"The god of all games"

Games have come a long way, as many of you have noticed. Every once in a while, there's a game that redefines it's genre, or, for better coherence, creates it's own genre. This is the case with Sid Meier's Civilization. The game, which if memory serves was released over a decade ago, immersed players with a depth of play that has yet to be rivaled, save for the newer editions of Civilization. In 1996, Sid released his heavily anticipated sequel to that strategy game: Civilization II. Many vigilant gamers were wary of a lackluster attempt to cash in on the Civilization name. However, much to their contentment, the game was everything, if not more, they could have asked for. The game was a smash hit, and around the globe people were praising it as the single most addictive game of the 20th century. Civilization, it seemed, was just a mere afterthought compared to the overwhelming game that was released. The major selling point of the Civilization series, and all strategy games for that matter, was the randomness of each game. However, Civilization felt as if every moment was pre-planned, yet somehow random. The game, as it stands, is by far the most impressive carving into a CD that will ever be released.

Graphics

You'll hear people complain about the horrible graphics of Civilization II. However if your main purpose in purchasing a game is graphics you have other problems to address. It is necessary to say, though, that Civilization II has pretty awful graphics. The units aren't even animated. If graphics mean everything to you, then get Alpha Centauri. It's just about as good but with a heck of a lot better graphics. If you want to get the true Civilization experience, there is no other alternative than Civilization II. Graphics are inept, so don't go crying to mommy if the game looks like it was programmed with an Apple II.

Graphics: 3/10

Sound

Somewhat repetitive music bogs the game down from time to time, but the overall feel is adequate. The victory themes and ''We love the president'' themes all fit in nicely to an otherwise dull soundtrack. It would be recommended to take out the Civilization II CD (You don't need it after installation, except for music) and pop in your favorite CD. This should add a little flair to your otherwise dull soundtrack.

Sound: 8/10

Mechanics

The menus can sometimes be ambiguous, but rarely does the player get confused. The scheme is perfect for beginners, but I would recommend at least 10 hours of play before you start fiddling with the little details. Play on Cheiftain, because any higher difficulty level will tear your hide and leave you feeling like a loser. The battles are simplistic, but not without their own set of strategy. Units gradually wear down in health, which means constant bombardment by opposing forces can wipe a stronger unit out. Also, the units have a wide range of functions, and learning these functions will become vital to your success as a Civilization player. The game is turn-based, which, depending on your tastes, is ultimately the best way to go for this type of game.

Mechanics: 10/10

Lasting Appeal

Of course, as with any strategy game, Civilization II has infinite replay value. However, Civilization II's replay shines with an odd quality, as if the programmers knew exactly what was going to happen all the time. It is truly a monument to programming. On the bad side, however, the game lacks a multiplayer, which, depending on the player, really bites the proverbial bullet. Overall, the single player game is so outstanding that it overshadows this weakness.

Lasting Appeal: 10/10

Overall, if you have even least bit of common decency you should buy this game immediately. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the perils of building the greatest empire on the globe!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/01, Updated 10/30/01