Civilization II#Expansions sets

File:CivII 01.png ship (bottom left). Note the different types of terrain.|alt=A map view in the game]]

As a turn-based strategy game, Civilization II models the historical development of human civilization. A player, when creating a game, may pick one of 21 historical civilizations or a custom-named civilization. The computer will intelligently control multiple rival civilizations. Only a single-player mode was available until the release of the Multiplayer Addon.

The following civilizations appear in the game: Americans, Aztecs, Babylonians, Carthaginians, Celts, Chinese, Egyptians, English, French, Germans, Greeks, Indians, Japanese, Mongols, Persians, Romans, Russians, Sioux, Spaniards, Vikings and Zulus. Barbarians are non-playable NPC characters.

The game takes place on a map made of tiles. A human player may generate a random map based on their specifications, or opt for a pre-made map. Different terrain types, special resources and improvements such as irrigation are present on different tiles. Players begin with one or a few units, including settlers to found their first cities, in 4000 BC. All of the map is unexplored except the starting units' immediate vicinity, and exploration is a top early-game priority.

Cities occupy one tile and harvest yields from nearby tiles: food, trade and production. They may build units, city improvements or wonders of the world. Typically, each civilization will constantly expand by founding new cities until all of the map is settled. Analogous to chess pieces, the many different units vary in their functions, mirroring historical types of soldiers and occupations. Units occupy one tile at a time and may move every turn. Most of them can attack others in battle; a minority have non-military functions.

After civilizations make contact, they begin diplomatic relations. In war, a civilization may conquer another civilization's cities. When all of a player's cities are conquered, they are permanently removed from the game. To end war, two players may promise peaceful relations.

Scientific research is a focal point of the game. Players begin with primitive technology and hence limited possible actions. Grouped by eras from ancient to modern, civilization advances, both scientific and societal, offer numerous advantages.

There are three paths to victory: conquering all other civilizations, building a spaceship that reaches the Alpha Centauri star system using advanced technology, and otherwise surviving until 2020 AD. A player's score is calculated after finishing the game.

Civilization II supports mods that customize game graphics or mechanics. "Scenarios" are preset game files that emulate historical, fictional or other situations.

Civilization II is similar to its predecessor Civilization, with some changes to and additions of units, civilizations, world wonders, tile "specials" and technologies. Entirely new concepts include diplomatic reputation and production waste. The world map was changed from a top-down view to an isometric representation.{{cite magazine|title=Civilization 2 |magazine=Next Generation|issue=16|date=April 1996|page=66}} The artificial intelligence for the human player's opponents was also improved.

Civilization II was designed by Brian Reynolds, Douglas Caspian-Kaufman and Jeff Briggs.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/12/brian-reynolds-interview-2|title=Interview with Brian Reynolds|website = IGN|date=February 12, 2000|access-date=September 3, 2013}} Following the success of Civilization, the ongoing development of a sequel was kept secret for years. The game was publicly announced when the team was in the final stage of tweaking and balancing. The game's working title was Civilization 2000.{{Cite web |url=http://www.next-generation.com/news/011896e.html |title=Big PC Sequels Change and Enhance |access-date=2019-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970419220431/http://www.next-generation.com/news/011896e.html |archive-date=1997-04-19 |url-status=dead }} Asked about Sid Meier's involvement in the project, Reynolds replied, "We sat down and brainstormed about it and hashed out ideas, that's about it."{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961019130241/http://www.nuke.com/cgr/reviews/9607/civ2/reynolds.htm | url=http://www.nuke.com/cgr/reviews/9607/civ2/reynolds.htm | title=Interview with Brian Reynolds | date=July 1996 | author=Staff | work=Computer Game Review | archive-date=October 19, 1996 | url-status=dead }} Emulating the recently released Doom, Reynolds implemented support for modding despite Meier's fear that customers would blame the company for poor-quality mods.{{Cite magazine |last=Jahromi |first=Neima |date=2021-09-22 |title=Sid Meier and the Meaning of "Civilization" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/sid-meier-and-the-meaning-of-civilization |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |access-date=2021-09-23}}

Meier commented, "Civilization greatly favored the military approach to achieving victory. We've now adjusted the balance to make trade and diplomacy a more integral part of the game".

