Civilization II

"Expand your empire!"

Gameplay 10/10
You must choose the civilization you will rule and your leaders name and gender. The options at the beginning of the game that effect the way the world is created include level of difficulty, number of barbarians and the size of the world. Once your world is created you begin with some basic technologies and usually 1 or 2 units. At this point your strategic journey begins! It's up to you how your civilization will progress. You may role-play and be the benevelant leader or the ruthless warlike emperor. Some advisors say that building a strong military is the key to victory while others will suggest science. In the end, the choice is yours.

Sound 5/10
You do have a few choices for background music although they are all fairly annoying in my opinion. Music is continuous and repeating throughout the entire game, which can really get to you. The other sounds, which are pretty cool, are the crowd cheering when you have done a good job.

Graphics 7/10
For a Playstation game the graphics are not very impressive. The units do not have a whole lot of detail and the entire world consists of ''blocks'' of random terrain. I would think a better job could have been done on the graphics of Civilization II. I must say the graphics on this one are by far better than the old SNES version so this game is a huge improvement.

Replay 10/10
You will without a doubt be playing this game again and again. The possibilities are endless for a new game each time you start one. Consider choosing more barbarians or a higher level of difficulty for a much more challenging game. Deity is ''almost impossible'' to win at because the rival civilizations are extremely hostile and far more advanced. If you are able to beat the game at this level, you have something to brag about. Playing the game as a mighty ruthless warlord is also a very fun way to go at the game. Give yourself a lot of time though because you will need it.

Controls 9/10
It is very easy to learn the controls and get use to them. Units are moved with no difficulty and menu selections are self-explanatory. You are even given a ''Civilopedia'' to look up any information you may need instead of looking through the instruction booklet all the time.

Overall 9/10
Although the sound and graphics aren’t especially the strongest things in Civilization II, the gameplay makes up for it. At least you have the option to change the music or turn it off completely while you listen to your favorite CD. If you have never played this game and have a Playstation, you are missing out on a wonderful strategy game. I'm not sure how rare this game is but if you can pick it up for less than $30 it's well worth it. Grab this game if you see it!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/06/03, Updated 04/06/03