As deep as you like...

Diplomacy is an intricate balance between nations, and another advanced aspect of the game.

As a returning player to the world of Civilization, it's nice to see that the fundamentals which made me love the first two games are still in place. The well-defined border system gives a "what's-mine-is-mine" attitude to what was once a relative territorial free-for-all. Diplomacy still seems like a chore at times, with constant negotiations, and the religion system needs more logical balance. Thankfully, trading between civilizations is now a more transparent affair. This aids in decision-making when trying to define policy issues that will affect a game in the long-term.

Firaxis has positioned Civilization IV as a more accessible game with context-sensitive hints, tips and suggestions for new players. The difficulty and detail that veteran players love is there, waiting to be peeled away in layers - like an onion, only without the tears. By chance or by design, the game gradually opens new doors to those willing to explore new gameplay.

Keeping abreast of international relations is made easier with the in-game advisor.

No review of Civilization IV is complete without mentioning the game's artist qualities. From the beautifully composed soundtrack to the voice acting provided by Leonard Nimoy, the game is an aural wonderland. The gameplay is supported throughout with vibrant music suited to the civilization's current time period, and the sound effects are well-done across the board. The inclusion of positional audio support only enhances the experience.

By no means is this an cutting-edge graphics engine, so Firaxis had to make the most of their chosen technology. The texture work is very capable if no exceptional, but it's the world leader animations which stand out. Depending on relations with a particular foreign civilization, an opposing leader's animations will indicate immediately his or her demeanor. It's a subtle effect, but one that adds to the atmosphere and is a testament to the attention to detail found in all of the art assets.

Actuaries will be delighted: there are enough stat screens to keep one occupied for hours.

Though there are a wealth of single-player options available, from custom games to pre-defined scenarios, at some point you'll crave a true multiplayer experience. Civilization IV doesn't skimp in this regard with a host of options: LAN play, netplay via a lobby, IP-to-IP play, Hot Seat (multiple players take turns on the same machine) and PBEM (Play by E-Mail). I had the opportunity to try an IP-to-IP connection and a PBEM game, and I was duly impressed with both. Being a turn-based game, even an imbalance connection (cable-to-dialup) allowed for an enjoyable gameplay experience.

PBEM, of course, is a different beast altogether, with players taking a turn and sending the PBEM game file to the next player. That player then continues the process, and the game is played as it normally is until victory is achieved or all turns have been exhausted. AI players can be included in all multiplayer games. With one or more willing participants, expect to be up until the wee hours swapping turns and chatting via the in-game voice chat feature.