** Are they opposed to transhumanism because they view it as an unsustainable future or socially believe that ItWillNeverCatchOn?
*** Are they [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrites]] for proclaiming that their technological advances are acceptable, but everyone else's aren't? Those Battlesuits and LEV Destroyers didn't exactly spring up out of the ground, y'know.
*** Are they clinging to [[FutureImperfect an imperfect, idealized vision of Earth]], glorifying humanity's past successes while refusing to admit or learn from our failures, and thus doomed to [[HistoryRepeats repeat history?]]
** Harmony - Purity:
*** Are they supporters of a humanity perfect in mind and body?
*** Are they misguidedly bringing humanity into losing its genetic diversity?
*** Are they another take of [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Space Nazis]] by focusing on genetic purity and the creation of a master race that's perfect in every way?
** Purity - Supremacy:
*** Are they supporters of the old science fiction utopias of old?
*** Are they fierce segregationists who would consider human mind uploads to be nothing more than programmable servants?
*** Are they [[TheHedonist hedonists]] who would let their simple automated robots and machines to cater to their every whim?
*** Are they only delaying the inevitable robot uprising. . . and making said uprising so much worse by deliberately treating their mechanical creations like slaves?
** Supremacy - Harmony:
*** Are they desperate survivors trying to make humanity survive anything and everything the universe will throw at them?
*** Are they giving away everything, even their humanity, for the sake of power without limits?
*** Are they simply letting the desire for freedom to live their life any way they like to their LogicalExtreme?
*** #2 and #3 Confirmed (to a degree), [[WordofGod Word of God]] states that while other affinities disagree to one extent or another, they all agree that Harmonal Supremacists go too far.
** As a result of the above, one can look at the affinities as a whole in a variety of different ways:
*** Are all affinities [[GreyAndGreyMorality neutral]], with their own upsides and downsides?
*** Are all affinities [[EvilVersusEvil evil]], a la ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''?
*** Are some affinities [[BlackAndWhiteMorality good, while others are evil]]?
*** Are all affinities [[GoodVersusGood truly good at heart, all wanting the best for humanity but unable to agree as to what?]]
*** Or, in an even more complex way, the affinities themselves are divided between their own good and evil factions (ie, Some Supremacists are {{Science Hero}}es while others are [[TheAssimilator the Borg]] or some Purists are [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Space Nazis]] while others are benevolent SpaceRomans).
** Likewise, the leaders can be painted in multiple ways like:
*** Fielding the [[SelfMadeMan self made woman]] who pulled herself up the social ladder with nothing but her abilities and skills to become the leader of the most powerful corporation in world vs. Fielding the selfish and ruthless CorruptCorporateExecutive that uses underhanded tactics to get what ever she wants and motivated only by greed;
*** Barre the good, noble ReasonableAuthorityFigure who is determined to ensure the African people will never suffer the pain and humiliation of being exploited ever again vs. Barre the cold, calculating who has so much hatred and resentment in his heart [[BeneathTheMask hidden beneath the jovial front that he presents to everyone else]] that he is just a stone throw away from becoming [[VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri Sheng-Ji Yang]];
*** Kavitha the visionary GoodShepherd who led a spiritual enlightenment that gave the war-torn and suffering people of India a future to look forward to vs. Kavitha the [[ParanoiaFuel Creepy]] {{Cult}} Leader that controls one of the most populated countries on Earth though social conditioning and indoctrination;
*** Daoming the {{Determinator}} ScienceHero, a demanding yet ultimately "tough, but fair" leader who will ensure humanity's long term survival vs. Daoming the DrJerk EmperorScientist with NoSocialSkills;
*** Rejinaldo the badass CombatPragmatist in command of an EliteArmy who is willing to defend humanity against a hostile world vs. Rejinaldo the [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption warmongering]] [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]];
*** Élodie the [[CulturedBadass Gardener of Culture]], nobly trying to preserve the dwindling and endangered cultural heritage of humanity vs. Élodie the [[AristocratsAreEvil haughty aristocrat]] with an attitude of CulturalPosturing that makes her feel like she belongs in the [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchColonialEmpire Age of Colonialism]] in centuries past;
*** Hutama the HumbleHero BadassUnintentional HonestCorporateExecutive who deeply cares for the welfare of the common people vs. Hutama the PointyHairedBoss that only got his position because of his populist support and encourages his people to only care about '[[TheHedonist living well]]' [[WhileRomeBurns while the entire survival of the human race is at stake]];
*** Kozlov the BoldExplorer HumbleHero from peaceful and unified Eastern Europe vs. Kozlov the [[DirtyCommies Space Commie]] from yet another incarnation of a Russian empire.
*** Han Jae Moon, aka Candidate 37 of the Chungsu - does he represent a WellIntentionedExtremist intent on proving HobbesWasRight, or does his landing represent little other than a SealedEvilInACan unleashed into the galaxy? Also, the "Hybrid Affinities" trailer gives him [[WordOfGod an official one]], claiming that Han is a shrewd but benevolent tactician who uses his spy network to oust dictators. Whether this is just [[UnreliableNarrator the front that Chungsu would like us to believe]], or whether players [[InternalReformist misinterpreted]] [[GoodIsNotNice his initial]] [[KickTheSonOfABitch description]] [[note]](Chungsu's leadership seemed very Human-Hive-like ''before'' Han took it over.)[[/note]] will most likely depend on who's playing as him.
*** Lena Ebner - a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who used diplomacy and genuine care for her citizens or ManipulativeBastard who used her political prowess to get what she wants.
*** Arshia Kishk - HadToBeSharp survivalist who knew about ChronicBackstabbingDisorder among the colonizing factions or isolationist SpacePeople who are in CultureClash with older factions who would be useful in aiding them in settlement.
*** Duncan Hughes - WorkingClassHero who gone into space to give salvation to humanity or an [[WorkingClassPeopleAreMorons overambitious man]] whose work might do more harm than good.

