Sid Meier's Civilization II

The Good
First of all I had played and loved Civ I. I thought no game would ever replace it as my favorite game of all time. So when I bought the second installment I doubted that Civ II had what it took. At first I was right. It was hard for me to give up the old Civ for the new graphics and design. I looked for any excuse to put this game down (3d isn't the same, its hard to learn ect) But this game had so much to offer. After a month I would never play the orginal again. If I had to put my finger on the one thing that made this game better it had to be the unit editor. To be able to create my own units and built Airbourne and B-52's WOW WOW WOW.

The Bad
In some ways Civ II added so much, but in others it didn't. Really the game is not that much different from Civ I in the way the game progresses. You could say that Civ II is just an update with some more units and better graphics. However I think that would be a little unfair. Overall the game has few flaws other than a bug with music. Me and my friend both had trouble getting music to play at times. (Sometimes If I uninstalled Civ II and then reinstalled it later the music would not work.)

The Bottom Line
I have been playing PC games for a very long time. I have also played more games than the average hard core gamer. Right now I have over 200 game cd's (not burned) and there is not many that I have not beat. After 15 years of gaming on Pc's, Nintendo's, Sega's, Atari's, and others THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL OF THEM. Take it from me it doesn't get any better than this.
WSM

The Good
"Civilization" and "Civilization II" (they are essentially the same game) are, without question, the best video games ever made. No other PC game even approaches them for replayability, fun, depth and sheer addictiveness.

The game is perfectly paced and balanced, offering the player a test of planning on several different levels, challenging without confusing. Every aspect of the game combines perfectly with everything else and with the game's overall direction. It's never boring, never repetitive, and works perfectly in every way. Eleven years after the original was first published, every other global conquest game just pales in comparison. This is truly the standard to which all strategy games must be compared.

No serious gamer can be without "Civilization II" on the hard drive.

The Bad
There is nothing not to like about the game. It has no weaknesses. It's old, of course, and yet the graphics are entirely functional.

Players new to the game should avoid buying the "Test of Time" version, however, which has radically changed (and atrocious) graphics.

The Bottom Line
Civilization II is the absolute pinnacle of computer gaming. Anyone who enjoys computer games must get Civilization II.

The Good
The first Civilization was already a great game. The second is better in part because of a detectable upgrade in sound and graphics. More importantly, the game is richer as you have more units, technology, wonders, etc to play around with. Also, the introduction of damage bars (as opposed to an all or nothing combat resolution system) goes a long way in alleviating any residual fears from Civ I where you have found yourself exclaiming in surprise, "That cheezy phalanx sunk my BATTLESHIP!!!"

So relax, don't have your battleships run away from those spear throwing punks.

The Bad
Some of the same problems as the first. The AI didn't seemed to have improved. With more unit wonders and unit types, it is now easier to beat the game. Consequently, the Emporer level in Civ I is harder than the Deity level in Civ II. So if you are looking for a greater strategic challenge from Civ II, it will disappoint.

The Bottom Line
Best game of the genre I've ever played...I never quite appreciated Fundamentalism to its full extent until Civ II.

The Good
The game is very engrossing and entertaining. I liked the fact that you have total control over everything (except when the peasants are in a revolting mood). Learning to play the game is pretty simple however it does take a while to learn the best strategies for improving your score at the end. For those who like to cheat, the game provides those at the click of a mouse. I like to use the cheats to maximize myself whenever some other civ has all but beaten me (and I'm down to one city). Heh!heh! I hate to lose and this way you never do.

The Bad
At times I had trouble getting a round (turn) to end. The game would act like I still had a move to make (and maybe I did but I wanted to proceed) and wouldn't go to the next round. Also at times having another civ's unit in your area (whom you were not at war with) would block you from moving. That could get real annoying!

The Bottom Line
This is an excellent turn-based strategy game. Plenty of replay value with so many different civilizations that can appear when starting a new game. Also the land can change by random generation if you are tired of the pre-drawn maps.

The Good
Just about everything. Basically, it has the addictive qualities that few games can match, and will hook you very easily. It's varied enough so that there's incentive to play, and fairly well balanced, although perhaps not as much as its pseudosequel, Alpha Centauri. It uses recognizable icons from human history, so it draws you in, as you can identify with the subject material. It's hard to describe all that's right with this game-there's just too much. The Gold edition also has scenarios from the expansion packs that are varied and rather interesting, as well as the multiplayer, which works fairly well (at least over a LAN.)

The Bad
-Lots- of micromanagement as your empire expands. The AI pathfinding is somewhat braindead, so if you're playing on a large map, it's a pain to maneuver units all the way across. You can't group units, so you have to individually move each. The automatic build orders for your cities don't always work, either, and they build stuff that you don't always need. Graphics are crisp, but not spectacular, and there's no multiplayer in the original.

The Bottom Line
Simply awesome. Civilization II may not be a huge leap over the original, but it fine tunes everything in the original to create a polished and highly addictive game.

The Good
A brilliant example of quality over quantity. Despite its dated looks it still plays superbly and has to be THE definitive strategy game. A real test of mental skill over a superb concept makes for a classic. It constantly draws me back even now for another go...

The Bad
The graphic aren't stunning but then you want to "PLAY" a game don't you?

The Bottom Line
Any game where you can start playing at 10pm then suddenly look up and find that its daylight has to be something special.

The Good
Hmmm, just about everything. Great (and very addictive!!) gameplay, no-frills graphics, and more customizability than you can handle. And even though I get tired of this game sometimes and quit playing it for months, I always seem to come back to it eventually.

