Rating: 
Summary: Frustrating, Slow, and an overall disappointment
Review: I was generally disappointed by this alleged "Game of the Year." It is light years more difficult than Civilization II, without a corresponding increase in game play enjoyment. Other civilizations do not seem to be bound by the same rules as the player, and they seem to produce units, and gain scientific advancement, at a far greater rate -- no matter what strategy you employ. Geography is almost entirely determinative of outcome and, if you start of on an isolated island, restart the game because you have no chance of winning.
Rating:
Summary: Good ideas, but disappointing, too buggy
Review: I'm a big fan of the Civilization series -- I think Civ II is maybe the best PC game of all time. Many of the features in Civ III are appealing, and after a bit of mindset adjustment, are actually quite fun.
The problem: bugs. Even at patch v1.29f (the last one offered before the Conquests expansion), I have yet to play through an entire game without running into some kind of computer-move hang, or game crash, or SOMETHING that completely obviates the substantial amount of time you've put into a particular game. Seeing two days of gameplay go up in smoke because an important strategic resource appears NOWHERE on the entire map is not fun.
I'm not too eager to plop down another $20-30 to get an expansion for a game I can't play in the first place, so I guess I'm out of luck. My recommendation is to save your money, and cherish the memories of the earlier installments of the franchise.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!!
Review: I've been a fan of this series since Civ 1, then on to Civ 2 where this game would keep me going all night until 8 in the morning. Civ 3 was no different in that regards. This series is similar to the Ultima series in that it just keep getting better and better. Each successive game builds on the last in terms of bettering playability, making the game more thorough and realistic, and increasing the ability of the computer opponents in being able to play a good game.There are very few games I would purchase and play, but if you like strategy games, and there is just one game you plan on getting this decade, I don't have any hesitation recommending this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites, and hopelessly addictive
Review: I've been a fan of this series since Civ 1, then on to Civ 2 where this game would keep me going all night until 8 in the morning. Civ 3 was no different in that regards. This series is similar to the Ultima series in that it just keep getting better and better. Each successive game builds on the last in terms of bettering playability, making the game more thorough and realistic, and increasing the ability of the computer opponents in being able to play a good game. There are very few games I would purchase and play, but if you like strategy games, and there is just one game you plan on getting this decade, I don't have any hesitation recommending this one.
Rating: 
Summary: An Interesting But a Long Time Game Useful for Vacations
Review: Its a powerful game bind the strategy lovers or i should say maniac as it is turn based it take a lot of patients to complete the move on the otherhand its techneque is quite good specially its scientfic research as well as its guidiance throughout the games i should tell the negetive is thereshould be another way to collect the funds but you will love to set the citizens mood!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Game
Review: My first game of the sort, and WOW be prepared to spend some time on it. The game covers all basic aspects of a civilization from military, interior, to foreign affairs, etc. Obviously the purpose is to become the CIVILIZATION, which can be achieved in a number of ways: a)be the last to survive, b)be first to send a spaceship, etc. Once your civilization gets a decent size, it is a bit more overwhelming to manage the various tasks, but nevertheless it is fun. Once again, highly addictive.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Addictive
Review: My first game of the sort, and WOW be prepared to spend some time on it. The game covers all basic aspects of a civilization from military, interior, to foreign affairs, etc. Obviously the purpose is to become the CIVILIZATION, which can be achieved in a number of ways: a)be the last to survive, b)be first to send a spaceship, etc. Once your civilization gets a decent size, it is a bit more overwhelming to manage the various tasks, but nevertheless it is fun. Once again, highly addictive.
Rating:
Summary: excellent game
Review: Sid Meier is a videogame legend. From Colonization! to CivilizationI and II, Pirates! Alpha Centauri, and even Simgolf, he has created games that have multiple levels of enjoyment for users of varying degrees of experience. The deeper you want the game to be, the deeper it is. Some reviewers say that the turn-based idea isn't for them. There is an option to go turnless in MP games.
This is not, however a RTS (real-time strategy) game, where you simply build up a tank force and rush your way to victory. You mst be diplomatic with other civilizations, or suffer their embargos and/or alliances against you. You must keep your people happy with a culture of your own, else the population becomes awe-struck with another, and revolts against your rule.
There are many ways to win, with more in the expansion packs. The games are lengthy, with most of mine, on a standard map with default settings, taking about 16-24 hours. However, you can choose a timy or small map and turn on accelerated production, and easily turn this into a 1-sitting game.
Granted, this game is not everyones cup of tea. Its does however, provide a deep and realistic history of the civilization, units, resources and tech advances that you will play with. It's a bit heady, but if you want to play a game where you can control the pace a bit, yet be challenged like you've never been (the ai is terrific), then I recommend Civ3.
One last comment. As for the 'warrior beating a tank' and the 'galleon beating a nuclear sub', it theoretically *could* happen, although I've never seen it, and besides.. if the ai is coming at you with galleons and warriors, and you have tanks and nuclear subs.. what are you worried about? :P
Rating:
Summary: Addicting Game, but too time consuming
Review: The game starts off being relatively exciting with the building of an empire. But as the game progresses, the time seems to go by at a crawl. The game was also relatively easy to master as I basically defeated my rivals within the first few hundred years of the game. Other than that, the game is very addicting but, however, could not be completed in one siting. I would suggest that you buy this game if you have alot of time to kill or if you just enjoy simulation games.
Rating: 
Summary: Save your Money!
Review: There are only about a dozen or so strategy games out there that are more interesting, creative and exciting than Civ3. Consumer beware! This is nothing more than Alpha Centauri repackaged and maybe a little more eyecandy. This is yet another formulaic, static, staid pseudo-strategy game with nothing new or innovative whatsoever. The combat is frustratingly illogical, (axe-wielding warriors defeating tanks?!?) and simplistic, and the controls are simply juvenile and clumsy. Forget economy or commerce too, they are nonexistent in this game. They claim to have hyped up diplomacy, but do not be fooled! All they did was put some pretty pictures in the windows! There is really no difference in this game from Master of Orion, a game which is a decade old now, but clearly the better of the two.
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