... Its designed by Sid Mier, who is also responsible for the Civilization and Railroad Tycoon ranges.
Before i start with this review, i should probably say now that this will contain no technical computer lingo-i will freely admit that i am a stereotypical female who doesnt understand all ... Read review
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is the third offering in the award winning ... more
Civilization IV series. A re-imagining of the classic Colonization strategy game Sid Meier created in 1994, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is a total conver...
Advantages: Each new game has a slightly different scenario Disadvantages: i have trouble winning (but i think thats just me-my dad has more success!)
...of entertainment. Its designed by Sid Mier, who is also responsible for the Civilization and Railroad Tycoon ranges.
Before i start with this review, i should probably say now that this will contain no technical computer lingo-i will freely admit that i am a stereotypical female who doesnt understand all the technical 'requirements' etc for a game, but these will all be displayed on the box when you buy it, so i neednt comment really.....(feeble ... ...is excellent, as with all Sid Mier games. I do advise you read at least some of it before you attempt to play, as some of the information could come in very handy, if you are to survive in the game.
You can pick which nation you would like to be, and each nation has a different view on the colonization-trade, etc. You can also pick your level. This means that once you've succeeded at one level, you can still get hours more entertainment ... more
This game has provided me with hours of entertainment. Its designed by Sid Mier, who is also responsible for the Civilization and Railroad Tycoon ranges.
Before i start with this review, i should probably say now that this will contain no technical computer lingo-i will freely admit that i am a stereotypical female who doesnt understand all the technical 'requirements' etc for a game, but these will all be displayed on the box when you buy it, so i neednt comment really.....(feeble excuse i know). What i hope to give in this opinion is a simple review of the playing of the game, and its aims, and the difficulty.
THE AIM OF THE GAME
This game is a strategy game (the classification of this opinion is a real give away for that one though!). It is the sort of game that will take several hours to complete, and i often can continue a game, playing a few hours a night, for many weeks.As the title of the game suggests, the idea is to colonize, and it is America which has the honour of our attentions. Provided with a boat and some pioneers from the King (of either France, England, Spain or Holland), you must sail over the Atlantic, and build an empire which will be strong enough to break away from the Kings rule.
GETTING STARTED
The handbook is excellent, as with all Sid Mier games. I do advise you read at least some of it before you attempt to play, as some of the information could come in very handy, if you are to survive in the game.
You can pick which nation you would like to be, and each nation has a different view on the colonization-trade, etc. You can also pick your level. This means that once you've succeeded at one level, you can still get hours more entertainment my trying to win again, at the next level, which is significantly more difficult.
When you have selected your options, you will flash to the first scene of the actual game. Take your boat to the shore, and land your units. You now want to send your soldier or cavalier searching the land (to get rid of the dark, 'unknown' patches of screen. Your pioneers are armed with tools (100 of them). With these tools, it can build road, or irrigate. Find a location for your first town, usually by the coast, near to 'fast flowing' water, to allow quick passage of your boats back to the Homeland. It should be noted that there are the natives, who are also in residence in America, both north and south. It is a good idea not to annoy them too much, so when they ask for food etc, be nice, or they will scalp you! When building your town, dont do it too close to an indians, or you lose a square of productivity.
At this point, your soldiers should still be exploring. If you come across a gold coin, walk into the square it is placed on, and you could gain an excellent reward (lots of gold etc). The exploration is quicker if your soldier sticks to a river.
As soon as you have landed, send back your ship to London/Amsterdam etc. This is done by sailing into 'fastflowing' water. From the home port, you want to pick up any people waiting at the docks to migrate, and possibly buy some horses to breed. TIP: The more you buy of one commodity, the more the price goes up i.e muskets, and the more you sell of a commodity i.e silver, the more the price will fall.
Take your goods over to the town, and unload the ship. These goods can now be traded with the indians, or used in your colonization.
THE GAME
You slowly build up an Empire, by adding more and more towns, and its worth having them near to each other, and connecting them via roads. Build wagons to transport produce to towns which require such things-wood, or to take it to the port, ready to be transported home, to be sold. Selling your goods is a vital way of gaining money to buy more boats, cannons etc. As your Empire grows and strengthens, you can build certain facilites in your towns to allow you to build muskets, cannons, boats etc, but until then, you rely on purchasing such items from the King.
As your towns grow, you should try to have senetors in place, which will help sway opinion in your favour. To declare independence, your overall opinion opinion must be over 50% in favour of independence, but any towns with opinion less than this will revert to the Kings control as the start of the indepence war. The King obviously will send a massive force to try to defeat you. and this is where the game becomes like civilization-the fighting begins!
OVERALL
I find this game very addictive, once i get into the game, although i'm still yet to win an indepence war at any other level than easy! I think i just lack that killer instinct!
