Civilization III, Desktop Computer

If only we could somehow reclaim the lost hours we gave to Sid Meier's Civilization. Lost hours are usually a good indicator of how good a game is. The third instalment of this incredibly popular turn-based strategy game is now with us. If you prefer thinking through your game rather than perpetually twitching and stabbing at the controller or keyboard, then Civilization 3 is your kind of game. Civilization 3 is an empire building game where you build and command a given race through history. You are essentially their leader and God, deciding on exploration routes, harvesting natural materials, developing technologies, and interacting with the other races that inhabit your planet. Practically every aspect of human civilisation is touched upon in this game. The most important new features for Civilization 3 have to be the new ways to win. The Civilization series has always adopted an open-ended approach to gameplay, leaving it up to the players how they choose to complete the game. New ways to win include diplomatic finesse, cultural domination and economic might. There are new combat options to increase the ways in which you deal with the war scenarios, if your diplomacy breaks down of course. The trade system has been given an overhaul with new systems and commodities, and more options have been added to the diplomatic procedures with the inclusion of a conversational interface and a bargaining table. Another great touch is the new strategically located resources that are scattered around the playing map. Only by using these rare resources can specific new technologies be developed. Other improvements include new concepts of culture, nationality and arts, plus new wonders, technologies, and Civilization-specific units. The multi-player side of things has been tidied up and the graphics are the best ever. With so many improvements to an already proven name, Civilization 3 is the strategy game to own.

Buy Civilization III for 1.99 GBP

Total Immersion Racing
As the quest for the ultimate virtual driving experience continues to challenge games developers, Empire Interactive steps into the fray with not only an authentic physics engine, but a clever opponent AI system. Total Immersion Racing, as the title suggests, strives to create an immersive gameplay environment, offering high quality driving technology and real-world vehicles and tracks. The main f...
London Racer 2
The London Racers are back for more. Last year London Racers startled the capital's citizens with their roaring motors & reckless driving. And now the London Racers are back! They're raring to go, riding a harder, faster, and more frenzied race through the streets of London & Edinburgh. This staggering contest will even take them overseas! And you're one of the lucky racers! Drive high-speed throu...
LEGO Star Wars
Star Wars was the film that created spin-off toys and merchandise. The re-release of the digitally remastered original trilogy followed by the making of the new trilogy of prequels, has resulted in the release of countless related products in recent years. Video games have always been closely linked to the Star Wars universe, from the early vector graphics arcade, PC classics X-Wing and TIE Fighte...
Actua Pool
Now-defunct developement studio Gremlin is a name from the recent past to conjure with, and the company's legacy lives on thanks to the efforts of fellow 'Sheffielders' Zoo Digital Publishing. Gremlin's Actua series is one of its most fondly remembered offerings - a sports range that was the cream of the crop in its early PlayStation heyday. Well, now it's been revived with Actua Pool for PC. Grem...
Hitman: Codename 47
First there was Doom; a great creation for the first person shoot-em-up genre in the early nineties. Then there was Tomb Raider (1996), another fantastic franchise designed for the third person adventure game. Since both were considered to be role models for developers in their respective genres, there aren't many games that can combine the two together. However, one of the exceptions to the above...
Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo
It's been quite a while since these two last got into a spot of bother in A Close Shave, but now they're back in a new adventure, this time courtesy of the PC. Developed by David Braben's Frontier Developments, Wallace and Grommit: Project Zoo is a 3D platform adventure in which the ham-fisted heroes once again have to use all their wits and wonderful inventions in a quest to thwart the evil plans...