A simple strategy game that will keep you hooked for hours.
The gameplay here is some of the best that I have ever encountered. First of all, it is very simple and that is not a bad thing. Creating units, roads, cities, and other things is just a matter of clicking one or two times and moving on to more important things, such as diplomacy. Diplomacy here is not very in-depth. This includes signing peace treaties or cease fires, threatening enemies, negotiating bargains, and keeping your civilization safe. This also only requires a few simple clicks and then you are on your way again. Fighting is played out between two units by moving into a space your enemy occupies and watching to see if your unit outlasts the other's. That is really all you need when having so many other things to do; you really do not want to sit there for a few minutes while two units go at each other. The game also includes the "Wonders of the World," which include The Great Wall, Colossus, Hanging Gardens, Pyramids, etc. These come with short movies that show off the grandeur of these spectacular accomplishments of the ancient and modern worlds. They all have useful upgrades that you can use to gain an advantage over the competition. For example, The Great Wall gives you a defense boost and in diplomacy, all civilizations are required to ask for a peace treaty.
The graphics here are nothing spectacular, but why should they be, they get the job done. Units all have shields that designate their life and what civilization they are associated with, along with certain characteristics that go along with that particular unit. Roads look like roads, cities look like cities, and the land looks like land. Nothing more, nothing less. The most impressive things graphically are the forementioned Wonder movies and going into city mode to see all that you have built in a well-rendered display.
The sounds made during fighting are less than spectacular, but you can still tell what they are. The music is what stands out, but can get really repetitive once you play the game for awhile. Other than that, there is not much else to say about it.
This is gaming at its best right here. Not only is it fun, but it is also addictive; I am sure anyone can vouch for that. I have spent countless hours trying to conquer the world, on all sets of difficulties and all sorts of terrain and maps. It also comes with its own map editor in case you get bored with the existing maps and want to build new ones. There is no end to the possibilities of what you can do in this game. Recommended to everyone, I cannot praise this game enough.