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Great Concept!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 16
Date: April 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game appealed to me for several reasons. One, I'm studying medieval history, so the time period the game covers was appealing. Second, I love historical role-playing and civilization building, and the game promised to combine the best of both genres in one box.

In the box I found two CDs and a very thin instruction guide/quick start manual (which was quickly lost). I assumed, the full manual would be on one of the two CDs, so I installed the game and started it up.

No manual. And unfortunately, the maunal available for download leaves a LOT of questions unanswered -- like HOW do you send out trading carts to other cities when you're a trader? This was the only disappointing aspect to the game.

The first thing I look for in a game is a good tutorial, so that's where I started. The tutorial gives a great introduction to the game, but left some things out that I really wish I had known - things like hiring a master to run your businesses for you (very handy when you've got a bunch of buildings up) and planning your children's' education and career. But it covered the basics - just plan on playing a throwaway game on "Very Easy" mode to really get a grasp on the game dynamics before you go hard-core.

The game is entertaining, and addictive. You choose your career and try to make money and advance socially while sabotaging your opponents and competition. You can run for office (anything from town servant all the way up to Pope), trade with other citizens, add on to your home and business, and even build new buildings. Micromanaging everything takes a lot of effort, so you will want to hire a master for some of your businesses.

At this point, you can start to get political. Make friends with people, spy on people, smear the reputations of your enemies. Kiss up to the right people and you will get cushy government jobs that pay well for little effort. Declare vendettas on people that you don't like. Just like real life.

The graphics in the game are quite good, though seem a bit dated. They remind me of the graphics in Dungeon Seige, actually. The combat system is a simple point and click interface, but wasn't used that much in the games I played. The sound is also good.

That said, I found a few drawbacks to the game. The choice of religion doesn't seem to do much for you (Cathar vs. Catholic), and isn't realistic for all areas. There weren't many Cathars in England, for example, but there were Lollards. You can't be Jewish or Muslim in Spain, though both were present in the middle ages.

You can pick your character's gender, but that doesn't seem to affect much in the game either. Women can hold political office (including Catholic bishop!), and own more property than their husbands do. This is hardly realistic for the time period, but I can understand why it was put in the game - marketing rule #1 is don't make the customers mad at you. Historical realism in this instance would have really offended a lot of people.

The game has a big online fan base that is eagerly awaiting the release of The Guild 2, which promises even better graphics and story variations. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'll be able to play that one until I upgrade my video card. Thankfully, The Guild Gold will hold me quite nicely until I can upgrade.

If you don't like civilization building or role-playing, don't get this game. There are times when nothing happens at all, especially if you've got masters running things for you. But if you've always wanted your own Medieval village (and, really, who hasn't?), this is the game for you. Get it, and practice - The Guild 2 is on it's way.

Lots of fun, but needs a better guide

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 13 / 14
Date: February 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Another reviewer noted that this book has no guide. I have to agree with him, that it does need a guide. I prefer to read things, and refer to them as I play. Your only option is to take the klunky "trial," which attempts to teach you how to do things, or to learn "by doing." I tried the latter at first, but some things were very difficult. For most of the professions you really just have to hire someone to run your store, or you're going to give up. Sending out the carts and checking when they get there takes up too much time. There's other more fun stuff in store if you hire a pro (and it's really not too expensive). My game constantly crashes. Luckily, each year, the game backs itself up... but it does get frustrating. Other bugs include seeing German text at points (the game was originally written in German).

My favorite feature of the game is that you can continue playing when your character passes away, if he/she has a son or daughter that is at least 12 years old. I worked my way well into the 1600s, and am on I believe my 7th or 8th character! My favorite "job" so far was being the mayor, because I could fix the dilapidated workers huts. I felt like I was doing the town a good service! I also became a "Prince of the Empire," which had a nice ring to it!

If you like Master of Orion II, I'd recommend the game for the constructing of buildings. And if you're into the 1400s and 1500s, you'll probably enjoy the history you get from the game. Otherwise, give it a pass until they update it and work out the bugs.

