| Product: |
Europa Universalis III (PC) |
| Date: |
21/07/08 (29 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Huge game. Huge potential. Huge list of how the game can be played.
Disadvantages: Micro managment gone crazy. Very difficult for new players of the genre.
Europa Universalis 3 is a massive game. No doubt about that. The creators, paradox interactive (a favourite of mine) never fail to produce an in depth game down to the very province of land in the very far reaches of the globe. With the player been allowed to play any nation they wish for 400years in History, you can expect this game to wow you.
The gameplay reminds me of the Total war seires, ie Mediveal 2, Shogun etc. However, the player never zooms into the battle. Instead what you have is an interface with the entire world on it (or atleast what you have explored up to now) from this you can zoom in and out revealing more or less of say Europe. The world itself contains round about 1700 sea and land provinces, for you to conquer.
What the player has to do, depending on which country they are, is to click on each of their different provinces, and build what they like. An example of this is if i was England, I would first click on the province London and from their a menu bar would appear asking whether I wanted to construct new buildings or recruit more troops. Once choson the player has to wait so many in game days for their choice to be ready to command. I hope you appreciate a game of such magnitude is very hard to secribe without any screen shots etc. As the game is just that in depth. The player has the option to run any type of government they want, to make allies with who they wish and go to war with anyone. National idea can also be selected to make each nation unique, a favourite of mine is, Conscripts which raises the monthlyt change of people reaching a age in which they can fight. :D
There is no definate story for the game, because you make your own. Perhaps you want to be the bank of Europe, lending money to those nations who need it. Or maybe as England you want a bigger stake in the New world as happened. It is entirely up to you, and thats what makes this game so special and the 5 out of 5 rating.
The graphics of the game however are not as special. Altohugh they can boast a little 3d-ness on a fully interactive map, they are basic, however, that in terms of this game was probably right. As a massive up to date graphical map, along with the many, many units there are wandering the world. This game perhaps would not play on some computers, aswell become more complicating then it already is.
The sound of the game is very good. Classical music blasts out at you and changes due to the actions as a nation you are taking. War brings on fast paced music, where as exploration more slower. Top marks for sound.
Finally and most importantly, replayability. One of the best parts of this game is the replayability. If you like this game first time round, which i wont lie some of you won't. Then this is a game which will have you coming back time and time again. As a single game can last a month or two, then once you have finished you think, what if I did that differently or didnt expand over their etc. Hence you pick up and play again.
In conclusion then, this game is a big hit for me. Its in depth, has had alot of work done to make it, and you really get your money's worth. However, ironically all these positive points come at a price as the game has a STEEP learing curve, and a manual the size of a brick. The tutorial won't teach you everything and new players will find it hard to get used to the micro management. However, once the player gets past the initial herdles, then they are in for a very exciting new game.
Thanks for reading.
Summary: A great in depth game for those who want a little more from gaming.
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