Description:
Updating a legendary game franchise is tricky business, but Civilization: Call to Power successfully revitalizes an old favorite with revamped art, interface, and concepts. Completely redesigned in gorgeous full color, the new artwork bears as much resemblance to its predecessors as primitive man's cave scrawls do to the Mona Lisa. The animated units prove that turn-based strategy can have some flash, and new movies celebrating the completion of civilization-boosting wonders are equally stunning. The goal of the game hasn't changed much (create a civilization that can stand the test of time), but the playing field has been greatly expanded to include ocean and space colonization, with more technological advances, wonders, diplomatic options, and government types than ever before. Generally, the new interface successfully simplifies control while keeping you close to the action. The occasional awkwardness (it's easy to carelessly mis-click and send units in the wrong direction) is counterbalanced by welcome game-play enhancements, such as the ability to group units together, tile improvements being funded from a pooled public works budget, and view a pathing line that shows you where (and how far) you can move your units. Boldly improving on where Civilization II has gone before, Call to Power stays true to its heritage and makes the struggle for civilization come alive as never before. --Jack Gardiner Pros: - Beautiful, new animated art
- New units, advances, and government types
- Challenging, turn-based strategy is a worthy addition to the Civilization lineup
- Mac vs. Mac and Mac vs. PC Local Area Network or Internet play
Cons: - Interface, though improved, is still occasionally awkward
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