Rating: 
Summary: Great game but...
Review: This game is a great piece of strategy gaming, but it's been overhyped. It is not as deep as the manual and some reviews would suggest -- for example, each province can have only one major improvement, technology tree is too linear, and armies and navy have only three types of units. Having said that I must admit that the game has set a new standard for both real-time and turn-based strategy games. Its strongest point is the realistic depiction of historical change. Its emphasis on stability, diplomacy, and economics over war and exploration is a fresh and welcome change of paradigm in the world of computer strategy games. The idea of earning points for different tasks would also be a good one if and only if the feature actually worked. This points to another problem with this game - bugs. Beginning with the CD-ROM's copyright software that almost prevents the owner from running the game, and ending with a point system that never calculates any points (after installing the 1.08NA patch it stopped working), the game needs some heavy duty bug fixing before it can compete with the likes of Civilization or Age of Empires.
Rating: 
Summary: Europa Universalis
Review: This game is awesome. The things that Imperialism was missing are made up in Europa Universalis. This game shows a great time period which has rarely been covered before, and the political system of the game can't be beat. If you like Alpha Centauri or Imperialism, get this too.
Rating:
Summary: Most excellent game.
Review: This game is for anyone who likes their strategy to be historical & fun, the game is set in Europe between 1492-1792 and covers nearly every historical event in that period and it is up to you to guide your nation through those turbulent times with diplomacy, trade and of course war. The AI is one of the best I have played against, for instance while I was playing the game I had a large army besieging a Russian city and a much smaller Russian army was coming towards me but they did not charge suicidal at me, no they cut of my line of supply thus forcing me to lift the siege and retreat. If you like strategy games with depth intelligence and historical accuracy then you will love this game as I do.
Rating:
Summary: More fun than another game I have bought
Review: This game is more fun than any of the other pc games I have bought over the years. It has real depth and a combination of ideas that really require thought to make achieving your goals possible. The dipolmatic matrix is great and really brings diplomacy into a game seriously for the first time. Additionaly, there is the REAL novelty of the influence of religion - your country's success will depend on how you handle the different religions that live within its borders.I also like the fact that you have some wonderful random events that make game play unpredictable. It is also much better than so many of the big name strategy games (AoK and Shogun) where there is a strict level of developement and you have to adhere to a certain progression of action to survive. In EU, you get to choose what course you want to chart for your country, warmongering giant, economic powerhouse or diplomatic leader. The other games bored me to tears, this game just keeps on playing. There is also the incredible variety of countries to play - anything from colonial Spain to small German states, like Baden, or something exotic like China, Dia Viet or the Mughal Empire. BUY THIS GAME! As far as bugs go, I had no problems after the patches.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Strategy Game Ever Made
Review: This game is truly the most complex, interesting, and at the same time accurate strategy game I have ever played. Taking one of the great powers in the year 1492, the player does basically everything a late medeival king would do. The player manages the economy, military, diplomacy, exploration, and so much more. There are too many dimensions to this game to be written in a short reveiw. Another great thing (and then I'll shut up) is that historical events, such as the Reformation and the Revolt of the Netherlands actually occur during the game. They occur not in the exact year that they really occured, but in the time period, and not always to the same effect they had historically. This is a great game for anyone who longs for the past and the time when European explorers and kings began to rule the world.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent and deep game
Review: This game is very big, and seems intimidating at first. The tutorial is slow, and the manual cumbersome. But I can't stop playing. This is not Civilization with a branching tech tree - it is a pseudo-historical simulation, so that would be out of place. This is not Age of Empires with dozens of different delicately balanced units. This is closer to Imperialism, with a greater emphasis on the colonization of the new world, and the maintenance of the balance of power in the old world. Take your time with this title. It will seem frustrating when your ill-timed conversion to Protestantism sets the Highlands ablaze. But treated as an historical role-playing experience, where you set the goals and historical events prod you on your way, you will get hundreds of hours of meaningful pleasure from this title.
Rating:
Summary: great game
Review: This game provides me hours of enjoyment. I've been able to create different scenarios where different countries are the dominant one. Also there are downloads available online.
Rating:
Summary: The grandest strategy game ever made
Review: This game will leave you breathless. Its scope is huge and anyone remotely interested in history or strategy will have more than asked for. It is getting a cult following, sharing new scenarios and modified game variants over the internet. It is for up to 8 players with a feeling that the more you play this game, the less you feel you know - and you play A LOT.
Rating:
Summary: Deep and satisfying
Review: This is a game for those who love history and a challenge. You have to balance trade, exploration, religion, stability, diplomacy, science, and war to win. This has to be done constantly and with an eye to the future. It has more depth then Alpha Centauri (which I love) and better history then Civilization. This is a hard but satisfying game covering a fascinating period of history.
Rating:
Summary: A Keeper
Review: This is another tough game. Anytime you combine war, money, religion & conquest you are looking at sleepless nights. I played and barely won as the Austrian and I am winning as the Spaniard with most of the 1600s yet to come. Very challenging.
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