It has been 11 years since “”Sid Meier’s Civilization”” rocked the gaming world with its concept of a turn-based game that combined intelligent gameplay and addictive fun. So why fix something that’s not broken? The third version of “”Civilization”” proves yet again that turn-based gaming is alive and well.

For those that were in the dark during their teenage years, “”Civilization”” allows you to start a small village and build it into an empire. Against you are other nations played by the computer. Trade, natural resources, technology, growth and war are all elements factoring in growth of your empire. What makes “”Civilization”” so addictive is its complex yet stimulating gameplay.

From waging war to encouraging trade, “”Civilization”” makes the player, whether a pacifist or war-hawk, an omnipotent controller of his nation’s destiny.

Not only does “”Civilization III”” greatly improve graphics from the previous versions, it adds many new levels and dimensions of gameplay. Although the graphics aren’t the best, that’s not what the game is all about. What makes “”Civilization”” so great is its god-like feel of the world.

With the addition of culture, it is now possible to win without waging war against the entire world. Ever wonder why the French hate American culture? Now’s your chance to feel the full wrath of pop culture.

Another new dimension is natural resources. In the previous games, resources were merely traded between empires for money. In “”Civilization III,”” resources are now needed in order to produce certain weapons and grow in knowledge. Wanna nuke the world? You’re going to need to find uranium before you build those nukes.

Diplomacy is greatly enhanced in this sequel. Options such as trade embargos and mutual alliances are now possible. Have you ever wondered what it was like to be isolated from the world? If you have a golden tounge, you can win by being elected the leader of the world.

Borders are also a new addition to the game. Unlike the earlier games, you can no longer roam free around the world.

Before plotting to take over the world, there’s just one word of advice: Be prepared to live like a hermit, because the only thing you’ll be doing is playing “”Civilization III.””

Civilization III

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Firaxis/Infogrames

minimum requirements:

Windows 9x, 2000, XP

300 mhz Pentium III

32 mb RAM, 500 mb hard space