*** Arishia Kishk - HadToBeSharp survivalist who knew about ChronicBackstabbingDisorder among the colonizing factions or isolationist SpacePeople who are in CultureClash with older factions who would be useful in aiding them in settlement.

*** Are they misguidedly bringing humanity into losing its genetical biodiversity?

*** Are they subconsciously awareness that the planet is a GeniusLoci and trying to unite with it as a spiritual experience?
*** Are they slowly being [[UnwittingPawn manipulated by the planet]] into [[LetsYouAndHimFight exterminating their fellow humans]], allowing their very biology to disintegrate until they're just another of planet's native lifeforms?

* LighterAndSofter: While not a cheer fest, in comparison to ''[=SMAC=]'', ''Beyond Earth'' has humanity sending fleets of colony ships to the stars while Earth, while falling apart, is still intact. Whereas in the original game, Earth had been nuked to oblivion, and Planet was a DeathWorld.

* MostAnnoyingSound:
** Due to a bug, the [=ADVISR=] will remind you to build trade units if you have trade slots open. Even if those slots are only open because a couple of your trade units have completed their route, and are awaiting new orders.
** "As Adam Smith said, trade is the lifeblood of nations." "As Adam Smith said, trade is the lifeblood of nations." "As Adam Smith said, trade is the lifeblood of nations..."
** "No village was ever ruined by trade!" "No village was ever ruined by trade!" "No village was ever ruined by trade!"

*** Barre the good, noble ReasonableAuthorityFigure who is determined to ensure the African people will never suffer the pain and humiliation of being exploited ever again vs. Barre the cold, calculating MagnificentBastard who has so much hatred and resentment in his heart [[BeneathTheMask hidden beneath the jovial front that he presents to everyone else]] that he is just a stone throw away from becoming [[VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri Sheng-Ji Yang]];

* CounterpartComparison: Purity. With its heavy styling, religious undertones, and focus on keeping humanity "pure" from outside influences, resemblances to a [[LighterAndSofter much saner]] [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Imperium of Man]] were inevitably drawn. The resemblance could be coincidental -- Purity's religious/Catholic undertones may also be drawn from [[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Civilization-Beyond-Earth-Influences-Include-Hyperion-Cantos-Contact-Canticle-for-Leibowitz-454166.shtml explicitly mentioned influences]] like ''Literature/ACanticleForLeibowitz'' and the ''Literature/HyperionCantos'' -- but many a fan still sees it and plays Purity like xeno purging space marines. Their first unique military unit basically being a squad of Adeptus Astartes doesn't help.

