Crusader Kings/Hearts of Iron (Jewel Case)

by Atari

Product Features

• In Crusader Kings, Europe is in turmoil. Fragmented into petty fiefdoms, with Emperor and Pope fighting for control and the Scourge Of God riding down from the Russian steppes. In this chaos, the Pope makes a proclamation - All who fight for liberation of the Holy Land will be free of sin. * Organize a strong homeland defense - Muster the strongest army you can, then march forth* Amass prestige and piety -- then use it to coerce other monarchs and the Pope to follow your leadership* Increase
• In Hearts Of Iron, you'll have the definitive World War II strategic experience. Travel across the world as you engage in major offensives of the Second World War. Battle your way through the years 1936-1947 and control the war that changed the world! * As a military commander, you'll take World War II to any front you choose * Forge alliances and make a stand against enemies, as you fight to decide if fascism, communism or democracy will sweep the world * Win key WWII battles or invent your

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000CC5VAU
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: December 27, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,208 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Crusader Kings/Hearts Of Iron is a bundle with two incredible strategy experiences, based on real-world conflicts and events. Decide the fate of Europe during its medieval era, or decide the fate of the world by leading your side to victory in World War II.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared to, May 16, 2007

By 

J. D. Mason (Stillwater, OK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crusader Kings/Hearts of Iron (Jewel Case) (CD-ROM)

Both of these games are from Paradox, and they are both excellent games. Be prepared for a very steep learning curve, these aren't games you can just jump into and start playing right away. They have an incredible amount of complexity that allow you to fiddle with several aspects of your chosen country, controlling the economy, production, ideology, etc. There is literally no limit to who you can play in the games either. You can try to play WWII from the view of the Albanians or the Canadians, or whoever. Same with Crusader Kings - you can start as King of England or France, or as some lowly Count in some small principality in central Europe, both approaches will present different challenges.

[...]

Once you start playing one of these paradox games you will likely start playing the others. They are totally engrossing and as I said in the title, will "waste" monumental amounts of your time.

Enjoy.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Properly Prodigious, February 17, 2007

By 

Mary Conklin (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crusader Kings/Hearts of Iron (Jewel Case) (CD-ROM)

I can only compare playing these games to reading a Tolstoy novel.
At first the enormity and complexity can seem to overwhelm, but before it is done it has piqued every part of you that can be moved to feeling.

As a Russian cannot be himself away from 'Mother Russia', a tourist in that land, might consider their tradition and protocol cumbersome.
In this way, I do not feel that one could recreate the flavour and factors that influenced those who dreamed of dynasty, that created the unique world of the Middle Ages, without including those things in Crusader Kings, that make it so deeply complex and to me, satisfyingly complete.

Hearts of Iron is a deeply complex undertaking that allows the player to feel he has some control of a people, a military and a nation.
Although it falls short of reality, yet it is only the way that sleep mimics death, in that only in the experience itself can you feel everything. Fifty five millions of people died in the years of World War II, nothing can recreate the frenzy of a national pride and identity of Fascism, the wholesale cleansing of decadent corruptionof the ruling classes and hope for equality of Communism, or the fear for the freedom to rise to greatness through the capitalism that lies at the foundations of Democracy, or ultimately, the horrors of the unimaginable loss of life and humanity of a world at war.
This game however, to a great degree of success, attempts to recreate the manipulation of events as one of those leading nations of the world that had influence over the outcome. The game involves us in those events as we took up arms against ourselves from 1936 to 1947, and in doing so forces the player to educate himself enough to become proficient in this, in order to be effective at it.

And ultimately the level of entertainment of these games depends entirely on the abilities of the aspirant.

If frivolous entertainment is your forte, avoid these titles.


fini

Paul Conklin

(Yes I know the user says 'Mary', duh, my wife bought it for me.)