Games

Civilization IV

Platform: PC
Price: £29.99
Publisher: 2K Games
Buy it now from Amazon.co.uk

It's been almost exactly four years since Civilization III slapped us silly, and almost fifteen years since the epic strategy series first began. Four sequels in fifteen years is positively tortoise-like in the fast-moving world of games, where one sequel a year seems to the norm, but then Civ has always been the gaming preference of those who like to take things slowly.

It's a turn-based strategy game, for one thing, which in these days of instant gratification is a bit like boasting your car runs on coal. Civ turns its old-fashioned trappings into a barrage of plus points though, and for those who like their games to be lengthy, challenging and infinitely replayable, you're unlikely to find a better game this year.

The beauty of Civ's success - and this is something that goes all the way back to the first game - is in the way it balances the complex and the simple. The concept behind the game is simple - build a civilization and guide it from the dawn of time to the space age. The ways in which you can achieve that goal are nearly endless.

Ever wondered what the world would be like if the Roman's had discovered gunpowder in 1200BC? Or if America had become a socialist state? What if Leonardo DaVinci was born in London, in 1970? All of these things are not just possible, but highly likely, in the mesmerising historial soup that is Civ IV.

Needless to say, such a far-reaching objective requires some seriously meaty statistics to make it all work the way it should, buy Civ never bothers you with them. Everything plays from one screen, using just the mouse. That's right - no menus within menus within menus. No baffling keyboard layouts to memorise. The whole thing is so beautifully crafted that you can do anything from building a factory to founding a city to launching a nuclear missile with a flick of the wrist.

So if you're tempted by the idea behind the game, but are afraid of being swamped with gobbledegook - don't be. This is as intuitive as gaming gets.

What's always made Civilization stand out from its strategy peers is that it's never just been about resource grinding and military build-up. It's a philosophical game, and you must not only look after the nuts and bolts of your nation, but also the social and governmental aspects of it. While feudal dictatorship may help keep things together during troubled times, wouldn't your people be happier - and more productive - if you were to adopt a more liberal humanitarian ethos? Or you can just plump for fascism and be done with it. Should you concentrate on developing skills like writing and music, or should you focus on science and strength?

The beauty is, there's no right or wrong answers. However you feel like playing is the right way to play. It's a very open-minded, open-ended old hippy of a game.

New to Civ IV is the added element of religion, allowing you to found the major belief systems of the world - from Islam to Christianity to Buddhism - and set them as state religions, then send out missionaries to convert your neighbours. Each belief brings benefits and pitfalls, and you'll be just as vulnerable to other religions taking hold in your provinces.

Nearly everything about the game has been improved or beefed up into something rich and rewarding. And yet the game itself is easier to understand and play than ever. The options for customisation are practically infinite, and it's been designed with online multiplayer in mind right from the start. Even a quick game of Civilization can last a whole day, but as it's the gaming equivalent of losing yourself in a classic book, that's as high a recommendation as you can make. One of the greatest games of all time just got greater.

Dan Whitehead