On the PC Civilization II was developed for Windows 3.1 and later using the WinG API. The later released Civilization II: Multiplayer Gold Edition required Windows 95, and no longer ran on Windows 3.1.

The game was re-released on December 9, 1998{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/news/6047.html|title=News Briefs|date=December 9, 1998|website=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000305173044/http://pc.ign.com/news/6047.html|archive-date=March 5, 2000|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2019}}
Civ II Gold Available: "Microprose has released Civilization II Gold Multiplayer..." as Civilization II: Multiplayer Gold Edition, which bundled the two prior expansion packs and added options for multi-player games, among other tweaks with the disadvantage that it required Windows 95 and later, while the original Civilization 2 version worked in Windows 3.1. The Multiplayer Gold Edition was included in the Civilization Chronicles box set released in 2006.

There were two expansion packs that slowly added more features to the game. The first, Conflicts in Civilization, included 20 new scenarios: 12 created by the makers of the game,{{cite web |url=http://apolyton.net/civ2/civ2info.shtml |title=Apolyton site, Civ II expansion scenarios |publisher=Apolyton.net |access-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616131023/http://apolyton.net/civ2/civ2info.shtml |archive-date=2010-06-16 }} and eight "Best of the Net" by fans. It also added an enhanced macro language for scenario scripting with advanced programming features such as variable typing and network features, which was considered widely unnecessary. Due to a programming bug, the Encarta-style Civilopedia was disabled from the game.

The second expansion was Civ II: Fantastic Worlds.{{efn|A legal dispute arose following Sid Meier's departure from MicroProse and prevented the use of the full word "civilization" in the North American release. The European version used the full word.}} It also added new scenarios that had many unique settings such as one scenario dealing with colonization of Mars, and one scenario called Midgard that had Elven, Goblin, Merman, and other civilizations from fantasy. There are also some scenarios based on other MicroProse games such as X-COM, Master of Orion and Master of Magic "Jr." scenarios. Fantastic Worlds also contains a new scenario editor that allowed users to edit the statistics and icons used for units, city improvements, terrain, and technologies, as well as creating event triggers and other enhancements to the game.

The remake Civilization II: Test of Time was released in 1999, following Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. Test of Time has a new palette and user interface, and new features such as animated units, a playable Alpha Centauri to settle and new campaign modes.