The Bad
The music gets kind of boring (though you can turn it off), and the original version was NOT multiplayer (though multiplayer was added later -- I eventually got Civ2 Multiplayer Gold). Otherwise, I can't think of much else.

The Bottom Line
Don't play it if you have to get up early, because you may be up all night. Start playing at 9 or 10 PM, and next thing you know, it may be 4 AM. An all-time classic!

The Good

This game is great for someone without access to a PC, who has a deep longing to try out the Civilization series. It captures the basic gameplay elements of the PC version well, and may provide entertainment to die-hard strategy fans.

The Bad

Unfortunately, the Sony Playstation is not a PC, and this game does not translate well to a console system. The interface is clunky and awkward, with all interactions performed through the control pad. The graphics leave a lot to be desired. The Playstation is certainly capable of making things look nicer than this. The real killer of this game however, is the unbearably long amount of wait time between turns. Late in the game, on a large map with 5 opponents, you can find yourself sitting idle for literally minutes on end, while the opponent AI manages its empires.

The Bottom Line

'Civilization II' for the Playstation is not going to make very many people happy. Only fans of the Civ series who don't have access to a computer should try this one. And really, what fans of the Civ series don't have access to a computer?

The Good
This game is VERY flexible! Whatever you don't like can be changed by editing Rules.txt, and other text files. The created worlds I don't like can be gotten around by creating my own stock of pre-made worlds using map editor and then selecting them at random. Scenarios can also be created and saved for re-use. the cheat mode is also useful for experimenting, instruction, and creating scenarios. Combat, movement, and cost properties of units can be changed if you wish. Reseach pattern can be changed, units can be made avalable with any advance you want, any wonder can be made non expiring or avalable sooner! New unit can be created, and given unique charactoristics. Can be run w/o the CD-ROM. Likes Win 3.1, 95 and 98 and probably all other Windows versions.

The Bad
The worlds it creates are too random, not enough variation, and have too many small islands and not enough water, even in the small land mass variation. High council advice sometimes is inapropriate.

The Bottom Line
The ultimate strategy game, with endless variations: you can make it what you want!

The Good
Civilization II is probably the most addictive PC game of all time. The gameplay is perfect -- complex and brilliantly designed so that there are always several things you're looking forward to that are coming up in just another turn if you just keep playing 30 seconds longer. Hours later...

The interface is easy, and between the in-game civilopedia and the poster (tragically missing in Civ III), every unit, improvement, and technology is thoroughly explained. Also this game is extremely friendly to being tweaked by the player.

The Bad
Civilization II is probably the most addictive PC game of all time. You'll keep playing long after you've stopped enjoying it on any level beyond cheap compulsiveness, wasting hours that could have been spent lying in the sun or playing a greater variety of games.

The graphics are unexceptional and I hate the music (but you can turn it off).

The Bottom Line
Super-addictive civilization-building strategy game.

The Good
This game is extremely fun. User must balance production vs. technological research. Gives a better perspective of history-- if I had any high school aged kids who didn't like history, I'd make them play this game.

The Bad
Higher difficulty settings mainly influenced "happiness" of citizens, rather than quality of AI. Too slow... I was playing it on ~ Pentium 90.

The Bottom Line
You try to conquer the world either techonologically or militarily, or both.

The Good
Outstanding replay value, quick, smooth pace, there's always something to do every turn. Wide variety of options, unit types, technologies, wonders, etc to choose from. Very stable, never had a lock-up or crash.

The Bad
Too many barbarians! Micro-managing each city can be a chore later in the game. Tedious soundtrack.

The Bottom Line
This is an excellent game that not only offers great play value, but also gives historical insight into its components and how they effect the game.

The Good
I liked it because it was Civilization. It got a much needed and fairly well done Windoze-GUI. It had lots of add ons.

The Bad
The gameplay wasn't as good as the original. They went nuts and added all these extra types of units. They didn't know when to stop, and it ruined the balance.

The Advisors screen was gaudy. The Elvis in Civ1 was a cool little joke, but the Elvis Impersonator and Hammy Actors in Civ2 were tedious and ruined the immersion. Plus the same "films" are repeated over and over again. They add nothing. When a Toga-wearing American with a thick accent comes out to advise my Chinese emperor, well...

Stuff they could have fixed like micromanaging is still a problem.

Hobson's choice. Civ1 has better gameplay, but a DOS interface with a steep learning curve. Civ2 is easier, but not nowhere as much fun to play.

The Bottom Line
Good to have a Windows update to the original, but Sid got carried away and added too much crap, wrecking the balance.

The Good
The evolutionary nature of the game, power levels of nations varies depending on wealth, military power etc. Technology begins with the wheel and ends with fusion and spans 6000 years. The game can be good when your nation is under threat and construction of tanks etc is what u depend on, it also varies the amount of years a turn takes up so that science advances occur when they should have done in real human existance, it also gives you the opportunity to control the diplomatic negotiations and customize your empire with roads, railroads and irrigation modifications....

The Bad
... however a sense of helplessness arises when one sees ones towns and cities being overun one after another, also the nature of turn based strategy means the game isn't intense at all, RTS games allow you to change combat while its occuring by giving units different orders, for me its the best turn-based strategy game because of its scope, but when I play it I stop after about 30mins and change to an RTS game.

The Bottom Line
If you like turn based strategy then get it if you prefer RTS, don't it will only make you want to play a RTS game. Simple.