* InferredHolocaust: As discussed in FridgeHorror, unlike the previous civilization titles, the different affinities means that at later stages, factions that pursued different affinity paths would have developed so differently that they can no longer be even considered to be the same species anymore. Meaning that, in the event that a city gets conquered by a faction that have a different affinity, [[UnwillingRoboticisation forceful]] [[BodyHorror augmentation]] (or, if Purity is the invader, [[BroughtDownToNormal forceful]] ''[[TheyWouldCutYouUp de-augmentation]]'') will likely ensue to the conquered population.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The intro cinematic manages to create highly realistic-looking humans without falling into the UncannyValley. This only accentuates the [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesomeness]] and [[TearJerker sadness]] of it.

* AwesomeMusic: Most people tend to agree that the soundtrack of this game is simply awe-inspiring.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The intro cinematic manages to create highly realistic-looking humans without falling into the UncannyValley. This only accentuates the [[MomentOfAwesome awesomeness]] and [[TearJerker sadness]] of it.

* CounterpartComparison: With its heavy styling, religious undertones, and focus on keeping humanity "pure" from outside influences, resemblances to a [[LighterAndSofter much saner]] [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Imperium of Man]] were inevitably drawn. The resemblance could be coincidental -- Purity's religious/Catholic undertones may also be drawn from [[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Civilization-Beyond-Earth-Influences-Include-Hyperion-Cantos-Contact-Canticle-for-Leibowitz-454166.shtml explicitly mentioned influences]] like ''Literature/ACanticleForLeibowitz'' and the ''Literature/HyperionCantos'' -- but many a fan still sees it and plays Purity like xeno purging space marines.

* CounterpartComparison: With its heavy styling, religious undertones, and focus on keeping humanity "pure" from outside influences, resemblances to a [[LighterAndSofter much saner]] [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Imperium of Man]] were inevitably drawn. The resemblance could be coincidental -- Purity's religious/Catholic undertones may also be drawn from [[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Civilization-Beyond-Earth-Influences-Include-Hyperion-Cantos-Contact-Canticle-for-Leibowitz-454166.shtml explicitly mentioned influences]] like Literature/ACanticleForLeibowitz and the Literature/HyperionCantos -- but many a fan still sees it and plays Purity like xeno purging space marines.

* CounterpartComparison: With its heavy styling, religious undertones, and focus on keeping humanity "pure" from outside influences, resemblances to a [[LighterAndSofter much saner]] [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Imperium of Man]] were inevitably drawn. The resemblance could be coincidental -- Purity's religious/Catholic undertones may also be drawn from [[http://news.softpedia.com/news/Civilization-Beyond-Earth-Influences-Include-Hyperion-Cantos-Contact-Canticle-for-Leibowitz-454166.shtml explicitly mentioned influences]] like Literature/ACanticleForLeibowitz and Literature/TheHyperionCantos -- but many a fan still sees it and plays Purity like xeno purging space marines.

*** Rejinaldo the {{Badass}} CombatPragmatist in command of an EliteArmy who is willing to defend humanity against a hostile world vs. Rejinaldo the [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption warmongering]] [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]];

