Sid Meier's Civilization 3

Civilization III offers 16 playable civilizations and each has its own strengths and bonuses. The game begins in the year 4000 BC 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. 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.

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

I bought Civilisation III with the mouth watering prospect of my favourite game being improved and updated. Unfortunately this is not the case. I found the new sphere of influence confusing and the gameplay needlessly drawn out.

Even on basic levels I found it hard to progress my civilisation. One of the things I enjoyed about the original was the ability to explore, develop and fight. It made the game a little more like an RPG at times. However, I found all of this a little tedious on Civilisation III. I tried, and I tried, and I tried to like it. But I don't.


My favourite strategy game   May 8, 2005
Tusalu (Toustrup Mark, Denmark)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

If you want to build up a civilazation from ancient times all the way up to today this is the game you shall buy!
It's just great. Lots of new features. Small wonders. Spy missions. Improved trade. City govenors. Better diplomacy. Everything is improved.
But if you want a perfect game buy both expansion packs.


excellent game better then Civ 2   March 26, 2005
4 out of 8 found this review helpful

After being dissapointed with Civ 2, i got Civ 3 and found it to be excellent and the graphics have improved very much as well and the controls and the gameplay are not as awkward either. You start out with a settler and and a worker like you do Civ 2 and then you found a city and you go from there.

You build up your army and you build your resources, the soldiers is one man and you keep building them and when you and the enemy fight it is like a round and then you can keep doing that but it is so much fun believe me. It also comes with a map editor which is quite easy to work out also.

Overall the game is very good more then very good actually. I would recommend this game to any PC gamer.