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Superb "strategy game"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: October 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing strategy games for more than 8 years and this is one of the very best I've played so far.
I'm a huge fan of Civilization style games, and I do like Age of Kings style too, but let me tell you that EU2 is unique in its way of dealing it.
It's not a "turn based" game like Civil, nor it's a real time one like AOK. It's a turn based game in real time.
what do I mean? You can plan your actions carefully and then feel the action of "live" answers to your decisions. Another peculiarity is the possibility of winning the game without being ever in war! You can win a full 100% diplomatic way (via trade & careful alliances). It's like being and acting like a Switzerland.
It takes more than usual to understand it completely but it's the most similar to managing a country I'd ever played so far!
If you're interested in these games, this is an option you ought to consider seriously!

amazing sound track

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

i'm giving this game 5-stars because it is worth the $15 for the sound track alone. i haven't even played it. i have the game running in the background for the music.

Chess for the History Buff

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: December 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Do you enjoy strategy games that aren't a real-time strategy click fest? Did you major in history? Then Europa Universalis is the game for you but be careful because you may never set it down. Being a history buff, any game which allows me to conquer the world in the Age of Mercantilism is a dream come true so you can imagine how quickly I picked this one up. Actually, I started playing the series with the first game and if you're new to the entire Europa Universalis line, I recommend you begin with the sequel which doesn't add an incredible amount of new content but is a better play than the first game. Historically accurate rules and the ability to play any country from Spain to the Aztec Empire is what makes this game a classic. War isn't as simple and one-dimensional as a classic turn-based strategy game such as Civilization or popular real-time strategy game such as Age of Empires. While technically the game is real-time strategy (RTS), it really doesn't feel like it as it's a different approach from your typical RTS title. You can easily change the speed of the game by slowing down the progression of months and essentially turning the game into a turn-based strategy game which is the best and necessary way to play in most areas of the game. The game allows multiplayer and speaking of online communities, Europa Universalis may have one of the smartest PC gaming communities in existence. Check out the company's message boards for plenty of custom mods and in-depth history discussions. While you're at it, make sure to download any patches as well because the entire Europa Universalis line has a notorious reputation for buggy releases. This game takes plenty of time to master so don't expect to learn it in one day. To enjoy this game, you really need to know what type of gamer you are. While not as sophisticated as some of the lesser known harcore military strategy games, Europa Universalis does require plenty of patience and a passion for history and strategy.

Best Computer Game Ever Made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: February 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is definitely the best computer game ever made (trust me--I have purchased hundreds)--excellent attention to historical accuracy, unlimited replayability. Covers an important (and large) segment of history from 1419 to 1820, and the player can choose to play any country in the entire world. Absolutely fascinating. For anyone who ever enjoyed Civilization type games, this is a definite must-buy. In fact, it is far better both in accuracy and playability than its competitor Civilization III which of course has a lot more marketing. Not for stupid people or those who dislike history, geography, politics, or economics. Historical realism rather than political correctness. Several historical scenarios covering different periods, but the best is of course the Grand Campaign. I liked it so much that I bought a second copy as a gift for someone else.

Fun intro to European history

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: January 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have played this game extensively since purchasing it last Spring. The historical accuracy is both its greatest strength and weakness.

It is a strength because you are immersed in something like the world of the 15th century and beyond. You can follow even obscure states through 300 years of their history.

But the weakness of historical accuracy is that the game forces you into the groove of actual history. It does this using several more or less hidden factors. First, innumerable historically based, programmed events will give you unique opportunities or shock your country out of tranquility with little regard to what you have done to merit them. Second, your territories have cultures that are entirely inflexible, as does your government. If you hold territories that have cultures different from those of your government you will never have peace, no matter how many centuries you have held them. This gives you a strong incentive to steer clear of them in the first place. Finally, your government belongs to one of five technology groups, all with different rates of technological development. If you are in a slow (i.e., non-European) group, you will eventually be overwhelmed by European conquerors.

The game is fun and replayable. But the more or less determined outcomes for individual states makes playing anything but a medium to large European power either boring or frustrating. The game also lacks any tactical aspect. On the whole, much better than anything else in strategy, and in tactics and resource management very poor compared to offerings like Medieval Total War or Age of Kings.

