A highly addictive turn-based strategy-game. This is a game about strategy, not just about beeing fast!
It is the gameplay that makes Civilization IV an important game. It isn't one of those games where you can just build a great army, send it to war, and win. You must analyze situations, make friends and enemies, trade goods and resources and even make your worst enemies trust you! Building an empire is hard work. Do you want your citizens to love you? Or do you want them to be your slaves? You can build a cultural empire based on religions and philosphy and even build hollywood and invent Rock 'n' roll. If not, you can put all you strenght in developing scientific wonders. It is all up to you! Do you have the patience it takes to control one of the worlds greatest civilizations? Are you Mao Zedong with freedom of speech, or do you choose to play as Roosevelt as a teocratic despot?
Choosing a civilization is important for how well you will be able to build the civilization you dream about. If you want to crush all of your opponents, you might not want to choose Saladin, the philosopher king? But you can.. If you want!