Europa Universalis II

by Atari

Product Features

• Real-time strategy game set in 15th- through 18th-century Europe
• Play the medieval campaigns of Jeanne D'Arc to the massive wars of Napoleon
• Intuitive interface and combat system
• Lead any of 140 nations with historical leaders and national research
• For 1 to 8 players using Internet or LAN connection

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005QIR3
• Item Weight: 4 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: November 20, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,123 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PC

The Struggle Can Begin - Real-Time Strategy!Product InformationA sequel that expands the scope of one of the greatest strategy games ever made.From the medieval battles of Jeanne D'Arc to the fantastic empires of the Incasto the flaming wars of Napoleon Europa Universalis II invites you to take theseat as the ruler of a superpower for 400 epic years.Now for the first time in history you get the chance to take on the role of theColonizing Might of Spain the feudal warlords of Samurai Japan as well as thesmall trading nation of Genoa. In a game where you battle against one of themost advanced AIs or meet a multitude of human opponents over LAN or theInternet - history is truly in your hands...The sequel includes new features new player nations and a huge period ofhistory to sink your teeth into. The game starts in 1419 - the 100 years warbetween France and England has been going on for over 80 years and the Englishtroops are outside the walls of Paris - and ends with the rise and eventual fallof one of Europe's greatest strategists Napoleon.Product Features Includes 400 years of historical gameplay - play the medieval campaigns of Jeanne D'Arc to the massive wars of Napoleon. Intuitive interface tutorial and manual that will ensure a great gaming experience for Novice and Hardcore gamers alike. Includes new technology from the High Middle Ages The Renaissance The Baroque and the Napoleonic Era. New Units for both Naval and Land warfare. New historical events system that allows you to interact with events and personalities. Take part in the civil wars of England known as Take control of a multitude of nations all over the world - everything from Feudal Japan America Russia The Ch?ng Dynasty of Manchu to the traditional countries such as Spain France and England. In Europa Universalis II you can lead any of 140 nations with historical leaders and national research. A whole new world - EU II

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A huge game and strangely addictive., July 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Europa Universalis 2 (CD-ROM)

In 1691, after seventy years, five wars, countless spent ducats, three failed alliances, and the loss of tens of thousands of men, I finally managed to force Poland, the power of eastern Europe, to cede to me Danzig- its port city, its center of trade, and its most valuable province. After decades of frustration, I finally had land access between Brandenburg, my captital, and Prussia, my heartland. There is much rejoicing throughout the realm of Brandenburg.

EU2 is a unique game in that there are so many different ways to play it. Play a major power like Spain and you'll gobble up the Incas and Aztecs in nothing flat- although expect to suffer from revolts. Play a small to mid sized power like Brandenburg and you'll have to pick your wars with care and learn that trying to take a heavily fortified and valuable province from a major power is not an easy thing. Every country has its own unique situation and thus its own playing style. And there are literally over a hundred different playable nations.

EU II is also a complex game. In fact, it's one of the few PC games that actually requires a careful reading of the manual, as well as playing the tutorial scenarios, just to understand the basics of the game. There is alot going on "underneath the hood" in this game. EU II features some of the most complex economic and diplomatic models ever seen in a PC game. The complexity of EU II is both a strength and a weakness in that gameplay rewards careful thought, but also frustrates and intimidates newcomers.

The AI does fairly well considering the open ended nature and sheer size of the game. The AI does get several advantages over human players, such as not suffering from naval attrition, which means it can keep its fleets and explorers at sea indefinetly. Some may object to allowing such an AI "cheat," but concessions must be allowed in order to have the AI to have a chance in such a massive game. Besides the AI still makes all sorts of dumb mistakes, and its lack of aggressiveness against even weak human nations means that a competent player will rarely be eliminated from the game.

This is a strangely addictive game game in that occassionally the player will literally just sit watching the game clock's days and months go by, doing nothing, and yet not get bored. This is especially true of the small and mid-sized powers who have limited income and thus must wait around alot for Jan. 1st on which the player gets his revenues. Wars are fun, but a smart player will try to make them brief because if a country is at war too long his citizens will rebel due to war exhaustion. Also, you have to be careful about what provinces you conquer because if your religion and culture are at odds with those of that province then expect to be annoyed by constant revolts.

EU II is highly impressive. It's sheer size and variety are pretty hard to beat for a strategy game. I cannot say it will appeal to everyone- its complexity, size, abstract handling of combat (the player has no tactical control of his troops), and slow pace of play can be offputting to many people. However, for fans of grand historical strategy games EU2 should be of some interest.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Game ever put to the screen, December 1, 2001

By 

"pappenheim" (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Europa Universalis 2 (CD-ROM)

I suppose my title says it all. The first Europa was a magnificent game, and anyone who has a brain would agree. EU2 only expands on the original, and only in good ways. The levels of war, diplomacy, trade, colonization, and religious tolerance are amazing to work out. The game moves fluidly through 400 years of history, while you lead a nation, any of about 100, through the trials and tribulations of war and peace.
Do not be mistaken, however, this is not a game of world conquest. Unless you have the cheats (not that YOU would need them, right?), I find it is impossible to conquer the world. Naked agression will be met by alliances of other nations that will knock your country back into the Middle Ages.
The time period is excellent. It starts with the Hundred Year's War raging in France, the Ottoman Turks rising rapidly, the Byzantine Empire crumbling before them, the Spainish wars between Christians and Muslims, wild Indian Wars, and massive conflicts in Asia. In scenarios you will be met with the violent religious wars in France and Germany, the American and French Revolutions, and the Age of Napolean.
There are a couple problems, however. There can be some problems during peace treaties, like allies of yours taking provinces from the enemy that YOU actually conquered, the AI still does really stupid things, like declaring war on you without preparing in the least (then again, that's not really YOUR problem, it's their's); but the game is excellent despite these minor problems. If you ever wanted to play a truly strategic level game, this is IT.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Europa Universalis 2: The culmination of brilliance in games, January 1, 2002

By 

Rajeev D. Majumdar (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Europa Universalis 2 (CD-ROM)

As a big fan of the original "EU" (which broke my Civ2 addiction), I was not sure they could improve an already superb game using the same engine and a somewhat modified map.... I was mistaken..big time!

EU2 massively surpasses EU and any other 'civ/strategy' game to date. It is possibly one of the most complex and vast games, in which you may be facing over a 100 AI competitors, as well as up to 7 other human competetors.... in a struggle for economic, exploratory, military and political dominance! Perhaps..dominace is not the right word.... "survival" is more appropriate. No one playing will find this to be a 'world-conquering' game... you are the "grey eminance" guiding the leaders of a nation over 400 years... it is hard to survive and the odds are aainst most nations.

Perhaps the most valuble feature about this game is that the event-engine is still being added too, and will be added to for some time to come... interested in the history of any nation btwn 1419 to 1820? This is the game... soon a full timeline of events will be done for every nation you can imagine, as they are already for the major nations of the world. Bengal, Assam, Ashanti, Dai Viet, Holstein, the Dutchy of Athens....

Also... the online community at ..... is the best on the net! it is clean, resource laden, and full of friendly enthusiasts who can help you learn to navigate this complex game.

You control domestic policy, worry about national stability & the budget, decide what centers of trade your nation wants to compete..what kind of armies or navies you will raise, offer royal marriages and guarentee the independence of your friends... it will take a long time to explore the uniqueness of every nation in EU2 throughout the different scnarios.... simply said, "More fun than one can handle!"

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