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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Why be a guitar hero when you can be Genghis Khan? 7/21/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 21, 2008 Big Game Hunter: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution Build Rome in a day: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a fun game that strategy and sim enthusiasts will enjoy immensely. This turn-based game is just the latest in a long line of Civilization games, and unlike many of the previous installments that focus on nation-building, industry monopolizing, or global and interstellar hegemony, this time around you are taking a nation from square one and creating a dynasty. That is, if your neighbors let you. Choosing from 16 nations, including England, Mongolia, Japan, Spain and Russia, the player builds his first city. Victory can be achieved by military strength, but also through technological and cultural achievement. Diplomacy plays an important role as various nations will beg, bluster and bully you into getting what they want. I enjoyed a moment sparring with Genghis Khan who was rather impolitic during our sometimes laborious treaty discussions. But just when I thought that he would hold true to his side of the deal, the computer's AI programmed the infamous Mongol emperor to betray me at a particularly vulnerable time during the ascension of my own empire, and I found myself well and truly trounced. If you can't trust a warlord from the 12th century, who can you trust? Overall game play is just as fluid as the predecessors, with minor deviations during multiplayer, which I found a bit taxing. While diplomacy was still important, I thought that it was lacking in options from which to choose. However, these were really the only two issues I could find to pick on. This game is, overall, a masterpiece from developer Fireaxis who, along with Meier, has created a game that will be responsible for many, many long nights devising ways to give Mr. Khan a swift kick in his virtual pants. Rated: E for Everybody Price: $59.99 for the PS3 and Xbox 360, $29.99 for the Nintendo DS Justin Arnold, Big Game Hunter, jarnold@heraldnet.com

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