"All we are saying... is give global domination a chance."

Introduction
Civilization is not your typical strategy game. If Starcraft and Sim City were to some how create offspring, Nifty Looking Risk is the game that you would get. However, as a last minute developing decision, the name was changed to Civilization. It is a very fun game and if you would like to learn more about it then read on.

Sound (6/10)
There is not much sound in Civilization. The music is very catchy, but it is also very annoying. It surely doesn’t help that every 15 seconds it is repeated with only a slight variation, and then after 4 or 5 more loops of a slight variation then it will go back to the original sound. I suppose you could make it more interesting if you were to take a lot of Nyquil before playing. Which is assuming you have a cold of course… right?

Aside from the music there are some more sound effects. Unfortunately the other sound effects aren’t much different from the abundant variety of the music. Sorry for the sarcasm, but it helps to get the point across. The sound effects range from people cheering for the omnipotent ruler that you are (it really brightens my day), to people booing for the omnipotent ruler that you are (it really brightens my day). So either way your day will be brightened, that is good. There are also sounds for battles. You can either hear slight variations of gun sounds, or slight variations of people yelling.

So the sounds weren’t do great, but what can you expect from a game (aside from Super Mario Brothers 3)?

Graphics (4/10)
There really is not much to look at. I would not be surprised if the Super Nintendo was able to run this game. I could go on for awhile about how the graphics are a far cry from good, but that would make you lose interest in the game.

Gameplay (9/10)
As I mentioned earlier you are the omnipotent ruler of a civilization. Your sole objective to find and explore brave new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. And to boldly go where no gamer has gone before! Do not hold it against me if I got that wrong. So, as I was saying you are raising a civilization to achieve world domination. You start out with a city and you make due with the primitive technology that you have. Have no fear; you will soon be expanding (at least I hope you are smart enough to figure that much out). Before you know it, your science/technology and military will soon be thriving. How you use them is up to you, and this is why Civilization is so much fun. You can be in the seventeenth century with battle ships about to demolish some other measly civilization.

Story (N/A)
There is no story aside from your imagination. Maybe one of those days when you have a cold your Nyquimagination will provide for quite the story, but until then you should focus on the exquisite gameplay.

Replay Value (10/10)
One of the things that really separates Civilization from the other games is that it hardly ever gets old. I always find solace in playing Civilization again and again. The thrill of being a supreme ruler of the world will find a spot in my ego any day.

Final Recommendation
Civilization is a must have for your collection of PC game, or just games in general. Hey, this is your one and only chance to be the supreme ruler of the world. It is not a chance that should passed up.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/02/03, Updated 02/02/03