CTP2's graphics are on par with those of Civilization: Call to Power, the
game's predecessor. The graphics are colorful and the various units and terrain
features are easily distinguishable. Nothing ground-breaking, but that is fine
for a game of this nature.
CTP2 is not that much different than Call to Power. Most of the changes have
been contained to the user interface and diplomacy. This may be a disappointment
to some because Call to Power introduced some very powerful, and somewhat
unorthodox, units to the Civilization model. Units such as Eco-Rangers, Lawyers,
and Televangelists can give the civilization that acquires them first a decided
advantage in the latter stages of the game. This changes the face of the game as
military power is de-emphasized somewhat and the balance of power swings toward
special units.
The new diplomatic system allows the player to construct complex proposals to
the other players, and even to select the tone of voice in which they are
delivered. This does give the player greater flexibility in dealing with the
other civilizations, but unfortunately there is little feedback to your
proposals. You are told whether they are accepted or rejected, but have no idea
if the other civilization pondered on your proposal or rejected it outright.
The new user interface is well designed, and provides the player with
multiple and intuitive methods to access the controls needed to run a
civilization. Another nice new touch is the addition of 'Mayors'. A player can
choose to pass control of individual city growth and management to the computer
on a city by city basis. This is great for the player that finds his/her empire
a little too large to manage or the one that just prefers to let the computer
deal with micromanagement.
The game's AI is not very challenging unless you play the game at its higher
difficulty levels. Unfortunately at the higher levels, you also subject yourself
to greater barbarian harassment. At the lower levels, the computer seems content
to concentrate on haphazard empire building while occasionally making itself a
nuisance by raiding your trade routes or fortifying units in the middle of your
territory.
CTP2 also implemented what Activision calls a 'more realistic' combat system.
One change to the combat system they overlooked though was the ability to
arrange your units before combat. As it stands, you are at the mercy of the
computer's arrangement of your units and have no chance to try and protect units
or to make sure your heavy- hitters get to strike first.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 82%.
Hard-core Civilization buffs will probably be disappointed in CTP2's lack of
evolution of the Civilization series and some of its unbalanced units. Those new
to the series (or those who have not visited it in a while), would do well to
give CTP2 a good look, though.
System Requirements: 166 MHz Pentium II CPU; 64 MB RAM; 4 MB
Video Card; 4x CD-ROM; 320 MB Hard Drive Space; Mouse.
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