Europa Universalis
$19.95		(Win95/98/NT/2000/XP) (Retail) (EUROPAUNPR)
$17.95		(Win95/98/NT/2000/XP) (Jewel Case) (EUROPAUNPJ)

Publisher: Paradox / Koch Media / Strategy First

Game

Ratings:

9.5 from Strategic Gaming Online

from The Adrenaline Vault

Global Conquest and Diplomacy from Columbus to Napoleon

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.

Faith - Power - Wealth

It is the year 1492 - the time of Great Exploration. As leader of one of the world's great nations you will change the world and create history. It is a time of great change that the world has never seen before, continents are waiting to be discovered, conquered and colonized, a New World is rising and the old is torn apart by conflict and war.

In a time of enormous hunger for power, honor and wealth it is your destiny to rule your country, accept new challenges, mobilize troops, build amazing cities and exploit your resources.

The skilled will gain wealth, the less fortunate can expect poverty, famine and diseases. Do you have what it takes to change the course of world history?

Game Features:

90 different nations potentially player controlled. Powerful AI with human behavior controls non-player nations.

Choose between 9 scenarios including a Grand Campaign Game en-compassing 300 years. Over 500 different historical missions and a dynamic system generating countless exciting missions ensure many hours of play.

200+ different historical events that potentially affects the outcome of your actions.

A truly unique game in magnitude, size and setting.

800+ named provinces, 550+ named sea zones and 100+ named rivers on a map covering the entire globe!

The realtime game can be set to pause at any time or any given event to give players time to play ahead, thereby creating a `semi real-time' environment.

User friendly and customizable message system.

Involve yourself in colonization, exploration, trade and infrastructure, war, religion and diplomacy against players and computer alike.

Up to 8 players in multiplayer games over LAN or Internet.

Requirements:

Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP: Pentium 200 MHz (Pentium II 300 MHz recommended), 64 MB RAM (128 MB RAM recommended), 2 MB of video RAM.

Reviews:

Strategy Gaming Online by Steve Lieb

"In Conclusion: I've used the term 'realistically' over and over again. There is no other single word that sums up EU as well. EU excels at representing a historically credible experience, without straightjacketing the players into simply repeating history. The experience is deep and rich, with so many factors weighing on every decision it almost feels like real life. In that context it's worth noting again that this game could very easily be used as the source material for collegiate-level history courses. All the basic systemic elements of international relations are present, and the AI states follow a logical course of behavior that takes little or no rationalization. The dynamics of alliance politics are particularly evident, and were a class to study international relations by the taking of the various state roles (thus allowing the human element in diplomatic negotiations), I could see the source for many a hefty research paper. I've always been firmly convinced that people who like to criticize and comment on international politics should play a game like this to really understand how the web of relationships can leave a leader with very few options. It used to be that Empires in Arms was my favorite game of all time for this reason; after a few turns you were truly IN the game, and might feel - however briefly - something of what the leaders of those times felt. Can there be a better educational experience? But the problem with these games is that as boardgames, they are too complicated to teach and take way too long to play. I didn't have time to finish a game when I was a college student - what chance do I have now that I'm up to my neck in real life? Paradox has now given us that complete experience on the computer, and frankly I don't forsee that it will ever leave my hard drive."

The Adrenaline Vault by Nick Stewart

"Take Civilization, mix in a healthy dose of Risk, inject one of the most thorough historical models ever seen and you'll have some sort of idea of what Europa Universalis is all about. While these particular traits help to make the game the glorious experience that it is, they're certainly not the entire reason -- that honor goes to the unbelievable level of detail present throughout. From the political machinations of diplomacy, trade, religious issues, stability, research, and beyond, the genre has rarely seen such a careful dedication to the historical factors that drove the period between 1492 and 1792. That the game manages to strike such an effectively careful balance between its various aspects only renders its accomplishment that much more admirable. When you consider the seemingly infinite combination of campaigns, play modes, dynamic missions, and victory states, it emerges as something that will remain on your hard drive for months to come. Elegant, complex, and beautiful, Europa Universalis is a class act all the way, and is certainly worthy of being considered one of the strategic greats of our time."

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