Ok, I am not a hard-core gamer but I am addicted to this game. Civilization IV makes plenty of great changes and additions to just about every aspect of the hazardously habit-forming strategy blueprint that famed designer Sid Meier and his talented team have made famous the world over, from combat and diplomacy to research and production.

This game is a fundamental reinvention of the franchise. Fans should be assured that all the basic concepts from Civilization are still here, but many of the more obnoxious or troublesome elements have been greatly improved upon. City production, combat, and culture have all been tweaked to allow for more intuitive application within the game. Concepts like civil disorder, predictable tech paths, pollution and the creeping pace of the late game have all benefited from substantial revisions that make them more manageable and enjoyable aspects of your strategy, making it much more accessible and easier to play.

Like in previous games, your political leader could be anyone from Napoleon or a leader from an ancient society. All the game's traits are new such as "organized," which cuts down on maintenance costs or "expansive," which generates bonus health in cities and helps hasten growth and expansion. And Civilization IV fundamentally offers the same goals but in a much more evolved, strategic, and ultimately rewarding manner. Each of these goals comes with many more options, which should open the game up to players with busy schedules.

The accessibility is pretty good because a lot of the complex user interfaces have been simplified and the game can be either played with only the mouse or with only the keyboard. Also, if any of the controls are too much of a hassle for you, you can play in a multi-player mode.
Civilization IV also supports play-by-e-mail and hot seat multiplayer, along with LAN and Internet play. The game even ships with additional custom scenarios and three fan-made modifications that offer new play modes.

Sounds in the game are like the music from Disney’s The Lion King, as well as several other nation-specific songs that loop endlessly during game play, some of which are more memorable than others. The most intriguing aspect of Civ IV's audio is the narration you'll hear at the beginning of every new game and each time you research a new technology—narration.

That’s provided by none other than Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame. Nimoy's scholarly delivery of his lines adds a touch of class to the game, though you may grow too familiar with them over time, since the same lines are repeated for the same techs. Despite the lengthy rendered animation that introduces the game the first time it's loaded, Mr. Nimoy's dulcet voice is unfortunately squandered at the beginning of each new game session.

Subtitles are everywhere, which makes it enjoyable.

Visually, this game is amazing. But the interface can be cluttered and small at times, this is where the keyboard shortcuts come in. The graphics engine also furnishes beautifully animated, expressive portraits of each of the world's great leaders, from the ceremonious George Washington to the flirtatious Catherine the Great. But the 3D graphic engine can hinder accessibility and sometimes distorts the on-screen keyboard.

Overall, Civilization IV is a great game for a great price of 19.99 on Steam.

Hearing

Hearing plays a large role in the atmosphere and enjoyment of the game. But the subtitles make it enjoyable without.

Recommended score: 8/10

Visual

The game is graphically intense – Sometimes hard to see because of small images and clutter but the text helps as you mouse over.

Recommended rating: 6/10

Mobility

You can use the mouse only or just keyboard shortcuts or a combo of both.

Recommended score: 9/10