** The lack of a Germanic/Northern European-flavoured faction has been met with scrutiny by some portions of the fan base, and surely modders will be quick to pick up on this. Presumably, many Purity fans would like to emulate the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer40000}} Imperium of Man]]. ''Rising Tide'''s INTEGR may satisfy them though.
** Rising Tide might as well be one big split. Not one element of Rising Tide seems to have escaped a divisive critique from the fanbase, except maybe the more artistic touches.
* DemonicSpiders: Siege worms, especially in the early game. These tunneling monstrosities roam the landscape, wrecking any tile improvements and trade units they come across, and are strong enough to OneHitKill anything the player can produce until well into the game, though their slow movement speed means they can be avoided most of the time.
** And at sea, their counter parts, the Kraken. Even tougher in comparison than the siege worms, your pretty much only hope is to sacrifice ships as baits and then swarm it when it's busy. And just when you think you've gained the upper hand, they start to move in '''''packs...'''''
* EsotericHappyEnding: The Affinity-specific victories have a certain sinister cast to them, making it hard to believe that you've truly "won". Harmony factions awaken the planet and enter ecological Nirvana... at the cost of humanity's individuality. Supremacy reunites with Earth and establishes a relief effort to help any surviving Earthlings... by crushing any dissent with a massive military presence and "freeing" all humans from the limitations of their biological forms. Purity rescues and resettles Earthling refugees... but Earth itself is still dying and you've probably wiped out most of the new planet's indigenous fauna.
* GameBreaker: Trade Routes. In ''Brave New World'', each civ had a finite number of trade routes that was limited by the technologies they had researched. ''Beyond Earth'' has absolutely absurd yields for internal trade routes; it's easy for you to funnel 12 production a turn to a newly founded city- more production than what most wonders in the game offer. Not only that, but you gain trade routes through the Trade Depot, a building obtainable near the beginning of the game, meaning that, if you build enough cities, you can have an effectively infinite amount of trade routes. Now, aliens can destroy your autonomous trade unit at any time unless you have full military coverage of the route, which is a real and constant problem... until you build an early building which is said to simply "keep aliens from approaching the city", and the game casually gives you a quest option between "increase the radius of this building" (not very helpful) and "keep the current radius, but aliens don't attack trade routes". All your trade routes, for all cities, forever. The Fall 2014 patch removed the Autoplant granting free trade routes, while the Winter 2015 one ties trade route numbers to population size, thus making spamming small cities for trade less useful.
** This renders Polystralia as TheMunchkin faction, as their perk allows for two trade routes from their capital for free even without trade depots, and once you build those, your economy skyrockets.
** Two words: "Battle-suit Spam". The Purity Battle-suit when acquired at Purity Level 4 far outclasses the standard units (it has a strength level of 40) and is tougher then the other two unique units (Xeno-Swarm strength 34, [=CNDR=] strength 38). It is actually more powerful than most city defenses at this stage in the game and it is the first unit that can take Siege Worms on in an almost equal terms. And if you work the tech tree right it is possible to start manufacturing them before turn 150. Popular sponsors to do this with are Kozlov and Elodie (since they can get the requisite techs faster) and Rejinaldo (since he makes the resulting units even nastier on the offensive). It was promptly nerfed in the Fall 2014 patch.
** As of ''Rising Tide'', the Pan-Asian Cooperative. Their new passive replaces the bonuses to worker speed and Wonder production with simply a free Wonder in each new city. As in, the moment a city has been founded the first Wonder built will only take one turn (though resources such as Firaxite and Geothermal are still required). Combine that with the Colonization Corps Agreement (Colonists take longer to build but cities are founded instantly) and an expansionist PAC can easily be claiming resource-rich areas and finishing Wonders every two or three turns, and with the bonus Diplomatic Capital from Wonders means that PAC player can simply purchase everything they need with DC.

