Civilization II: Test of Time

[Apexnexius]

Everything Civililzation II: Test of Time

Yo Civ fans! Posting here in the Civilization III forum since many Civ III fans like myself also played Civilization: Test of Time.

Did you ever play it? What are your favorite memories from it?

For the uninitiated Civilization II: Test of Time is the best version (a official Remaster//Remake) of Sid Meier's Civilization 2.

Test of Time (ToT) was always my favorite Civilization Game (mostly due to nostalgia, pretty graphics, unit animations, + more ).
I bought Civilization 1 in 1993 and Civ 2 at release. Then Microprose gave us Test of Time. Civ 2 but better!

IN TEST OF TIME...

- You could (can) choose to play the original game just like in Civ 2 but with better graphics and with unit animations.

- You can play an Extended Game, meaning that when your spaceship lands, you get to colonize a new planet map simultaneously as you continue playing on your home planet map! This is done by map layer switching.
..You get several extended game technologies, improvements and units.
..And you get to meet an alien civilization, or colonize an empty planet with a new biosphere and new civilipedia entries on the new terrain and conditions.

- There is also the Science Fiction Campaign Game (a complete remake).
You get stranded in space and have to build up a whole new civilization on an strange new planet that evolved differently than our earth!
..A total of four map layers in this scenario !
1st Map is the new planet you crash landed on
2nd Map is the remnants of construction platforms left hoovering in orbit above your new home planet.
3rd Map is a rocky planet quite a distance out into space.
4th Map is a gas giant name Noma (if I remember the name correctly).
There is a story to the science fiction campaign that adds flavor.
Everything feels fresh- like a new civization entry with new techs, improvements, and units. I personally really enjoyed the Science Fiction campaign. It felt fresh and exiting.

- Then there is the Fantasy Campaign.
4 Layers here as well !
The sky-cloud map - home of the Buteo bird race
The Ocean map - home of the Merfolk
The Underground Map - Goblins and other nasty surprises. Tunnel building is a feature and tunnel opening can appear on the main map.
And the main map with haunted forests and all the best fantasy fluff.

The Stygians are the Undead, Then there's the Elves, Fanatic Infidel barbarians and more surprises. It's fun to choose which faction (civ) to play as.

- Then there is the famous often talked about Midgaard scenario. This is a scenario more than a campaign. I personally did not like it as much as I did with the fantasy campaign, the reason is that the Midgard scenario is very scripted and there is no option of a random map or customizing a map.
But on the positive side it is very fleshed out! Kind of resembling Tolkien's Middle Earth.


I still have the original box, manual and cds, but I really do hope Firaxis or Microprose (they just restarted the Microsoft company and they are making games again), I really hope they make Test of Time available for purchase once again so that everyone can try it and make up their own opinion.



Again did anybody else in here play that Civilization game? Do you have any memories or experiences with it?

Also, if you want to know something about the game feel free to ask me questions about Civilization II: Test of Time.

[Apexnexius]

@Crimsom
Yeah, got fantastic worlds a well. So much content. I miss the good old days of physical expansion packs for strategy games.

- Are you thinking of "Civilization Call to Power" or "Call to Power 2" ?

- Sid Meier's Civilization 3 is less than 1 dollar right (80 % off).
For any old school gamer willing to play older strategy games that is an insane amount of content for 1 $.

This page
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Sid_Meier%27s_Civilization_III
will help you set up the game perfectly for modern Microsoft WIndows.

[Rastrelly]

ToT is still my favourite as well, despite not being able to play it well for a couple of decades at this point ) Unit support-by-city system, open-field-stack destruction, ships losing seafaring capabilities when damaged, absolutely brutal overrides in democratic governments,much more lively enemy states. Alas, it's too broken in many places: botched pathfinding, a bit backwards combat balance and insanely OP combo of Spies + Fundamentalism, etc.

[Astachoth]

I still play Test of Time to this day. Terrific game!

[Apexnexius]

Originally posted by Astachoth:

I still play Test of Time to this day. Terrific game!

Me too!
I wish Firaxis could make a remake of Test of Time (with better sound and modern graphics).
There could be a main series of Civilization 1-7 etc.
And a side series of Test of Time games :)

Several map layers and all the good stuff !

Sometimes it is easier and more fun to boot up a game of Civ2/'Civ2 - Test of Time' than starting a new game of Civ 5 or Civ6.

Completely different games and a completely different gameplay-loop.
There is room for both.

Also, how long do we have to wait for a new Sid Meier's Pirates! ??

Firaxis has become a "1-game-only company".

[Greybriar]

Civilization II: Test of Time was my favorite Civ game for many years. I began playing the Civilization games when Sid Meier's Civilization was released in 1991. I enjoyed it so much that I have purchased and played every game of Civilization that has been released since then. But there is a something special about Civilization II: Test of Time.

I would very much like to be able to play Civilization II: Test of Time on a modern computer system.

[Apexnexius]

Originally posted by Greybriar:

Civilization II: Test of Time was my favorite Civ game for many years. I began playing the Civilization games when Sid Meier's Civilization was released in 1991. I enjoyed it so much that I have purchased and played every game of Civilization that has been released since then. But there is a something special about Civilization II: Test of Time.

I would very much like to be able to play Civilization II: Test of Time on a modern computer system.

I believe that Civilization 2/Test of TIme has some of the same qualities as Tetris. Building blocks (the city radius) something about that aspect that makes the game so timeless and addictive.

https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Civilization_II:_Test_of_Time

Also, here This page made me able to play Test of TIme on Windows 10. Took me about 30min to setup and configure. ;)

Good luck!

[Greybriar]

Thanks for the link, Apexnexius. I will get the necessary patch(es) from the link you provided and try to get Civ2: ToT up and running on my desktop.