Europa Universalis

by Strategy First

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005A9VM
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.8 x 1.5 inches ; 5 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: March 1, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,010 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Edition: Standard

Amazon.com Product Description

Europa Universalis is a historical strategy game that simulates 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.

Involve yourself in colonization, exploration, trade and infrastructure, war, religion, and diplomacy against other players or your computer. Ninety different nations are potentially player-controlled, while the powerful AI controls nonplayer nations. Choose from nine scenarios, including a Grand Campaign game that encompasses 300 years. There are more than 500 different historical missions and a dynamic system that generates countless exciting missions. More than 200 historical events potentially affect the outcome of your actions. A map covering the entire globe encompasses 800-plus named provinces, 550-plus named sea zones, and 100-plus named rivers. The real-time game can be set to pause at any time or any given event to give players time to plan ahead, thereby creating a semi-real-time environment. Up to eight can play over LAN or the Internet.

Product Description

A strategy game simulating all aspects of world history from 1492 to 1792, where you are the leader of a great nation, changing the world and rewriting history. Take on the role of one of the major nations of the era, controlling diplomacy, economy, warfare, exploration and colonization.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Standard for Strategy Games, May 16, 2001

By 

Michael P. Clawson (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

Though Europa Universalis is a Real Time Strategy game I hesitate to refer to it as that since that term may bring to mind unpleasant memories of the whole Warcraft-Age of Empires-Command & Conquer franchise. EU transcends all of these in terms of realism, scope, and diversity of strategy options (it is NOT just a war game).

For me the ideal strategy game has 1) scope - it doesn't limit the level of your development. You can advance just as far as your imagination and ability allow. Consequently I hate map edges. I think the first thing that grabbed me about EU was that is played throughout the whole world, on every (habitable) continent and with over 800 colonizable provinces.

An ideal strategy game also is realistic, meaning that it has as few abstractions as possible. For example, in EU there are more economic goods than just gold/stone/wood (to name one example). In fact each province has its own commodity and the relative value of that will differ in the game depending on its rarity and the demand for it in the various markets that it is dealt in.

EU is also very historically realistic. You play during the age of exploration and enlightenment (1492-1792) and the game designers have done a superb job of setting up the political situation to mirror Europe in the early modern period. There are dozens of nations (even small ones like the German principalities) and you have the possibility of complex diplomatic relations with each of them, even to the point of vassalizing or politically annexing smaller nations. Furthermore, exploration is a major component of the game. and many provinces are inhabited only by a handful of natives that can be easily subdued and incorprated into your grand Empire. These options of diplomacy and exploration provide more ways to succeed in the game than just pure conquest.

Religion is also a major element in the game. At the beginning there are two Christian options (Catholic or Orthodox) and two Muslim options (Sunni or Shiite). Of course once the 1520's roll around Protestantism becomes an option, and many of the German and Scandanavian states will make the same switch that they did historially. Wait a few years and you can become a Reformed follower of John Calvin. These religious changes greatly affect the diplomatic dynamics of Europe and spark numerous rebellions and religious wars. In the midst of this tumult new nations may even emerge (the secession of the Netherlands from Spain is a historic event that typically occurs at some point during the game).

A final aspect that makes this a great game is that it can be played multiple times and still be fresh. You have the option of playing any of the major nations (England, France, Spain, Turkey, Russia, Austria, Poland, or Portugal) and each is presented with a very unique situation. (If you want to play any of the minor nations simply download the free patch from the EU website.) In addition, there are several smaller scenarios focused on particular historical events that can be played.

Europa Universalis is everything that I've been wanting in a strategy game. All that I could ask is that it wouldn't end so soon. 300 years sure flies by when you're having fun! :-)

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Benchmark for True Real Time Strategy Games, June 26, 2001

By 

Stephen Moss (Quincy, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

I am a senior gamer who has been playing computer games since they were only available on mainframes at universities. Europa Universalis is the first true real time strategy game I have seen short of major simulations on large scale systems. It is not a hack and slash you way across the world game and for those who are looking for that, they will not find it in EU. It is rather a game that makes you think in the way leaders had to think during the time period 1492 to 1792. Too much agression earns you the animosity of all your neighbors. Fight too many wars in Europe and you will find everyone attcking you at once. A very realistic and controlling factor. This game is far more dependent on an excellent diplomatic and trading model and the need to develop economically and expand ones colonial base. Another nice thing about this game is that each country plays very differently depending on its location and cultural setting. England and Austria once use very different strategies to achieve success. Widely available add ons any country on the map can be played and province resources can be randomized once you have learned learned where everything is. With these, this game offers infinite variety and long term playability.

