A true classic that stands the test of time... as you are supposed to build a civilization in-game!
I first tried to play this on a Tandy 1000... That wasn't happening. It was only until I got a 386 machine (pre-pentium, for your information) that I was able to play it... and I was totally blown away.
Essentially, this is how it goes; you are a leader of a famous civilization, and you build from the ground up, learning skills and inventions. The game system is a little hard to handle at first, but eventually, it is comprehensive and useful..
Okay, no, it doesn't razzle-dazzle by today's standards. But.. It still stands up. Your soldiers and cities are blocks on screen... but it STILL stands up. It was incredibly complete. From changing governments, to increasing your weaponry, to making peace or war with other civilizations... you could even build nuclear weapons! The only thing lacking in the original was a multiplayer option, which became available in Civilization II. I've played Civ III, and Civ IV. But I still come back to this original. Calling this game a masterpiece is not a stretch, and for Sid Meier, who has made many addictive, great games, this is his Sistine Chapel.
If you haven't played this, give it a try, you won't regret it. You might need a little imagination, but it is a great, great game.
9.5, only because Civ II gave it a multiplayer feature. Ahead of it's time and truly a fun game to play for all ages.