* GoddamnBats: Around midgame the alien units become this ([[DemonicSpiders except]] [[SandWorm siege worms]]). While early on they're a considerable threat, once you get a good sized army it generally turns into ''Film/StarshipTroopers''. However, they have a very annoying tendency to block roads, sit in mountain passes, and generally clog unit movement, forcing you to spend time and resources to exterminate them. In ''Rising Tide'', that's even the whole point of the [[PlantAliens Hydracoral]], living plants that multiply quickly and exist solely to block your water movement.
* InferredHolocaust: As discussed in FridgeHorror, unlike the previous civilization titles, the different affinities means that at later stages, factions that pursued different affinity paths would have developed so differently that they can no longer be even considered to be the same species anymore. Meaning that in the event that a city gets conquered by a faction that have a different affinity, [[UnwillingRoboticization forceful augmentation]] or, if Purity is the invader, forceful ''[[BroughtDownToNormal de-]][[BodyHorror augmentation]]'' will likely ensue to the conquered population.
* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: One of the most common criticisms leveled at the game is that "it's just Civ 5, [[RecycledInSpace but in space]]". In terms of overall gameplay it's not entirely wrong, though individual systems - such as research - have been reworked from Civ 5.
* LighterAndSofter: While not a cheer fest, in comparison to ''[=SMAC=]'', ''Beyond Earth'' has humanity sending fleets of colony ships to the stars while Earth, while falling apart, is still intact. Whereas in the original game, Earth had been nuked to oblivion, and Planet was a death world.

* MemeticMutation: Brasilia being the military superpower in this setting, plus the BugWar aspect, has had many gamers jokingly quoting ''Film/StarshipTroopers'': "I'm from Buenos Aries and I say kill 'em all!"
** Also, the sardonic joke that Brazil invaded and destroyed Germany because they were responsible for their humiliating thrashing in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, which explains A) why there is no German faction in the game, and B) why Brasilia gets a military bonus.
*** Although, with the release of ''Rising Tide,'' the presence of INTEGR and reworking of Rejinaldo's sponsor bonus may have {{Jossed}} that joke/theory.
* MostAnnoyingSound: Due to a bug, the [=ADVISR=] will remind you to build trade units if you have trade slots open. Even if those slots are only open because a couple of your trade units have completed their route, and are awaiting new orders.

* ParanoiaFuel: There's something slightly... off about the seemingly innocent [[MysteriousWaif Kavitha Thakur]]. The fact that she actually ''could'' be [[Really700YearsOld Really 200 Years Old]], and the ease with which she gets her otherwise chaotic [[{{Egopolis}} country]] to follow her, as well as the formerly HollywoodAtheist columnist to go from hating her to adoring her, is especially creepy.

* ScrappyMechanic: That little "Communique" feature was added presumably to give the AI more personality and interactivity in singleplayer. Unfortunately this means they'll also nag you incessantly about how much they despise the way you run your colony ([[GangUpOnTheHuman not unlike a bunch of elitist players bullying a newcomer]]) and if you can't magically improve your standings in short order they'll declare war on you rather than simply mind their own business.
* SoOkayItsAverage: Some people's take on the game. It's still a Civilization game which makes it addictive for dozens of hours on end, and it's got good ideas but it's just not ''quite'' as compelling (or as good a buy) as Civ V Complete. This has also been leveled at the tech quotes or unit lore: nice ideas but not all that spectacular. There's no Wonder videos that make a lick of sense, for example. Or that the different sides just aren't very distinct from each other at all, because every faction is so customizable they are all effectively identical. There's no obvious bad guys anymore.

* GoddamnBats: Around midgame the alien units become this ([[DemonicSpiders except]] [[SandWorm siege worms]]). While early on they're a considerable threat, once you get a good sized army it generally turns into ''Film/StarshipTroopers''. However, they have a very annoying tendency to block roads, sit in mountain passes, and generally clog unit movement, forcing you to spend time and resources to exterminate them. In ''Rising Tide'', that's even the whole point of the [[PlantAliena Hydracoral]], living plants that multiply quickly and exist solely to block your water movement.

* GoddamnBats: Around midgame the alien units become this ([[DemonicSpiders except]] [[SandWorm siege worms]]). While early on they're a considerable threat, once you get a good sized army it generally turns into ''Movie/StarshipTroopers''. However, they have a very annoying tendency to block roads, sit in mountain passes, and generally clog unit movement, forcing you to spend time and resources to exterminate them. In ''Rising Tide'', that's even the whole point of the [[PlantAliena Hydracoral]], living plants that multiply quickly and exist solely to block your water movement.