As a note of reality, the graphics are not state of the art, but they are fully functional and, linked with a fantastic and flexible interface, make a complex game very playable. Nearly everything in the game is explained with a pop up when you hover the pointer over something for a while and most things yeild more information or options with a right click. The manual is more indepth than most these days and explains most of the mechanics quite well. It does suffer from a lack of an index or a table of contents. One is available however on the company sponsered on-line forum. Finally, honesty requires acknowleging that the sound is terrible. The music is uninspired and repetitive even for a classical music fan and the sound effects range from irritating to truely awful but are essential to keeping track of everything that is going on. This is not sufficient however to detract from what is a truely great game.

Most so called strategy games available are just "gather your resources and throw your armises at the enemy" look alikes that have absolutely nothing to do with strategy. This is a true global strategy game where managing your trading relations, developing sound diplomatic relations, exploring and settling new lands and very judicious use of your military force are all necessary for success. If you are a history buff or if you want a game that really forces you to think about what you are doing this is the game for you. As a side benefit it has one of the best, most inteligent on line communities I have ever encountered. Who are constantly developing new history based or alternative history senarios. The only problem with this game is once you get started, you may never eat or sleep again.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! There is no other game like this out there!, September 3, 2001

By 

J. B. Rogers "FLBookGuy" (FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

OK, I admit to being a history buff, and it's no wonder I love Europa Universalis. Become England, Spain, or Poland, or even Turkey if you like, and try your hand at rewriting European history. Can you maintain an English presence on the Continent? Who says you have to leave Manhattan to the Dutch? Want to prevent the rise of Russia? All these goals are possible, and more.

Not just a wargame, EU places you in the tangled diplomacy of Europe from 1492-1792. You can conquer and annex another country, but not without a serious diplomatic blow. Grow strong, and other countries will unite to strike you down. The AI is fairly competitive, and the graphics nifty. Don't look for tactical control here: EU is a game of grand strategy. You must balance economy, colonization, technology, unique leaders, diplomacy, and religion to maintain your empire.

Religion is a particularly important and interesting angle to this game: Your state religion affects your diplomacy directly. For instance, as England you may want to find a strong Continental ally to help you control France, otherwise superior French land forces will eventually push you out of Calais (England starts with Calais in the Grand Campaign, which spans 300 years). Spain is an obvious choice, but Spain is an ardent Catholic state. If your England is Protestant, Spain is virtually unattainable. You can keep England Catholic if you wish, but you must then contend with Protestant sympathizers in your provinces. Indeed, the religious propensities of a province are a powerful factor in your ability to control that province.

You cannot just wage war indiscriminately in this game, gobbling up province and country without penalty. This is a good thing. If you manage to conquer, or build a large colonial empire, it will be through a combination of carrot and stick.

Like colonies? The game allows you to roam the entire globe, colonizing and exploring where you will. Poland-Lithuania might colonize Bombay instead of England, and the first country to circumnavigate Africa gets a bonus. Portugal and Spain start out with an an early advantage, but Spain is surprisingly difficult to direct successfully into the 1700s.

The game also poses interesting moral questions for the modern player. True to the times, slaves are the only commodity to be gained from many African territories. Will you forego your modern sensibilites and establish colonies based on slavery? These colonies might be necessary to get your ships to India, for instance, without serious attrition due to an extended sea voyage. Or as Spain, will you obliterate the Aztec and Inca empires? If you don't, others may. Can you see England as master of the valley of Zacatecas?

One unfortunate historical reality is ignored in this game, no doubt to improve gameplay: disease does not destroy Native American peoples. Accordingly, one wonders at the need for African slaves.

Overall, EU succeeds admirably. The manual is a bit esoteric, and clearly translated from a foreign language. Still, the gameplay is easy to manage, and the details come soon enough. Want to know why your soldiers are dying even though they are camped? Well, what is the supply capability of the province? Is it winter?

This is a super game, period. Like history? Like epic strategy? Like European history? Tired of telling your sargeant to attack that hill? Buy Europa Universalis, and see if you can rewrite history!

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