Civilization: Call to Power

Civilization: Call to Power is a turn-based strategy game for PC , produced by Activision . It appeared in early 1999 and was the direct successor to Civilization II by Sid Meier . In the following year, Call to Power II was a successor

Gameplay

According to the classic civilization principle, you start with a settler in 4000 BC. Chr. The aim of the game is a people from the Neolithic period to lead through 7000 years in Contemporary History in a futuristic future or to the creation of an alien race.

There are three possible ways to win:

Autonomy : The basic requirement for this variant of victory is military determination. To do this, every enemy city must be conquered and every other civilization wiped out by war.

Points win: The game ends in 3000. The player with the highest number of points wins.

Extraterrestrial Life Project: For this variant of victory, an alien must be created.

In order to achieve the victory variants Point Victory or Project Extraterrestrial Life , the player can choose from many different approaches, most of which are known from earlier Civilization games. This includes building and expanding one's own cities with the help of trade, research, building wonders of the world and modernizing cities, as well as improving the surrounding terrain. In interaction with the computer opponents, options such as diplomacy, religious conversion, ecoterrorism, economic policy tricks (e.g. trade embargoes), bureaucracy (e.g. stop opposing building projects), looting and slavery are available.

Call to Power contained new concepts that set it apart from similar games of its time:

Abstract concept for the construction of infrastructure : The "terrain improvements" such as traffic routes, mines, fields etc. do not have to be built by units. Instead, the player makes a budget available for these “public construction projects” . Within the framework of this budget, a number of “terrain improvements” can be built in each round. It is possible to build roads, fields, mines etc. automatically.
Grouped armies / grouped combat: Up to 9 units can be grouped into armies and moved as such. When fighting, these armies also face each other in groups. The units are arranged according to their characteristics (close-range / long-range combat, etc.) and use their attack or defense capacities together until one of the two armies is completely destroyed or retreats. This concept requires more care when assembling armies and leads to a more realistic course of battles.
Elements of religion: The satisfaction of the population can be influenced by religious elements such as blessings, conversions, and changing beliefs. (No religions are named in the game.)
Easy to modify: Call to Power II offers extensive possibilities not only to create new game material (units, terrain, buildings, wonders of the world, etc.), but also to intervene in the logic and the course of the game using the SLIC script language . Some of the bugs in the original game have been fixed or defused by the community using the SLIC scripts. In addition, a number of modifications ( mods ) emerged over the course of time , some of which offer a completely new gaming experience.

New to Civilization II were the ability to build cities in space or underwater, visible trade routes, religion, and slavery.

reception

According to the test result in the Power Play of April 1999, the proven principle of the Civilization series was carefully and sensibly expanded. According to Golem.de , the graphics have not changed fundamentally compared to Civilization II and the game controls have become better, but still have quirks. Innovations, such as the extension of the playing time up to 3000 AD, however, greatly benefit the fun and depth of the game.

"Civilization - Call to Power is not really something new, but it offers many new technologies, units, wonders and thus variants of the strategy that it is also a challenge for civilization fans."

- Golem

Web links

Civilization: Call to Power at MobyGames (English)

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Ralf Müller: Civilization: Call to Power - The most powerful simulation this side of Alpha Centauri . In: Power Play . No. 4/99 . Future Verlag , April 1999, p. 92-97 ( kultboy.com [accessed August 25, 2020]).
↑ ^a ^b Game test: Civilization - Call to Power. In: Golem.de . April 12, 1999, accessed August 25, 2020 .

[PP-1] Ralf Müller: Civilization: Call to Power - The most powerful simulation this side of Alpha Centauri . In: Power Play . No. 4/99 . Future Verlag , April 1999, p. 92-97 ( kultboy.com [accessed August 25, 2020]).

[Golem-2] Game test: Civilization - Call to Power. In: Golem.de . April 12, 1999, accessed August 25, 2020 .