Here's the correct link for the manual

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: February 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

For those of you having trouble with the Gold edition and who want a manual, a previous reviewer noted that the link doesn't work. So do this:

www.aspyr.com

Then choose PC games from the drop down box. You will see a graphic for Europa 1400. Click on that. In the text box to the right of the next screen you will see a link to download the manual(s) in .pdf format.

Steep learning curve on this but fun once you get into it. For those who really liked Europa Universalis's depth, this has as much, although it's a curious mix of first person and strategy.

So far, me likely.

The Guild is a great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

At first I want to say that you can get the manual here:
http://www.aspyr.com/docs/373_europa1400_manguts.pdf

Then I must say that at first I wasnt very impressed of this game. But the more you play the more you will like it. Finally you will see that this game is really great. It is a very innovatic medievel economy simulation with some aspcects of a life simulation.

I am really curious of the sequel which will come in the middle of 2006.

No manual! You've got to be kidding!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: January 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game has a lot of promise. It has really inovative game play, somewhere in between an rpg and a city builder. The problem is, I haven't been able to get beyond the survival gameplay aspects, in this game because...

IT DOES NOT COME WITH A MANUAL, AND THE TUTORIAL IS WORTHLESS!

Yes, that's right. And believe me, a game like this is far from self-explanitory. Even after struggling around with it for days, I still have no idea how to play. The quickstart guide that comes with it gives a link to a pdf version of the manual, but the file doesn't work, and there are virtually no FAQs on the internet about the game.

So I've about had it with this version of Europa. Don't buy it unless you know you can somehow find an illusive full manual. I couldn't.

One of my favorite games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I originally saw this at a game store in the clearance section selling for about $6.99. I had never heard of it, but after reading the box it sounded pretty interesting so I decided to take a chance and buy it anyway. All I can say is that it turned out to be one of the best games I ever played. If you like sim games and games that allow you to do pretty much anything you want then the Guild is for you. You start off by choosing a name and religion, choosing the occupation of your parents, and then choosing one for yourself. You progress through your lifetime, building your business and competing with rivals. You can choose other occupations later, marry someone and have children and then play the game through the next generation through your child. You can also apply for political offices, bribe people, burn down their house and business, duel people, and if you are a thief you can break into houses and businesses, kidnap people, pickpocket, and even attack and take over other thieves hideouts and guard houses.

Although the game is great, it isn't perfect and I do have a few minor complaints. First off, you are limited to the city you start off in and you can't expand your businesses to other cities. You can travel to other cities if you are a trader but it is incredibly buggy and the game crashes almost every time I try. Another thing is that you can't asassinate people which is unrealistic since murder was a regular occurance during that time period. Also, no matter what city you play the game in, whether it be London, Paris, Milan or Madrid, all the characters and occupants of the city seem to have English or German names. Another thing that is unrealistic is that women in the game can hold any office or title they want, even religious offices which of course is unrealistic, especially in the 1400s.

Taking all of that into consideration, the Guild is still one of the best and most original games I have ever played and I have yet to find another game like it. I want to warn you though that if you are into action games or fast paced games then the Guild definetly isnt for you. Its the type of game that takes a few hours of learning and trial and error before it starts to get fun. Especially since it doesn't come with a manual and the tutorial is incredibly basic for such a complex game.

Great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The game is great I've been playing it over 2 years now. And I never get bored with it. I can't wait for "The Guild 2" to come out.

Decent Game overall but...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 07, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As others have said it's tough because the instruction manual is pooh. You can find info online but even that tends to be vague. I was a Tavern owner and getting pretty good. I had married well and when her parents passed I suddenly got in the massive gave digging business! Well i had no idea how to run it ad the instruction manual wasn't helpful so I tired selling off 2 or 3 of the four grave sites but no one was buying (I assume asking price was too much but not sure). So it was kinda tough at that point...then I dies but instead of being able to carry on in my sons body they just gave me his name and I kept my attributes. I would have preferred to have taken over him as he was since I had put him through school ect. Maybe you can but I couldn't figure out how?

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