User Reviews (1 - 11 of 27)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Great game, even better

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 20
Date: March 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

As a game, Civilization 3 is a much more sophisticated game than its predecessors. Rather than trying to provide a detailed discussion and evaluation of each change, I'll just note that the most improvements have taken place in the real of diplomacy and economics. Specific changes worth noting include: much more sophisticated diplomatic interaction; three different categories of resources exist (bonus, luxury, and strategic), each with its own purpose; national boundaries (like exist in Alpha Centauri); national identity of citizens (i.e. if the French conquer a Chinese city, the population remains Chinese and may still have strong ties to the Chinese empire); trade routes/networks that are based on the existence of roads and navigable waterways rather than caravan units; historical resource discovery (i.e. you don't see where strategic iron resources are until you discover Iron Working; you don't see where oil sesources are until you discover Refining); etc. Also new-- and quite crucial to CIV3 is the idea of *culture*. Temples, libraries, cathedrals, universities and cultural wonders (like Shakespeare's Theatre) give 'culture' points to your civilization. If you have a high culture, cities from rival civilizations may voluntarily and peacefully choose to join your civilization.... or if you don't have a respectable culture, your cities might revolt and join another civ! It is also possible to win the game by having a 'cultural' victory, in addition to the traditional 'military conquest' and 'space race' victories. There are of course plenty of other changes I could mention, but hopefully this will be enough to show those familiar with the previous versions of the game that Civ3 is a major leap forward.

So much for CIV3 qua game-- let's talk about CIV3 qua software product. I've heard a lot of complaints from folks about how *slow* this game is on the Mac-- but I haven't seen this at all on my G3 (running 8.6) at all. Perhaps those folks who are complaining about long delays are running this on System X? Or maybe they're playing this on the *max* level, with a "huge" world (rather than the normal standard size one) and with all 16 possible civilizations at play (rather than just the normal 7)? I just haven't seen any problems like this at all. Complaints about the relative unhelpfulness of the manual and of certain aspects of the user interface, however, are dead on. The manual is awkwardly written with crucial information hidden away in appendices. The online 'Civilpedia' is a much more reliable guide than the manual... although even it falls short in some ways. Some things, like the establishment of embassies and the conduct of espionage require very specific-- and rather unusual user actions to activate... and it's almost impossible to figure out how to do them etiher from the manual or the civilpedia. (Thank goodness for fan sites telling how to do these things!)

One other thing I should mention is the extraordinary degree to which this game is really being *supported* on the Mac. The company is putting out regular patches to fine tune errors, and even to make minor revisions in the game due to fan suggestions. As a Mac gamer, I have to say I really appreciate that.

Anyway, all in all-- excellent game, if you like empire-building strategy cames that have both military and economic development to them (e.g. previous versions of Civ, Alpha Centauri, Masters of Orion). I don't know if this would appeal to folks, however, whose main gaming activity is to play first-person shooters like Quake and Doom. I'd give it a solid 5 as a game, although I was tempted to lower it to a 4 due to the weak manual and clunky user interface. But the game itself is so good, that I think it more than makes up for those problems-- so a solid 5 it is!

Superqualifragilidelicious !

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: December 17, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Wunderbar !
The ultimate game of stategy & tactics.
Better and more realistic than Age of Empire. The manager and the warrior will be equally satisfied playing this game ; learn how the world go round ! Become a conqueror or a diplomat.
Best investment, you will enjoy it for years to come (well, until Civ IV gets on the market!)

Beware though, the most!.. highly addictive game...

Frit

Terrific

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: February 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is totally addictive. It can be a little boring if you don't tweak the options to not show you every little move the game makes. Once that is done you're good to go. With three diferent map sizes and six {?) different map styles the possibilities are endless. You can even choose the type of climate you want! And you don't have to always be the Americans either. There is a whole clan of rival civilizations to choose from. Not to mention the different degrees of difficulty to choose from! There is like eight or so to choose from. I've been playing this game for 2 years now and I still haven't played all the different choices to choose from. Like I said, I've been playing this game for two years and it's still as addictive as when I first picked it up. I highly recommend it!

Civilization III Rocks

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Civ3 is a great strategy game that tests your skills of ruling an empire. It is really easy to use, especially if you customize the rule in the CivIII Editor. Civ3 has okay graphics, but that can be overlooked since the rest of the game is excellent.

More than I Expected

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I don't play many computer games but a couple of Amazon.com reviews made Civilization 3 seem worth the investment and in the short few weeks I've had the game it has paid huge dividends. While I enjoy the escape it offers, starting with a warrior and moving through the various ages that defined the competing civilizations in our world is a "blast". What I appreciate most about the game, though, is the effect its had on my ten year old son. The game has helped him formulate some really cool questions, like "Dad, what is Sun Tzu's Art of War?"

wow

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: November 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

addictive. will leave your eyes, fingers, and brain exhausted.

thanks to civ iii, i no longer sleep!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: June 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Civ iii is a remarkable improvement to Civ ii. It is a smoother playing game, and the new and various ways of winning keeps it challenging and exciting. The fact that one no longer needs to be a vicious war loving maniac to win gives even a peace-nik such as myself hopes of a win. There are trade-offs, but all in all, it is a very satisfying and addictive game.

Addictive!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: August 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

...[Darn] this game is fun. Rich, thought-provoking, exciting. I knew I was a goner when it was 6 in the morning and I could barely bring myself to quit the game I was playing.

"Just Brilliant"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: August 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When I got Civilization II Gold Edition, I thought civilization can't possibly get better. I was wrong, the mix of good graphics and more realistic events make this fantasic. When I played civ II, it was easy to get technology off people. Now all I know is that if you want to conqueror the world, you can't just go off bribing technologies, you have to fight with an army, not just an army but a huge one. Even cheiftain you need at least 10 armies to take over a city, and when you get to deity level- its a mission impossible. Again I think Civ's just can't get better, but with technology improving by the second- who knows what Sid meir might produce!

An excellent Sequel

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 20
Date: January 31, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Being an absolute Civ. II maniac, I obviously approached Civ. III with a little bit of aprehension and fear that this latest sequel would not live up to its hype. I was wrong. Civ III successfully incorporates all the great elements of Civ II and adds on a whole new level of diplomacy, trade, strategy unparalelled in the gaming world. All in all, an excellent buy!

Review Page: 1 2 3 Next 

Actions