Civilization II: Test of Time

DEVELOPER : Microprose
PUBLISHER : Microprose/Hasbro

Ever since Microprose released the award winning, critically acclaimed, mega-seller Civilization II, they have banked on the title again and again by releasing different versions of it.  First the add-ons came, Scenarios and Fantastic Worlds.  Than a revision in the form of Multiplayer Civilization II: Gold Edition.  Now we have the latest revision in the form of Test of Time.  So exactly what does ToT offer?  

For those unfamiliar with the Civilization series, they are the best empire building games in existence.  The number of fan sites can attest to that.  You basically lead a tribe from the early beginnings of man to the space age, all in a turn-based format.  You build up cities and see to your people’s happiness.  Through research you will have the power to build new units, city structures and wonders of the world.  When you finally meet opposing societies, you may engage in diplomacy.  You can offer to exchange technology, sign treaties, etc.  Much has been written before on the game, so no need to reiterate.

What ToT brings to the table is an extension to the original game.  They basically tooled with the original programming and have now allowed up to four maps to be linked into one campaign.  While the motto here than is more is better, that isn’t necessarily the case.  The micro-management in Civ has always been a slight sore spot.  One that Sid Meier himself remedied in Alpha Centauri by allowing the player to assign governor’s to oversee individual cities.  In ToT, you have the same criteria in the original game that is to be the first to reach Alpha Centauri.  Upon reaching the goal, the game normally ends.  Not so in ToT.  Instead you are linked to a second map that represents said star system.  What you end up with now is twice the maps to deal with.  That means more micromanagement.

The idea works a little better in the Fantasy Campaign.  There are a total of four maps all representing different areas in the fantasy world.  The top most is the sky, with cloud-like areas to build cities upon.  The next is the land area, where players will be on familiar ground.  Than we have the underworld and finally we go under the ocean.  It all sounds great on paper.  Different areas to manage, making the strategy of war even more in-depth.  But unfortunately the execution is lacking.  You can get through the whole fantasy game without ever having to visit or deal with the other maps, making their existence pointless.  While the new fantasy units are cool, they don’t feel different enough from their regular Civ counterparts.

The Lalande represents the science fiction portion of Civ: ToT.  Here maps are linked together to represent different planets in a solar system in need of conquering.  While it mainly shows another way to use the multi-map aspect of ToT, it just means more micro-management. 

Civ: ToT is really just an add-on sold as a full game.  The main gripe I have with the game is it’s content.  With the news that Sid Meier is set to work on Civ III, Microprose has said this is the last Civ II product.  You would think that means this would be the be-all end-all of the Civ series and include all that has come before it.  Sadly this is not the case.  For those looking to enter the Civ world, get the more complete Multiplayer Civ II: Gold Edition.  For those seeking a more advanced Civ get Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri.  For those who feel that four times the micro-management is fun, here is your add-on…I mean game.

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Reviewed by Anthony Sage