Advantages: Good playability, Historical details Disadvantages: Very dated graphics
...line as the Civilisation series, Sid Meier takes us on a historical trip to the year 1492, and the colonization of the America's.
Being an old game now, the system requirements of this game are very low. In fact this should run quite smoothly on anything over 100MHz. 16MB RAM is also plenty, and hard drive space required is very minimal by todays standards. No 3D cards or anything like that is required either.
Installation is straight forward and ... ...as you would expect from Sid Meier a very fine turn based strategy game. Sound effects are also very basic, and I find myself turning the sound off after a short while.
To conclude, Sid Meier has done it again with this, combining historical details with a very easy to understand, very playable game, and is well worth getting especially in classics sections of your local gaming store for £5-£10. ...
pumfster 06.03.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sid Meier's Colonization (PC)
Advantages: Cheap price, great gameplay, so addictive Disadvantages: bit old now, sounds are a bit tacky.
The first time i played this it was on the Amiga 600 (those were the days). Until the other day when i saw it in the budget section for the PC i'd forgot all about it. But, boy am i addicted to it now! The idea of the game is to discover the New World you choose your nationality (England, Spain, France). Along the same lines as the great Civilisation you build your colony and persue to expand building new sites expanding old. Training people with ... ...you'll have a great colony going. Whilst throughtout the game you trade with your home country, trying to increase your colonies strenght to declare independance. This game is very addictive and at the price you can pick it up for now i'm surprised you hav'nt got it already. Word of warning 'watch out for the restless barbarians' ...
Muckell 05.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sid Meier's Colonization (PC)
Advantages: Addictive and playable Disadvantages: Ageing a bit now
Basically, Colonization is a game of (surprise) colonization and
revolution. You are the leader of the colonial presence of one of four
European powers, the English, French, German, or the Dutch. Your goal is to create colonies that prosper, and evenutally, to declare independence from your parent nation, and survive (and win) the onslaught that ensues.
Three different world options appear after the playing language is
selected. These are: Start ... ...and CUSTOMIZE New World. Any of these are good for play, but I prefer not to choose America, simply because in order to trade more efficiently, colonies need to have access to the ocean. There is a lot of coastline in the America version, but that is the only surface available for all four European powers. Many medium-size islands seems to work better.
After selecting where you want to play, a difficulty requester appears. I am not a master strategist, ...
recieve3am 05.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sid Meier's Colonization (PC)
History of discovering and colonization of New Light - beneficial subject for the game of similar scope. Here there is all - enough large historical season - with 1490 for 1800, huge unexplored spaces, miscellaneous and rich natural resources, numerous nations and competitors - Europeans.
But we shall talk about the interface of this game. The actuation of members has given to complex economics, policy and control to the game of fascination, but ... ...simplify we perceive games by the introducing of a plenty of icons and maps. The same purpose is pursued detailed in Colonization with a system of the hints, which one exists at three levels. Thus, Colonization prolongs traditions Civilization and on a level of an intention is excreted in a number of games of a similar direction. And nevertheless, succumbs much from them in dynamics. If the implementators have increased a volume of the game, have ...
dennissh 11.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sid Meier's Colonization (PC)
Advantages: Play it! Disadvantages: But play Civ 2 first!
Before talking about the game proper, there are a couple of things that need to be cleared up. The first is that Colonization is not Civilization 2. However, it does share a great deal with the previous game, and fans of that will find Colonization very simple to get into. If you loved Civ, then you might as well go and get this now - you won't regret it. If, however, you've never played it, then read on (but go and get a copy of Civilization anyway ... ...eventual independence of the Americas. In the game you become your country's Viceroy of the New World. Starting in 1492, with the discovery of the new lands to the west of Europe, you have complete control over your country's efforts to colonise these territories and exploit their rich natural resources. Your eventual aim, however, is to develop a nation strong enough to stand on its own without the support of your homeland. To succeed you must declare ...
Grix_Thraves 21.09.2000
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Advantages: Easy to get in to, nice graphics Disadvantages: Infuriating gameplay, trains get stuck, track building is a mess
Background:
SidMeier is considered one of the innovators of computer strategy games. He is responsible for classics such as Pirates, Civilization, Colonization, Alpha Centauri and Railroad Tycoon.
Billed as the sequel to Railroad Tycoon 3, Railroads is the first, since the original, to actually have an input from SidMeier himself. The now deceased Gathering of Developers, produced Railroad Tycoon 2 and 3, after Microprose bought the name from SidMeier.
The Game:
The idea for the game stems from a childhood imagination of building and running your own Railway.
The trains
Although steam trains are predominant amonst those available, there are also some diesel and some electric trains also. The models of train available are dependant on the time period in which you are playing. Playing in 1830, you only have one model ...