Civilization II placed second on PC Data's monthly computer game sales chart for April 1996.{{cite news | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402211056/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1996-06-29/lifestyle/9606270660_1_ms-dos-cd-rom-cd-win95 | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1996/06/29/top-software-best-selling-titles-games/ | title=Top Software Best-selling Titles: Games | date=June 29, 1996 | author=Staff | archive-date=April 2, 2018 | newspaper=Hartford Courant | url-status=live }} The game secured position 3 for the next four months,{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205063051/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,140,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,140,00.html | title=June's top 30 games | author=GamerX | date=August 8, 1996 | work=CNET Gamecenter | archive-date=February 5, 1997 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }}{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205061646/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,137,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,137,00.html | title=August's top 30 games | author=GamerX | date=September 27, 1996 | work=CNET Gamecenter | archive-date=February 5, 1997 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} before dropping to No. 5 in September.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205060645/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,195,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,195,00.html | title=September's top 30 games | author=GamerX | date=October 29, 1996 | archive-date=February 5, 1997 | work=CNET Gamecenter | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} It exited PC Data's top 10 in December, after remaining there for an additional two months.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205055806/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,348,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,348,00.html | title=October's top 30 games | author=GamerX | date=November 27, 1996 | archive-date=February 5, 1997 | work=CNET Gamecenter | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }}{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205054929/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,444,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,444,00.html | title=November's 30 best-sellers | author=GamerX | date=January 10, 1997 | archive-date=February 5, 1997 | work=CNET Gamecenter | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }}{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=Computer Gaming World | title=PC Data Best-Sellers |date=April 1997 | issue=153 | pages=32 }} In the United States, Civilization II was the third-best-selling computer game of the first six months of 1996,{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970606062336/http://www.news.com/SpecialFeatures/0,5,3471,00.html | url=http://www.news.com:80/SpecialFeatures/0,5,3471,00.html | title=A whole new ball game | author=Yoshitake, Dawn | date=September 14, 1996 | work=News.com | archive-date=June 6, 1997 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} and the fifth-highest seller of the year as a whole.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225434/https://www.csmonitor.com/1997/0227/022797.news.news.1.html | url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1997/0227/022797.news.news.1.html | title=News In Brief |author1=Kilborn, Robert |author2=Hanson, Cynthia |author3=Hodges, Debbie | date=February 27, 1997 | archive-date=April 2, 2018 | work=The Christian Science Monitor | url-status=live }} Worldwide, its sales surpassed 400,000 copies by August, reached 500,000 in September and topped 600,000 by November.{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961221153023/http://www.microprose.com/corporatedesign/press/civ2.html | url=http://www.microprose.com:80/corporatedesign/press/civ2.html | title=The Destiny of the World is in the Hands of Game Players Everywhere with Microprose's Strategy Hit Civilization II | location=Alameda, California | date=August 14, 1996 | archive-date=December 21, 1996 | publisher=Microprose | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }}{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970606045547/http://www.next-generation.com/news/092196f.html | url=http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/092196f.html | title=Happy Spectrum Hits Million Mark | date=September 21, 1996 | author=Staff | archive-date=June 6, 1997 | work=Next Generation | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }}{{cite press release | title=Microprose's Expansion Disc Extends Strategic Game Play with 20 New Challenges and Worlds to Conquer | date=November 5, 1996 | location=Alameda, California | publisher=Microprose }} In the United States alone, it sold 482,522 units and earned $21.1 million by the end of 1996.{{cite news | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518142834/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-03-03/business/fi-34360_1_pc-game | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-03-fi-34360-story.html | title=Myst Opportunities: Game Makers Narrow Their Focus to Search for the Next Blockbuster | date=March 3, 1997 | author=Miller, Greg | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | archive-date=May 18, 2016 | url-status=live }}

By mid-January 1997, global sales of Civilization II had surpassed 720,000 copies.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970615020125/http://www.cdmag.com/news/0115971.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/news/0115971.html | title=Ch-ching – Westwood cashes in | author=Bauman, Steve | date=January 15, 1997 | work=Computer Games Strategy Plus | archive-date=June 15, 1997 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} It finished 20th on PC Data's monthly chart for March,{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000306101157/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_05/01_pcdatamar/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_05/01_pcdatamar/index.html | title=PC Data Releases Monthly Numbers | work=GameSpot | author=Lee, Helen | date=May 1, 1997 | archive-date=March 6, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} and was the United States' 17th-highest-selling computer game of the year's first half.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000307163045/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_09/12_toptwenty/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_09/12_toptwenty/index.html | title=Game Sales on the Rise | date=September 12, 1997 | author=Staff | work=GameSpot | archive-date=March 7, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} The game had topped its predecessor's 850,000 sales that August,{{cite magazine| author=Coleman, Terry |title=Cover Story; Hallowed Ground |date=August 1997 |issue=157| magazine=Computer Gaming World | pages=66–68 }} and continued to sell "over 20,000 units a month" by November, according to Microprose.{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980120113900/http://www.microprose.com/corporatedesign/press/civ2fwpress.html | url=http://www.microprose.com:80/corporatedesign/press/civ2fwpress.html | title=Microprose Unleashes a Whole New Dimension for Fans of the Award-Winning Sid Meier's Civilization II Series | date=November 11, 1997 | archive-date=January 20, 1998 | publisher=Microprose | location=Alameda, California | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} Civilization II reached 1.2 million units sold by April 1998; Terry Coleman of Computer Gaming World wrote that sales were "still going strong" at that time.{{cite magazine | title=READ.ME; Will the Real Civ Please Boot Up? | date=April 1998 | issue=165 | author=Coleman, Terry | magazine=Computer Gaming World | page=40 }} In the United Kingdom alone, the game sold 160,000 units by 1999.{{cite journal| title=Civilization: Call to Power; The Story of Sid and Civ | author=Wright, Andrew | journal=PC Zone | date=April 1999 | issue=75 | pages=70–73 }} It also received a "Gold" award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) in August 1998,{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000713050154/http://www.vud.de/infopres/cebit98.htm | url=http://www.vud.de:80/infopres/cebit98.htm | title=Uhr TCM Hannover – ein glänzender Event auf der CebitHome | date=August 26, 1998 | publisher=Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland | archive-date=July 13, 2000 | language=de | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} for sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718145345/https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html | url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html | title=VUD-Gold-Awards 2003 | author=Horn, Andre | date=January 14, 2004 | magazine=GamePro Germany | archive-date=July 18, 2018 | language=de | url-status=live }} Civilization II Gold alone sold 171,495 copies in the United States by September 2000, according to PC Data.{{cite magazine | author=Jones, George | date=September 2000 | title=Call to Power 2; The Numbers Racket | issue=194 | pages=54, 55 | magazine=Computer Gaming World }}

