I've not gone through every aspect of this game, and really I don't think I ever will...though not for lack of trying. The game is quite massive, spanning all of history from 4000 BC to today and just a little farther past. The standard game runs from that 4000 BC until 2050 AD(though there is an option to keep going). It takes about 8 hours for this to happen, at least in my experience. Maybe a bit longer, I'm not sure. The game is quite addictive and very fun, especially if you like simulation games (such as SimCity). I have found myself addicted to the point of closing my eyes and seeing screenshots.
How much I wish that was a joke too...
Time to rate the game:
Graphics -
The graphics in this game aren't the greatest, but they aren't bad. They are quite good for the atmosphere of the game though, which is a bit humorous.
The active game screens are decent. Movement, actions, and other doings are all animated. Each action with its own animation. There are options to view your city, with each special building placed into it. There are also short clips intoducing a World Wonder when you've built one. Snazy stuff, really.
Starfly's Graphics Rank: 7.0
Sounds -
The sounds of this game are decent though not exactly high-quality state-of-the-art swank that would get you up and rolling.
Its mostly stock sounds for fighting. Nothing really interesting.
The music for the game is good, giving a definite quality of being in ancient times or the middle ages. I enjoy the music, its the only reason I leave the sound on.
Starfly's Sound Rank: 6.0
Gameplay
Let's face it. Ruling the world is a tough task. This game doesn't try to deny you that even on the easiest setting. I've not even tried to play it on anything higher and I STILL can't quite keep things running as smoothly as they should be in a world empire.
Even with the level of difficulty in this game, its great to play. Its only single player (unless you pick up the nice expansion), but you'll still have hours upon hours of play with it, and thats just your first round. Unless you really piss off your neighbors without having any sort of army, you're going to last at least a few thousand years (in the game).
War isn't the only way to win in this game either. You can become the most cultured group, you can take over diplomatically, or you can build yourself a space ship. Yes, thats rigt. You can build a spaceship to win. Its a space ship that will take you to Alpha Centurai and that means you win the space race. Though, yeah, you can still rule with an iron fist and OBLITERATE ALL WHO OPPOSE YOU!!!!
Ahem, moving on...
You can do pretty much everything that any nation can do, and sometimes more. You can change governments as you learn them (with learning comes different methods of living).
This is an extremely versatile game, you will never....EEEEEEEVER....play the same game twice. Even if you, lets say are playing and then lose power? You'll have to where you saved, but everything will be different again. Its truly marvelous.
Starfly's Gameplay Rating:
Addictiveness
Since there is no story to the game besides "You are a ruler, you wish to rule the world", I decided to rank the game's addiction level from my experience.
I've had to actually set a timer to let me know when I've been playing for an hour and should stop playing. I've played days at a time without moving for anything. These days went by like nothing. I have lost time off my life playing this game. That is how addictive it is.
Starfly's Addictiveness Rating: 10.0
Starfly's Final Rankings
Graphics: 7.0
Sound: 6.0
Gameplay: 9.5
Addictiveness: 10.0
Author's Opinion: 10.0
FINAL RANKING: 8.5
