PC Answers 1995 September/DISK19.iso/games/csheet/c/civilizn.txt

Text File | 1995-04-30 | 7KB | 123 lines

~CIVILIZATION

Strategy by MICROPROSE

Generally speaking, I steer clear of strategy games.  Reading hefty
manuals and making complicated decisions is not my idea of relaxing
- too much like hard work!  Accordingly, I approached this one with
caution, i.e., I prodded it with a stick from a safe distance.
Having ascertained that it posed no immediate threat, I went on to
try it.  I have been totally immersed in it ever since, to the
exclusion of all else.  How can that be?  Because it is truly an
exceptional game.

Well, for a start, you can get into it straight away - everything
you need to know is on screen, and you are even given hints.
Eventually, you will WANT to resort to the glossy, easy to read
manual which comes with the game (and acts as protection as well),
but at least you can see whether you like the game or not before you
get involved.

The first thing you see when you load the game is the title screen
and the credits, which you can swiftly skip by pressing any key.
Then you have a choice of loading a new game, a saved one, and of
choosing a scenario, namely Earth.  With this option you get a
stylised map of the old planet, which has the advantage that you
will know what and who is around the corner.  You can also customise
your environment, if you so desire - but that is a decision you
won't need to take until you have some experience.

Having chosen to start a new game, there is a rather lengthy, if
cute, sequence about the evolution of the planet.  You can press the
space bar or RETURN key to skip it, but it will go on until the new
map is ready.

When you start, you have a choice of level of difficulty, going from
Chieftain to Emperor.  Naturally, one chooses Chieftain!  Then you
can choose any number of other civilizations to coexist with you in
the same planet.  The more, the merrier.  Give yourself a name and
you are off.

Next, you get the game screen proper, with explanations about the
landscape, etc., although only one square of the map is showing.
You can click along the bar at the top to see what's on offer -
clicking the right hand button of the mouse on anything will give
you more information.  One thing you will notice straightaway is
that, although you have the option of saving (the game is saved
automatically every 1000 years) you can't load a saved game without
quitting.  This is a terrible pain, since on many occasions you will
take the wrong decision and wish you hadn't.  You have to quit to go
back.  This is the only thing I found fault with.  All else is
superb, including the graphics.  And by the way, save on HD floppies
rather than the hard disk because you will be creating several
civilizations during the learning process.

Once you start, the first thing to do is to find a suitable
environment in which to found your capital city, so choose well.
Click on the Irrigation option before you do found the city and
remember that it will only use the two map squares all round (save
diagonally) for its resources so, unless you wish to be by the sea
(useful for later exploration and trading), make sure you have ample
room, and also that you do not found another city so near that their
resources squares overlap.  Now found it.

The next thing that will happen is that you will get a screenful of
information on your city; examine it well and get familiar with it -
for instance, clicking on CHANGE will give you control of what you
produce, bearing in mind your resources.  The row of figures on the
top left hand side gives the "number" of citizens and also their
mood.  The other rows, the resources and how they are being used.
The central square shows you the resources you can use, etc.

But at first you will want to produce militia, so you can just click
on EXIT and the first militia will be produced.  This takes about
three turns, so keep pressing ENTER.  Once your militia emerges from
your city you can start exploring while your city produces more
militia for its protection.  When they pop up, fortify them within
the city (it gives them added protection).  Create a couple of them.
You can now start building granaries, etc.  When you can afford it
(see your resources on the city map) you can create settlers to
improve the land about you and to found new cities.

The lower left hand window of the main screen gives you all
manner of interesting information, the most important being the bulb
which changes from green to yellow as your research into new
technologies matures, and the amount of money in your treasury.

The object of the game is, of course, to build a civilization to
beat all others.  You can lovingly create your cities which all the
amenities you deem necessary while learning new technologies and
advancing in the political arts.  You will come into conflict with
other competing civilizations and will have to decide whether to
fight them or make peace with them.  Emissaries will approach you - I
love this bit - offering exchanges or threatening you.  Before you
sit back to enjoy the expression on their faces, look at the
background, because it tells you what kind of civilization they
have.  It is always advisable to knock off weak civilizations close
to you - but make sure they ARE weak.

It is essential to keep checking your cities to maintain a proper
balance.  You can move resources (central square on city screen) in
by clicking on them; little guys appear along the top row and they
can be tax collectors (more money for your coffers), entertainers
(keep the people happy) or scientists (more progress).  You can also
put them back to work by clicking within this square to produce more
of what you want.  As you can see, there will be many decisions for
you to make.  It is also a good idea to consult the information
given in the pull-down menus to keep abreast of what is happening.

The final aim is to build a spaceship and to place as many colonists
as you can in another planet.  That is, if you survive the tough
competition from other civilizations.

I will not go beyond this because half the joy of this game is to
explore and experiment to your heart's content.  You will get help
throughout the game to make decisions, although you must bear in
mind that they are only suggestions.  It is extremely complex and
each game is entirely different, and I found myself totally
involved.  Every time you play you learn new things, and develop a
new slant in your mode of approach.  It is one of those rare games
which can be played again and again and never pall.

This game is an absolute must - you cannot be without it.