Editing Civilization II (section)

===Critical reviews===
{{Video game reviews
|MC         = 94%<ref name="metacritic">{{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 }}</ref>
|GR         = 93%<ref name="gamerankings">{{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 }}</ref>
|Allgame = 5/5 (Windows)<ref>{{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 }}</ref><br />4.5/5 (Macintosh)<ref>{{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 }}</ref><br />2.5/5 (PlayStation)<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
| CGR = 91/100<ref name=cgr-review>{{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 }}</ref>
| Edge = 9/10<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| EGM = 8.75/10 (PS){{efn|In ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''{{'s}} review, three critics gave ''Civilization II'' 9/10, another 8/10.<ref>{{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}}</ref>}}
| Gen4 = 5/5<ref>{{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=[[:fr:Génération 4|Génération 4]]|issue=88|language=fr|pages=92–95|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>
|GI = 7.75/10 (PS)<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
|JS = 84%{{efn|''Joystick'' scored ''Civilization II'' 79% for technique, and 90% for interest.<ref>{{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 (magazine)|Joystick]]|pages=112–114|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref>}}
| MW = 4/5<ref name=macworldreviews />
|NGen = 5/5 (PC)<ref name="NGen19"/><br>5/5 (PS)<ref name="NG52"/>
|OPM = 4.5 (PS)<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|PCGUK = 96%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=213 |title=PC Gamer &#124; 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 }}</ref>
|PCGUS = 97%<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
| GPPCG = A<ref name=pcgamesrev>{{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 }}</ref>
| PCPP = 9/10<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| PCZone = 90/100<ref>{{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}}</ref>
}}

On release, a reviewer for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|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.<ref name="NGen19">{{cite magazine|title=Landmark |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=19 |date=July 1996|page=83}}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' gave it the Strategy Game of the Year award,<ref>''CGW'' 154 (May 1997).</ref> and ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' named it the overall game of the year, calling it and its predecessor "perhaps the finest strategy games ever made."<ref name=businesswire>{{cite press release | title=''PC Gamer'' Reveals Its 1997 Award Winners | date=February 6, 1997 | location=Brisbane, California | work=[[Business Wire]] }}</ref> ''Civilization II'' was nominated as ''[[Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''{{'s}} 1996 game of the year, although it lost to ''[[Tomb Raider (1996 video game)|Tomb Raider]]''. However, it won the magazine's award for the best turn-based strategy game of the year.<ref name=cgmawards1996>{{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 Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] |archive-date=June 14, 1997 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It also won a [[Spotlight Awards|Spotlight Award]] for Best PC/Mac Game.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Spotlight Award Winners |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=31 |date=July 1997|page=21 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_31/page/n21}}</ref> ''[[Macworld]]''{{'s}} Michael Gowan wrote, "Hard-core strategists will enjoy this game's complexity."<ref name=macworldreviews>{{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 }}</ref>

''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."<ref name="NG52">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=52|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|date=April 1999|page=90}}</ref>

In 2007, ''Civilization II'' was ranked as third in [[IGN]]'s list of the 100 greatest video games of all time,<ref>{{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}}</ref> having previously rated it at number 15 in 2003.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In 2012, [[G4tv]] ranked it as the 62nd top video game of all time.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Polish web portal [[Wirtualna Polska]] ranked it as the most addictive game "that stole our childhood".<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The journal article "Theoretical Frameworks for Analysing Turn-Based Computer Strategy Games" deemed it "significant and influential".<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Computer Shopper'' deemed it a "worthy successor" to Civilization,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and "arguably the finest multiplayer game ever created".<ref>{{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}}</ref> In anticipation to the launch of ''[[Civilization III]]'', ''New Straits Times'' described ''Civilization II'' as "the best turn-based empire- building strategy game".<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Baltimore Afro-American'' was "obsessed with the game".<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Tribune Business News'' deemed it an "old favorite".<ref>{{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}}</ref> The game was the fourth bestseller in October 1996 and the 3rd bestseller in December 1997.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> ''PC Games'' argued that the game "cemented the franchise's place in videogame history."<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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".<ref name=pcgtop50>{{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 }}</ref> In 1996, ''[[GamesMaster (magazine)|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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>