(The original ' Civ' has relatively primitive static versions of similar advisers.) The council consists of film clips of young actors portraying advisers in the areas of the military (a brawny man, often drunk, angry, or both he becomes a stereotypical American general when you reach Modern Age), economics (a snooty and suave businessman), diplomacy (a saucy Femme Fatale with a vaguely Eastern European accent), technological progress (a stereotypically nerdy scientist), and the people's happiness (an Elvis Presley lookalike). One memorable element in the game is the ability to consult the ' High Council' for advice (as long as the player still has the CD in the drive). Legions cost more and have greater attack and defense values some new units are added such as Stealth Bomber and Stealth Fighter. For instance, Settlers (and the Engineers who supersede them) can be automated to improve surrounding areas, but no longer ignore enemy zones of control.

The game features entirely new concepts, such as firepower and hitpoints (meaning Phalanxes cannot so easily beat Battleships), and changes some units' abilities and strengths. Rivers (as in Colonization) now act much like roads - moving one square along a river will cost only 1/3 of a movement point. The river is just part of each topography square it flows through, adding productive value and movement ability. Rivers no longer occupy the whole of each tile along its length. The Artificial Intelligence, or AI, was improved upon as well, including the elimination of most random events (such as the situation where Wonders of the World were built spontaneously in the original Civilization) by now making the computer player go through the same production requirements as the human player. The graphics (greatly improved with clickable links and movable windows) have been changed from top-down view to isometric representation. Civilization II is similar to the first Civilization, with some changes to the units and civilizations and additional wonders, units, tile 'specials,' and technologies included.

Civilization 2 soundtrack