| Game
Overview
There is only one word for
this top shelf title from Eagle Games -
EPIC! This was the first computer conversion
that Eagle Games attempted to convert into
a board game and boy what a choice. Civilisation
is now up to its 3rd incarnation in the
computer industry and it has set the benchmark
for strategy gaming for over two decades.
In other words "What were they thinking?"
as the margin for failure was huge. This
game is so enormous that I can only offer
an overview. As the title suggests, players
are trying to build the greatest empire
the world has seen. The game begins in 4000
B.C. with each player starting with a single
village. As the game progresses each civilisation
will travel through time taking in the 4
major eras - Ancient, Medieval, Industrial
and Modern. By using settlers, players explore
the continents of the world, discover rare
resources, various terrains and each other
as they prepare to expand by founding new
villages. In time populations begin to grow
and villages become towns, then cities and
finally a metropolis is possible. The game
revolves around the research of Technologies
(53 in all) ranging from Iron Working to
Miniaturisation and Robotics. By acquiring
one technology, new ones become possible
as your civilisation reaches new heights
of awareness and the building of Great Wonders
(25) is possible. Indeed the sheer scope
and complexity of the Technology Tree is
enormous and does a great service to the
original game upon which it is based. Acquiring
new technologies also allows civilisations
to create more advanced and devastating
weapons to attack their neighbours and defend
their borders and for this reason Civilisation
requires players to learn the art of diplomacy.
Trade also plays a huge part in the game
as the rare resources (8 in all) are the
key to generating wealth. Gaining a monopoly
of any one resource generates riches and
civilisations that have discovered one another
can strike trade deals and agree to split
the spoils, thus gaining economic benefits
over their opponents. This constant cycle
of discovery, expansion, diplomacy, trade
and conflict are played out over the course
of history until a winner is determined.
The game offers several victory conditions
including Diplomatic, Military and Space.
As the game enters its 3rd and then final
era, players begin to jockey for position
to reach one of these victory conditions
and the one they choose will influence greatly
their final decisions in all aspects of
the game.
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