The new features, like religion, civics and great people are a great addition to the long term aspects of the gameplay, and the design of the game makes control over cities and units easier than ever before. The added features in Civ 2 and 3 made interaction more and more complex, but this time the developers have made a great work with the interface so that I feel I can focus on my strategies without getting lost – the information I want is simply there when I need it.

The new graphics and audio are great as well, full of little details that emphazise the culture and point of history of the moment as well as giving a good overview of the game. Building a wonder (which includes classics like the Pyramids and Colossus and more modern examples like Hollywood and the UN) rewards you with a nice movie.

For more information check the official site or reviews at Gamespot or IGN. Unless you’re a fan of the earlier games, of course, in which case you should have used the time you spent reading this on running to the game store to get your copy.

Or get it from Amazon:
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV (amazon.com)
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV (amazon.co.uk)