Name:  - Europa Universalis
Paradox Entertainment Description:
Europa Universalis is a historical strategy game simulating all aspects of world history from 1492 to 1792. Each player takes on the role of one of the major nations of the era, controlling diplomacy, economy, warfare, exploration and colonization. A number of unique features ensure historical accuracy, including period monarchs, military leaders, and technological gains.
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ZWORM Strategizes
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82
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| First Impression and Game Installation |
Europa Universalis’ box immediately caught my eye - it promised “Faith, Power, and Wealth”, but ultimately it delivered a whole lot more. This game was originally a board game and it’s easy to see with its statistically based combat system and complex rules, but some cheap port it’s not. The designers incorporated a real time game engine that draws a definite line in the sand for you Civilization fans. In addition, the game features over 700 provinces with 60 or so countries vying for their riches. Religion and diplomacy have greater weight in your overall success, but never underestimate importance of a strong navy and the resilience of a battle hardened army. Ahh, and don’t forget about gold. Do you mortgage the future in hopes of stealing the gold from the Aztecs, or do you colonize the ‘New World’ and watch as the riches from the cotton and tobacco seep from your tight fisted grip over the colonists? Do you rewrite history? Or are you destined, like so many real rulers before you, to repeat the same mistakes again? |
10.0
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| Configurable Options and Ease of Use |
The interface was a little challenging at first, but I soon found myself in a fluid groove. What the game lacks in accessibility, it makes up for with deep and engrossing gameplay. |
7.0
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| Graphics |
The 256 color graphics are what you get, but you won’t be disappointed. The historically accurate map is broken up into regions and provinces with names that were originally coined during the era. The strict attention to historical detail is a refreshing change to many of today’s games that offer stunning visual images, but lack true depth and the ever important ability to keep the gamer interested through dynamic gameplay, rather than superficial eye candy. |
9.0
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| Video at Minimum and Maximum |
A number of zoom options are at your disposal and I found their respective ‘hot keys’ well used. I was able to zoom in when a particular region demanded a closer inspection, but found the ability to zoom out most convenient when a watchful bird’s eye view was appropriate. |
7.0
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| Sound |
The sound is below average. I was never able to get the music to work on my system, but the sound effects worked well. They proved to be effective during battles and provided a hint of relief when signaling an important event. Needless to say, much work is needed here. |
5.5
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| Beginner thru Advanced Use |
Make no mistake, this game is for the advanced enthusiast. |
8.0
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| Multi-player |
Although multi-player play is available, it isn’t very user friendly. With no in-game feature to coordinate opponent matching, the games are not easy to setup. LAN and Direct TCP/IP are the options people, so know the players beforehand. |
7.0
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| Help Instructions |
As full of useful background information that the 128-page manual is, it somehow seems to fall short in getting the novice up to speed quickly. The game interface is a tad confusing and one doesn’t easily acclimate to its layout. In fact, I found the in game tutorial to be extremely complex as well, but very effective in teaching me the game – easily eclipsing the effectiveness of the manual. This, by no means, implies that the manual lacks pertinent information. The manual writers just could have done a better job of lying out and organizing the facts. You will have to buckle down and read it like a novel, because it lacks the accessibility for you to swiftly grab information at a glance. This game really does have a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it there is no turning back. The little “pop up hints” prove to be the best source of random, yet important tid bits of information. The tools are there, but you just need to know where to look. |
9.0
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| Value (price for what you get) |
The price of $34.99 USD is excellent when you factor 300 game years, 10 different playable countries, and over 60 hours of gameplay (per county) into the equation. |
10.0
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| Recommend to Others |
Europa Universalis is definitely not a game for everyone. This is for the megalomaniacal thinkers out there that are looking for an interactive European history lesson and have a desire to invest ample time to this refreshing game. The real time, conquest genre has been well represented with engrossing gameplay that doesn’t demand diligent micromanagement. If arranging royal marriages, making military alliances, and sending those overly capitalist, yet vulnerable Elizabethan English scum to there knees is for you, then Europa Universalis is a must buy. If you are like my colleague Koggs, however, then your thirty-five bucks might prove to be more stimulating by enhancing your wardrobe with bargain basement XFL gear or spending the weekend at the local ‘Dukes of Hazard’ film festival. |
9.5
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RECOMMENDATIONS to the Vendor
ZWORM
- Please get the sound to work right.
- The manual needs some polishing so as to lessen the learning curve
- The ability to custom assign mouse commands would be sweet
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