Game Information
- Platform: Windows 2000 / 98 / NT / Me / XP
- PEGI Rating: Ages 7 and Over
- Media: Video Game
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Sid Meier's name is synonymous with outstanding games, particularly turn-based strategy games. From the original Civilization to Colonization to Alpha Centauri, Meier has been behind some of the best games ever made. Now we can add Civilization III to the list. The third installment in Meier's signature series offers all the outstanding gameplay featured in the first two games while including new features and refinements that keep the series fresh and engaging.
Civilization III offers 16 playable civilizations, and each has its own strengths and bonuses. The game begins in the year 4000 B.C., when your civilization is nothing more than a primitive tribe, and each turn progresses the game forward in time. You manage growth, military production, city development, diplomacy, and scientific research as your civilization grows from a single village to several towns to a continent-spanning metropolitan sprawl. The fun is in deciding whether to research writing or the wheel, whether to build a musketeer to take out an encroaching enemy pikeman or direct your city to work on the culturally significant Sistine Chapel. There are five ways to win the game, ranging from wiping out the other civilizations with military power to defeating them through cultural dominance, which is one of several new victory conditions.
Fans of Meier's other turn-based games will find the same addictive gameplay present in Civilization III. Building off the gameplay are several new additions, specifically the new cultural rating and the new resource management options. Every turn, each civilization earns culture points based upon how many wonders and other culturally significant structures are built within its cities. The higher the culture rating, the faster your civilization's borders grow. If your border extends to an enemy city, it's possible to capture that city without shedding any blood; the city's citizens will be attracted by your culture and willingly rebel.
The other big change is that you must collect raw materials in order to build certain units. For example, oil and rubber are required to build modern units, and if those resources aren't within your territory, you'll need to negotiate with other civilizations for them. And because the game's negotiation process is very deep and involved, you may find yourself cut off from key raw materials if you're at odds with other civilizations, which, in turn, will weaken you militarily.
The AI powering rival civilizations is quite good, and is capable of negotiating complex arrangements with both your civilization and other civilizations. These negotiations run from simple trade agreements to complex mutual protection pacts, and it's not uncommon to find an enemy civilization taking steps to isolate you from the rest of the world.
There are a few minor issues with the game, most notably with unit imbalances and the tedious endgame, which can drag on forever. These are minor problems, however, and don't detract from the overall experience. Fans of Sid Meier's other games, or anyone looking for a fun and challenging gaming experience, owe it to themselves to pick up Civilization III. --P. Meyer
Pros:
- Enemy AI is very impressive
- New additions really add to the experience
- Very addictive gameplay
- Some unit imbalances
- Endgame is a little long-winded
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Andrea
Before you turn your computer on, please take a 48 hour ration of food and water and then lock yourself away from the real world!
I played the first civ about 14 years ago and have bought every single civ in between that and conquests. this is the most addicitve game ever, and i have played many a game.
there are many more features, bonus resources and civilizations,improvements, advances and actions. It is not too difficlut to use. once you get the hang of it all....that's it - you will be hooked. It is an amazing game - an absolute must if you like this sort of thing.
just buy it to find out!
5 stars and a thumbs up and an order for Civ IV from me please
I played the first civ about 14 years ago and have bought every single civ in between that and conquests. this is the most addicitve game ever, and i have played many a game.
there are many more features, bonus resources and civilizations,improvements, advances and actions. It is not too difficlut to use. once you get the hang of it all....that's it - you will be hooked. It is an amazing game - an absolute must if you like this sort of thing.
just buy it to find out!
5 stars and a thumbs up and an order for Civ IV from me please
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By DORIAN WALL
I've been an addict of Sid Meier's Civilization from the moment it came out on PC platform (Civ2) and brought Civ3 as soon as it came out, subsequently purchased the expansion packs and have nearly worn them out. In this delux edition you get all three sets: the original Civ3, Play the World expansion & Conquests expansion packs, all for an amazing prize!
You get to play as some of the greatest races in history such as the Aztecs, the Greeks, the Romans, the Zulu and even the English all of whom have their own special unit (Jaguar Warrior, Hoplite, Legionary, Impi and Man O'War respectively).
You choose how you wish to interact with your neighbours, be nice and share technology and information, be nasty and take it by force - but be warned, they can do the same.
You decide how your nations energies and money are to be spent and which technological advances you want to learn. There are "Wonders of the World" that can be built during each of the 4 era's that you will go through such as The Hanging Gardens.
Golden era's of technology can be achieved, great leaders who can speed up production or build armies can come forth and so much more. Quick games like capture the princess, nine scenarios such as WW2 in Pacific scenario make your enjoyment level rise and rise.
I've never stopped playing this game and doubt I will, not until there's a Civ4 that is! If you like strategy games then this is a must have, never to be put down, miracle of a game. Amen.
18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By RR
You should definitly get this game if you like strategy.
There are 31 civilizations to choose from, each with their own special units and special abilities, unique to them. There is hundreds of units, eahc with their own attack, defense and movement properties in this action filled race through time. Will you choose to declare war, make peace or trade through diplomacy? As you move through the ages, you need to decide such things as which technologies to discover, and how much you tax your citizens.
Early in the game, you must recruit settlers to go off and build new cities, then you need workers to make the land around you fertile for food, or increase production by constructing mines. Build roads with these workers to resources so you may use these to create new and better units. Choose from several different governments, and discover more. Build great wonders and small wonders, each giving your civilization and yours alone massive advantages in the age you are in, whether its ancient times, medieval, industrial age, or the modern age.
This is definitly a game you should get, even though the graphics are a little dated, btu this does not matter, because the gameplay exeeds all others.
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