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A new review of the PC version of Civilzation IV is available from GameApex. Civ IV introduces a variety of elements to the nation building strategy title including a 3D environment, religion, and a new civics model. Game Apex gave Civilization IV a score of 8 out of 10.

Several interesting additions have come up for people who are interested in the research and city growth portion of the game: the 'great minds' that are drawn to cities with a certain type of wonder or building. Great Scientists, Great Merchants, Great Artists, and Great Prophets can be drawn to your cities to either give a one time boost to an aspect of your city or research, or perhaps join the city providing a constant source of additional resources, or if you have two great minds together -- they can combine to start a Golden Age, which for the span of about twenty turns (I didn't measure) gives you great boost in morale, money, and research.

Also, certain of the later wonders cannot be built until you have a set number of cities (usually 8) with the same building in each one. For example, you can't build Wall Street until you have 8 cities with banks, or you can't build the Red Cross until you have 8 cities with a hospital. So, all in all, you need to establish your area quickly and aggressively, lest you get left behind in later portions of the game.

GameApex: Civilization IV Review

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Civilization IV (add to watch list)

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