"Sid Meier's start to a great History lesson game."

Truthfully, when I first played this game, it being a semi DOS game and its graphics and the gameplay being sort of difficult, I found that all the nationalities, strategies, and etc ... were all, actually, just like a true history lesson.

Despite it being true that it IS A HISTORY LESSON, I will say this was a great start to his series and without a doubt has shown that is can educate you, it can motivate you even, find your own family history's roots and your own nationality, and the fact is it is also even FUN... at times.

You can choose from one of many great civilizations such as the English, Americans, Irish, Aztecs, Zulus, Indians, Germans, Russians, and so on. This game also explains history about these nationalities, their great leaders, their people and what these nationalities really have done and have been and what they still ARE in the world we live in today.

To me, I believe with this beginning game to many other Civilizations that topped this first game, Sid Meier did not just make this game a Masterpiece in DOS and PC world, I believe he really made this game an ultimate masterpiece in real, true, LIFE. Play this game and you will utterly and undoubtfully see why I say such words!

Graphics: 46%
Words: Sadly, it is quite impossible to give DOS games a Graphic rating over 50-60%, other than Secret Agent or perhaps a few slightly updated DOS Games, however THIS game deserved a 46% for its slightly stale animation movements and figures and when you fight battles against tanks, people, and so on, you practically see NO battle really, they just tell you what happens.

Sound: 57%
Words: You may say this was too high of a rating, but it is just right. Due to the sound effects being almost bad, the music tunes were COMPLETELY right at this and that time of the game.

Replay: 0%
Words: When you play this game for a few hours, or if you beat the game, and you are just an average gamer, let me tell you you will get bored of this game so much that you will not play another game of it until like a WEEK... AT LEAST. But remember I have said this before, a video game does not have to have a high replay value to be a great game, remember that!

Gameplay: 41%
Words: Well... I really hated how you could barely even learn how to migrate fields, move your soldiers, or your village, or whatever, and the funniest thing was when you learned how to move your soldier, you have no CLUE where you are even going, and your village or town or city even is unguarded. A little too difficult at times, Sid!

Story: 0%
Words: No story involved.

Characters: 70%
Words: Characters are branded the nationalities in this game, I say Sid made them with enough SPICE and enough history information and background to have a fun gaming experience I believe!

Final Words: If you like history, buy the game, but if you an average gamer, don't buy it. Still, either way, Sid Meier will always be remembered as making the ultimate game that educates you on nationities, history, and leading one of the great civilizations of all time into world domination or a large war of politics! A masterpiece with just the IDEA that was involved! Excellent work Sid... for a DOS styled game!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/09/02, Updated 02/09/02