In August 2001, Jeff Briggs of Firaxis estimated that Civilization II had sold "about 3 million" copies.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010828180918/http://www.pcgamer.com/eyewitness/eyewitness_2001-08-22.html | url=http://www.pcgamer.com:80/eyewitness/eyewitness_2001-08-22.html | title=Firaxis Interview | date=August 22, 2001 | archive-date=August 28, 2001 | work=PC Gamer US | author=Staff | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }} Meier said that he was "wrong on all counts" about opposing mod support; "The strength of the modding community is, instead, the very reason the series survived".{{r|jahromi20210922}}

{{Video game reviews

|MC = 94%{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sid-meiers-civilization-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Sid Meier's Civilization II for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=30 March 2019 }}

|GR = 93%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196926-sid-meiers-civilization-ii/index.html |title=Sid Meier's Civilization II for PC |publisher=Gamerankings |access-date=30 March 2019 }}

|Allgame = 5/5 (Windows){{cite web|last=Sutyak |first=Jonathan |title=Sid Meier's Civilization II (Windows) – Review |publisher=Allgame |access-date=June 4, 2014 |url=http://allgame.com/game.php?id=5382&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114130858/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5382 |archive-date=November 14, 2014 }}
4.5/5 (Macintosh){{cite web|last= Savignano |first=Lisa Karen |title=Sid Meier's Civilization II (Macintosh)– Review |publisher=Allgame |access-date=August 15, 2023 |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12192&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115032520/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12192&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 }}
2.5/5 (PlayStation){{cite web|last= Miller |first=Skyler |title=Sid Meier's Civilization II (PlayStation)– Review |publisher=Allgame |access-date=August 15, 2023 |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15421&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114140232/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15421&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 }}

| CGR = 91/100{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961221184113/http://www.nuke.com/cgr/reviews/9607/civ2/civ2.htm | url=http://www.nuke.com/cgr/reviews/9607/civ2/civ2.htm | title=Let's Get Civilized | author1=Chapman, Ted | author2=Gehrs, Scott | author3=Snyder, Frank | date=July 1996 | work=Computer Game Review | archive-date=December 21, 1996 | url-status=dead }}

| Edge = 9/10{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/EDGE.The.100.most.significant.reviews.from.the.first.100.issues.2001/page/n35/mode/2up?q=%22Civilization+II%22+playstation|section=Civilization II|title=The 100 most significant reviews from the first 100 issues|year=2001|page=37|access-date=July 5, 2021}}

| EGM = 8.75/10 (PS){{efn|In Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'s}} review, three critics gave Civilization II 9/10, another 8/10.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20116%20%28March%201999%29/page/n129/mode/2up|title=Civilization II|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=116|date=March 1999|page=130|access-date=July 5, 2021}}}}

| Gen4 = 5/5{{cite magazine|author1=Stéphane|author2=Olivier|date=May 1996|url=https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-088/page/n91/mode/2up?q=%22Civilization+2%22|title=Civilization 2|magazine=Génération 4|issue=88|language=fr|pages=92–95|access-date=July 5, 2021}}

|GI = 7.75/10 (PS){{cite magazine|url=https://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=2382 |title=Civilization 2: Control Your Destiny |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001003142622/http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=2382 |archive-date=October 3, 2000 }}

