8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent guide with real strategy, May 3, 2000
This review is from: Sid Meier's Civilization II Advanced Strategies (Secrets of the Games Series) (Paperback)
Unlike most so-called strategy guides, which are really rehashes of the game manual, Rymaszewski's book outlines a legitimate strategy which players of CivII can use to succeed at the game on its hardest settings (Emperor and Deity).
The author knows his book is different; he recommends that the most effective way to use it is to simply "read it, and then play the game again". In other words, _Advanced Strategies_ is not a step-by-step walkthrough, nor is it a comprehensive references source full of charts and tables. Instead, it is an outline of a new way of thinking about the game.
I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with CivII. While Rymaszewski's advice cannot compete with the level of detail available on some CivII-related Web sites, his clear writing style and no-nonsense approach to the game make _Advanced Strategies_ well worth its list price.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good book, I would reccomend it., May 1, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Sid Meier's Civilization II Advanced Strategies (Secrets of the Games Series) (Paperback)
This is a great book for types on building your civilization from scratch. I learned many strategies from this book. It is not like other Civ2 books I've seen, that are pretty much a extension of the manual and the Civilopedia. The only thing lacking is the tip's for scenarios from Civ2 Conflicts in Civilization (to be bundled with Ultimate Civ2: Gold Edition.) It had two pages for tip's on some scenarios, and only a half on others. It also didn't rate any of the scenarios. Still, if you are yet to fully master Civ2, I would buy this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A solid Intermediate-wanting-to-win-at-Diety-Level book..., February 3, 2000
This review is from: Sid Meier's Civilization II Advanced Strategies (Secrets of the Games Series) (Paperback)
This is a fairly good book, but is rather thin for the price. It seems targeted to the Intermediate Civ2 player -- anyone who is looking to refing winning high-level play strategy will find it rather redundant.
However, if you are struggling at King or Emperor level, this book will help you. It's targeted to building a sound empire, then winning (albiet sloppily) at Emperor and Diety levels; however, it will not help with most of the more subtle play at those levels (e.g., getting your score from 3,000 to 15,000 by 1850 AD, etc.).
This book does discuss solid fundamentals, how to deal with unhappiness, how to start a strong empire, etc. It does not cover things such as the OCC (one city challenge), getting your top Diety score above 20,000, and the game's more subtle idiosyncracies (max advances, the food caravan 'trick', cheapest way to rush build, etc.).
The cutting edge strategies still reside on the Internet, or maybe you'll discover them during extended gameplay.
PS, If you still seek a challenge, take the OCC (though this book does not help). OCC game rules are simple: you are only allowed ONE--that's right--ONE city, no cheating, no takebacks (unless a hut gives you a city); game setup: Diety level, small world, 7 civs, raging hordes. Your single city against the world... Top players can LAND a spaceship by 1900 AD, and the best have done it before 1850... Questions? My email is civII@bigfoot.com
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
