My Europa Universalis IV Review

[JeanAllTrekkie]

So I spent a little more time with this game reviewing it but I think it was worth it.

Take a look at my review - www.strategywargamer.com

[Orm]

Nice review. Thank you. [:)]

I just read the text and looked at the first few minutes of the video but I will definitely return to watch more.

[Greyshaft]

can't see any significant difference between this and EU3 (which I own and enjoy)

[Ranger33]

ORIGINAL: Greyshaft

can't see any significant difference between this and EU3 (which I own and enjoy)

You should definitely try out the demo. The games are certainly similar in many regards, but EU4 is just a lot more fleshed out, intuitive, and polished; the menus and maps are just SO much better and clearer. For example, I like the way it handles merchants and trade a lot better. You can build certain ships to patrol trade routes (increasing revenue), send merchants to pull trade from one "node" to another, or just have them increasing the value of a node you are already trading in. The are other factors that play into it as well. In EU3 I never understood how I could influence trade besides spending money to roll the dice and see if my merchant got one of the slots at a trade location.

I'm really loving EU4 even more as I play it. I played my first game as Takeda, trying to unite Japan. I have control over a third of the island, but due to poor long-term management on my part, inflation has spiraled out of control. I can't afford to pay my troops, rebels are popping up from recently annexed Uesegi, and the Shogun is preparing to try and annex me. My time as a major power on the island is at an end I fear.

A cool little feature I found last night: I know in EU3 your country could see others as rivals, but in EU4 you can actually pick your rivals. You get 3 slots and get a variety of bonuses when fighting/dealing with those nations. Maybe you could do that in EU3 and I just never saw it, I dunno.

[mllange]

There are some wonderful differences between 3 & 4, some subtle, others less so as Ranger33 describes above. I'm still putting 4 through the paces, but I have to say my overall impression thus far is very favorable. Certainly worth giving the demo a go - and it works on Linux as an added bonus.