WARNING A GAME THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU USE YOUR HEAD

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 17
Date: November 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

EU2 is one of those games where you have to think long and hard
before you make your move.You cant just take over a country.You
have to think how big the army is how big is yours and so forth?
Useing diplomecy instead of force is also a good idea.The choice:
over 200 nations means that the replay value is quite high.
Graphics:so-so Music:A+ Difficulty:you bet Overall:A EU forum:A+
So if you a like history-based game that might make you think
then get EU2.

Universalis or Revolutionalis?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 13 / 23
Date: July 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Having gone through the Age of Empire's series with nothing more than disappointment I have been searching hard for an Empire building game to end all games. The search goes on. Europa Universalis has all the elements: grand scale, multiple societies; military,religious and economic scope...Unfortunately the one thing it lacks is ease of use. The game promises that the player will have control over how the society evolves and there are many aspects of economic,religious and military development one can invest in (providing the resources are available which they often aren't). The problem is that despite one's best intentions investments tend to have one overwhelmingly negative effect...REVOLT! Consequently the game quickly disolves into an annoying counter-insurgency role rather than an "Empire building game". How is it possible to expand when the greatest threat comes from within your own borders. For a game which purports to be based upon an historically accurate model it lacks credibility. Revolts were rare (at least popular ones as compared to aristocratic) and infrequently led to the overthrow of the state. The game developers have spent too much effort into exploiting this aspect of the game to the detriment of all others. Despite maintaining a lasting peace, economic stability and/or religious tolerance (and even investing wisely...which I still have to learn how to do by this model)the developers have thrown in random and frequent occurrences (some historically based and others mere fantasy) which negatively effect your stability and revolt risk. Kissing and making up is not an option. No amount of money will resolve the outcome (even if you had it which you frequently don't). So the programmers have forced the player into a battle of survival against one's dominions. It would not be too harsh to characterize the game as "Europa Revolutionalis". That's not what I was looking for in the game.But for me the game comes unstuck in the garnering of resources, namely gold. It costs a small fortune to establish colonies and trading posts. Historically these were never costs absorbed by the state. Indeed the English goverments became rich granting charters whereby settlers would pay them to emigrate in exchange for free land which would eventually be quite heavily taxed. Most colonies operated on this system. "Europa" makes countries bankrupt by establishing colonies, absolutely mindboggling! The rate at which resources are garnered is tediously slow, hence the four hundred year time scale. After reading the manual I fail to detect any way of speeding this up. The most obvious way is to monopolize a trade center ( which I have never done though others -computer controlled-seem to manage it too frequently, or to conquer another state and to force tribute from them. Here is another let down. Once a nation agrees to award you tribute a lasting peace is signed which you cannot break. Too frequently the peace is signed but the tribute never materializes, mindboggling! Bankruptcy soon follows. Some of the campaigns have real promise. The Napoleonic Era is very good but alas too brief. The earlier the timeframe the harder the game gets to play as without knowing how to build the ecomony the resulting lack of funds impacts your ability to compete in the game. Hey people at Stragety First, "Give us a break already!" why fill the game with setbacks. If playing against human opponents I can foresee that the game will be more fun but the computer AI cannot be beaten (at least in the economic domain which is where the game is won or lost).This game has the potential to be the best of a weak bunch (Empire builders) which is high praise given that it lacks a proper combat simulator, Shogun Total War still rules the roost.

best game from 2001 for me

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

After playing for 6 months with EU1, I couldn't wait to buy the sequel. It looks almost the same as the first version, but behind the screens, much has become better. You can now play all the countries, you can change your domestic policies, you have missionaires, mercenaries and other new features.

If you like strategy-games, EU2 is a must. It is both fun and educational. It makes you more interested in history. For the newcomer it may look like a difficult game. But thanks to the forum, most questions about the game will be answered.Another review complained about the forum, but I had no problems with it.

Best game ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: January 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought the original a couple years ago. Whenever I had a spare moment, I was playing this game! I'm now playing Europa Universalis 2 and still love it. The concept is great. The strategy involved is advanced, but not so much as to make it unenjoyable. There are a few bugs, but the company has some great patches out. The fan base is huge and very helpful in the forums. If you liked Civilization, you'll love this game!

Europa Crashiversalis

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: February 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I love the game, when it works. The game crashes on me whenever I'm within 10 years of the end. It's not a memory or speed problem, I have more than enough of both in my Sony Vaio. And, the crashes continued even after I downloaded the 1.6 patch. The most annoying part is that my e-mails to the company for technical support have gone unanswered for what is now close to two weeks; I haven't even received confirmation e-mails in response. Very poor service, to say the least. I wouldn't recommend it at this point.

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