|JS = 84%{{efn|Joystick scored Civilization II 79% for technique, and 90% for interest.{{cite magazine|date=May 1996|url=https://archive.org/details/joystick071/page/n111/mode/2up?q=%22Civilization+2%22|title=Civilization 2|language=fr|issue=71|magazine=Joystick|pages=112–114|access-date=July 5, 2021}}}}

| MW = 4/5

|NGen = 5/5 (PC)
5/5 (PS)

|OPM = 4.5 (PS){{cite magazine|last=Kujawa|first=Kraig|date=March 1999|url=https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_2_Issue_6_1999-03_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n79/mode/2up?q=%22Civilization+II%22|title=Civilization 2|magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine|volume=2|number=6|page=81|access-date=July 5, 2021}}

|PCGUK = 96%{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=213 |title=PC Gamer | Civilization 2 (Issue 28) |date=2002-02-19 |access-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020828200941/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=213 |archive-date=August 28, 2002 }}

|PCGUS = 97%{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/256.html |title=PC Gamer Online: Civilization II (July 1996) |website=PC Gamer |date=1999-10-08 |access-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991113155711/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/256.html |archive-date=November 13, 1999 }}

| GPPCG = A{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961018194413/http://www.pcgamesmag.com/games/Jun96/civ2696.html | url=http://www.pcgamesmag.com:80/games/Jun96/civ2696.html | title=Civilization II | magazine=PC Games | author=Brenesal, Barry | date=June 1996 | archive-date=October 18, 1996 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 4, 2019 }}

| PCPP = 9/10{{Cite journal|last=Mansill|first=Ben|date=May 1996|title=Sid Meier's Civilisation 2|url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-001-1996-05/page/n47|journal=PC PowerPlay|issue=1|pages=48–51}}

| PCZone = 90/100{{cite magazine|last=Wright|first=Andrew|date=March 1996|url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_36_March_1996/page/n49/mode/2up?q=%22Civilization+2%22|title=Civilization 2|magazine=PC Zone|issue=3|pages=50–53|access-date=July 5, 2021}}

}}

On release, a reviewer for Next Generation ventured that Civilization II "may be one of the most balanced and playable games ever released." He especially praised the added depth of the combat, diplomatic relations, and trade over the original Civilization, which he said was one of the best games ever released for PC.{{cite magazine|title=Landmark |magazine=Next Generation|issue=19 |date=July 1996|page=83}} Computer Gaming World gave it the Strategy Game of the Year award,CGW 154 (May 1997). and PC Gamer US named it the overall game of the year, calling it and its predecessor "perhaps the finest strategy games ever made."{{cite press release | title=PC Gamer Reveals Its 1997 Award Winners | date=February 6, 1997 | location=Brisbane, California | work=Business Wire }} Civilization II was nominated as Computer Games Strategy Plus{{'s}} 1996 game of the year, although it lost to Tomb Raider. However, it won the magazine's award for the best turn-based strategy game of the year.{{cite web| author=Staff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970614161401/http://www.cdmag.com/news/0325971.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com/news/0325971.html |title=Computer Games Strategy Plus announces 1996 Awards |date=March 25, 1997 |work=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archive-date=June 14, 1997 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |url-status=dead}} It also won a Spotlight Award for Best PC/Mac Game.{{cite magazine |title=Spotlight Award Winners |magazine=Next Generation|issue=31 |date=July 1997|page=21 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_31/page/n21}} Macworld{{'s}} Michael Gowan wrote, "Hard-core strategists will enjoy this game's complexity."{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810062339/http://www.macworld.com/1999/02/games/games.html |url=http://www.macworld.com:80/1999/02/games/games.html |title=Name Your Game; From Goofy to Gory, Macworld Reviews 48 Ways to Play |author=Gowan, Michael |work=Macworld |date=February 1999 |archive-date=August 10, 2001 |url-status=dead }}

Next Generation reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "Overall, Civ II remains one of strategy gaming's finest hours and is a welcome addition on PlayStation. For those who are willing, it's a game of limitless possibilities."{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=52|publisher=Imagine Media|date=April 1999|page=90}}

