The Civ games don't get much better than this! The only thing wrong is that you might lose your social life.
Gameplay is the most important aspect of the game, and Civilization gets it close to superb, with only minor errors. The depth of the game is outstanding. You can build roads, mines, harvest resources, manage your spendings and much more. However, the game has a slow learning curve, you will be addicted the minute you master the game. I can't believe how real the game feels. It seems as if you're a real leader, looking at a map and consulting your advisors. Advisors. They really help you find your way throughout the game. You really need to look at your advisor screen often to address what you are lacking in and what you need to accomplish. The game does seem a bit dull in the Ancient Time, but when you really get towards the more advanced ages, the game barely misses perfection. The only thing wrong in the game is that the whole battle mechaincs are mainly randomized which can depend on the outcome of wars and the future of your cities. But if you have a big enough army, this is only minor issue. All in all the game gets a 9 out of 10 in this category.
The graphics aren't the best I've seen. they are good for animation, but still seem a bit clay-like. The leaders also look very cartoonish at times which may put down some gamers' tastes. Then again, a strategy game doesn't need graphics to succeed. As I see it, this game gets a 8 out of 10 here.
The sound in the game is really.... off at times. They aren't really bad as they are repetitive. Action sound effects are fine. Some things such as boat sounds and some artillery gets annoying and just doesn't seem quite right. An example is when you lose a Galley in the ancient age. It sounds really odd. But this is only concerning some of the sounds, like an eighth of the sounds. The rest are perfectly fine, just they aren't outstanding and immersive. The music is really good. In fact it really gets stuck in your head after a while. To me, I think the sound deserves a 7 out of 10.
This game is worth every penny you own. It will keep you enthralled for weeks if not months. It never gets old since there is a map maker and a countless amount of outcomes and options. Nowadays you can get this game for somewhere between ten and twenty dollars. That's a bargain. The game also doesn't take up much space on the computer either. So you won't have to second think about getting because you're running out of room. Buy it! Here we go, 10 out of 10!
This game will not be put down by many. Maybe one in a thousand or so will not like it at all. Just give it time and it will be one of your favorite games of all time. It may be dated but it ain't broke. It's immersion and depth will draw many. It is hard. Don't think it's a walk in the park cause it will test you. It may even be a bit frustrating at times, but the ending reward definetly out weighs the minor and somewhat annoying bugs. I think this game deserves a 9 out of 10 here.
All in all, this game is classic. It shows that some older types of gaming can be just as fun as Halo. In fact at times they beat Halo. If you wan't to get a game that you won't regret buying, get Civ III. It's worth it!