Maybe it's because it was the first one I played, but something about the 2d aspect of this game gripped me. I don't have the same love for the games that came after it, the 3d graphics somehow take me out of the historical element.
The fact that in the older games you are basically playing on a map, gives off this almost board-game feeling that is cosy and immersive. (I know that civ was inspired by a board game)
Playing civ3 as a kid really made me feel like I was in whatever era I was playing at. Still remember those jazz fusion tracks especially.
I remember convincing my dad to buy me this game. I was about 9 years old and the guy running the game store told me it was really good and kind of like Age of Empires II.
After installing it, I realised that it was NOT like AoE2. I broke down in tears when I saw all the elaborate menus with complex English words and was confronted with boring TURN BASED gameplay. Who the hell has that kind of patience??
Same night I had to be dragged to bed because I couldn't stop playing hehe.