In 2007, Civilization II was ranked as third in IGN's list of the 100 greatest video games of all time,{{cite web| url = http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_3.html| title = IGN's Top 100 Games| website = IGN| access-date = 2007-07-23| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071202192253/http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_3.html| archive-date = 2007-12-02| url-status = dead}} having previously rated it at number 15 in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2003/11-20.html |title=IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time |publisher=Uk.top100.ign.com |access-date=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104104151/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2003/11-20.html |archive-date=2013-11-04 }} In 2012, G4tv ranked it as the 62nd top video game of all time.{{cite web |url=http://www.g4tv.com/videos/59230/top-100-video-games-of-all-time-62-sid-meiers-civilization-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310120530/http://www.g4tv.com/videos/59230/top-100-video-games-of-all-time-62-sid-meiers-civilization-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2013 |title=Top 100 Video Games of All Time #62 – Sid Meier's Civilization 2 – |publisher=G4tv.com |date=2012-06-12 |access-date=2013-11-07 }} Polish web portal Wirtualna Polska ranked it as the most addictive game "that stole our childhood".{{cite web |url=http://gry.wp.pl/galeria/gry-ktore-zabraly-nam-dziecinstwo-najbardziej-uzalezniajace-produkcje-sprzed-lat,179101/10.html |title=1. Civilization II – Gry, które zabrały nam dzieciństwo – najbardziej uzależniające produkcje sprzed lat – Imperium gier |publisher=Gry.wp.pl |access-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222045129/http://gry.wp.pl/galeria/gry-ktore-zabraly-nam-dziecinstwo-najbardziej-uzalezniajace-produkcje-sprzed-lat,179101/10.html |archive-date=2013-02-22 }} The journal article "Theoretical Frameworks for Analysing Turn-Based Computer Strategy Games" deemed it "significant and influential".{{Cite journal|last=Caldwell|first=Nicholas|date=2004-02-01|title=Theoretical Frameworks for Analysing Turn-Based Computer Strategy Games|journal=Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy|language=en|volume=110|issue=1|pages=42–51|doi=10.1177/1329878X0411000107|s2cid=142822881|issn=1329-878X}} In Ted Friedman's essay "Civilization and its Discontents: Simulation, Subjectivity, and Space" from the collection Discovering Discs: Transforming Space and Genre on CD-ROM, he argues that the game "simultaneously denies and de-personalizes the violence in the history of 'exploration, colonization, and development".{{cite news | url=http://web.mit.edu/21w.784/www/BD%20Supplementals/Materials/UnitFour/friedman.htm | title=Civilization and its Discontents: Simulation, Subjectivity, and Space | first=Ted | last=Friedman}} Computer Shopper deemed it a "worthy successor" to Civilization,{{Cite magazine|date=1996-10-01|title=Civilization II. (MicroProse Software) (Games) (Software Review)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18709428.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194546/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18709428.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08|magazine=Computer Shopper}} and "arguably the finest multiplayer game ever created".{{Cite magazine|magazine=Computer Shopper|date=1999-06-01|title=Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri: New World, New Battles.(Firaxis Games' simulation game)(Product Announcement)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54606478.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194925/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54606478.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} In anticipation to the launch of Civilization III, New Straits Times described Civilization II as "the best turn-based empire- building strategy game".{{Cite news|work=New Straits Times|date=2002-01-21|title=Building empires|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82638620.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195829/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-82638620.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} Baltimore Afro-American was "obsessed with the game".{{Cite journal|date=2004-03-22|title=The Great War in the Classroom|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-116450585.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194214/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-116450585.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08|journal=Academic Exchange Quarterly}} Tribune Business News deemed it an "old favorite".{{Cite news|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=1999-04-14|title=The Philadelphia Inquirer Games Column.|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54381481.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194922/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54381481.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} The game was the fourth bestseller in October 1996 and the 3rd bestseller in December 1997.{{Cite news|work=The Washington Post|date=1996-10-21|title=Bestsellers|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-801131.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201930/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-801131.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}}{{Cite news|work=The Washington Post|date=1997-12-15|title=BESTSELLERS|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-760508.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201854/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-760508.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-10-08}} PC Games argued that the game "cemented the franchise's place in videogame history."{{Cite web|url=http://www.pcgamesn.com/most-important-pc-games-civilization|title=The most important PC games of all time: Civilization|date=August 11, 2016 |access-date=2016-09-01}}

