Sid Meier has done it again. I couldn't imagine how "Civilization II" could really be improved, at least not for an entirely new game. The interface is friendly, AI more challenging, and more civilizations.

Gameplay
The concept behind the game has not changed in the new version. But for those of you who haven't played "Civilization" before, I'll explain a bit about the game. In this game (turn based) it's your goal to rule and lead your civilization to greatness. Whether you do this peacefully or not, is your choice. You conquer enemies, trade with civilizations, make peace treaties, and explore the world.

An important part of the game is research. You'll have to start from the beginning, and discover the wheel, writing, and more. The more money you put into the research, the more advanced you become. The tech tree is greatly improved; it's easy to read and understand. There is also a version within the game. You can consult it easily and as often as you like.

The game offers a tutorial for beginners. It's good for learning about where things are, and how to navigate around the screen. As with most things, you'll learn more by actually playing the game. The manual is also a great tool for beginners. It's loaded with lots of great information, not just for beginners, but for those who have been playing since the beginning.

For those of you who have been playing "Civilization II" and have learned all the tricks of the trade, you'll love the improved AI. If you were playing on the hardest level in the previous version, you may want to start a few levels easier in "Civilization III." The AI does seem to cheat, and has some odd movements. Many times it seems they like to wonder around just checking up on you, but yet, often times they seem totally oblivious to attacks. Overall, the AI has become more challenging, probably because it cheats.

Graphics
"Civilization II" had awesome graphics compared to other games when it was released. The game was due for a change of graphical style. The new graphics are almost a good enough reason to buy "Civ III."
Screenshots

Sound
The sound isn't what you'd call impressive. But the sound that the game does have, is good enough. The background music isn't that bad, and the battles sound okay.

Conclusion
"Civilization III" will keep you up all night long and make you wish you could skip work. The new civilizations (and tweaks to them), graphics, and a challenging AI, makes this a great buy for "Civilization" fans. Because of some of the rule changes, and AI tweaks some players may prefer the second version over the third. However, I can easily recommend this game to any "Civilization II" fans, and those with an interest in rewriting history.

System Requirements

• Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP
• Pentium II 300 MHz
• 32 MB RAM
• 500 MB free hard drive space
• CD-Rom 4X speed or higher
• DirectX 8.0 compatible video card
• DirectX 8.0 compatible sound card