In 1998, PC Gamer declared it the 2nd-best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "intelligent, engrossing and entertaining beyond compare, it's one of the finest artistic achievements of the last decade".{{cite journal | author=The PC Gamer Editors | title=The 50 Best Games Ever | date=October 1998 | volume=5 | number=10 | journal=PC Gamer US | pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130 }} In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the game sixth in a list of the top 100 games of all time, writing: "Civ 2 could well be one of the world's most addicting games."{{Cite magazine |date=July 1996 |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cf/GamesMaster_UK_044.pdf |magazine=GamesMaster |issue=44 |pages=78}}

Several other games have been heavily inspired by Civilization II. In 2006, an N-Gage version of Civilization was released, based on Civilization II and its successor III.{{cite web |last1=Scheider |first1=Peer |title=Sid Meier's Civilization Preview |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/07/30/civilization |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706104859/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/07/30/civilization |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |date=July 29, 2005}} The open-source game Freeciv has a "ruleset" that is virtually identical to II's mechanics.

In 2011, researchers at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the University College London published the results of a machine learning system playing Civilization II, in its Freeciv implementation, which used the text from its official game manual to guide its strategy.{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/language-from-games-0712.html |title=Computer learns language by playing games |publisher=Web.mit.edu |date=2011-07-11 |access-date=2013-11-07}}{{cite web|url=http://groups.csail.mit.edu/rbg/code/civ/ |title=Learning to Win by Reading Manuals in a Monte-Carlo Framework |publisher=Groups.csail.mit.edu |access-date=2013-11-07}} The linguistically informed player outperformed its language-unaware counterpart, winning over 78% of games when playing against the built-in AI, a 27% absolute improvement.{{Cite book|last1=Branavan|first1=S. R. K.|last2=Silver|first2=David|last3=Barzilay|first3=Regina|date=2011-01-01|title=Learning to Win by Reading Manuals in a Monte-Carlo Framework|url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2002472.2002507|journal=Proceedings of the 49th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics: Human Language Technologies – Volume 1|series=HLT '11|location=Stroudsburg, PA, USA|publisher=Association for Computational Linguistics|pages=268–277|isbn=9781932432879}} The same group also showed that their "non-linear Monte-Carlo search wins 80% of games against the handcrafted, built-in AI".{{cite journal | url = http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/74248 | title = Non-Linear Monte-Carlo Search in Civilization II | date = July 2011 | last1=Branavan|first1= Satchuthanan R.|last2=Silver|first2=David|last3=Barzilay|first3=Regina| journal = Mit Web Domain | hdl = 1721.1/74248 | access-date=29 August 2021}}

In June 2012, the Reddit user "Lycerius" posted details of his decade-long Civilization II game,{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/uxpil/ive_been_playing_the_same_game_of_civilization_ii/ |title=I've been playing the same game of Civilization II for almost 10 years. This is the result. : gaming |publisher=Reddit.com |date=2012-06-12 |access-date=2013-11-07}} since dubbed "The Eternal War". The viral story spread to many blogs and news sites. The game closely mimicked social conditions in the dystopian novel 1984 of George Orwell, with three superpowers engaged in perpetual multiple-front total warfare.{{cite news|last=Jordison |first=Sam |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2012/jun/13/civilization-ii-big-brother-orwell-1984 |title=From Civilization to Big Brother: how a game recreated Orwell's 1984 |newspaper=Guardian |date=2012-06-13 |access-date=2013-11-07}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/18/tech/gaming-gadgets/civilization-ii-ten-years/index.html |title=10-year-long video game creates 'hellish nightmare' world |website=CNN |date=2012-06-18 |access-date=2013-11-07}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|Civilization II.ogg|date=2010-05-07}}

• [https://civilization.com/civilization-2 Official website]
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/sid-meiers-civilization-ii Civilization II] at MobyGames
• [https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Civilization_II Civilization II] – entry on the Civilization Wiki, a non-Wikipedia-affiliated wiki dedicated to the video game series Civilization. The website offers comprehensive coverage of gameplay.

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