IGN Reviews CoG

[jchastain]

There is now a second reader review of CoG at IGN. This time, it is decidedly less enthusiastic: LINK

[GreenDestiny]

ORIGINAL: bluemonday

ORIGINAL: GreenDestiny

Most strategy games work with the imagination. That’s why they appeal with people with higher intellect.

I'm not saying that I am smart…I'm just proving a fact.[;)]

Actually, by your reasoning the most intelligent people should be those who like those text role-playing games, MUDs wor whatever you call them, because they have to use the most imagination.

You miss this[;)]

[bluemonday]

ORIGINAL: Mr. Z

Yeah, 8.0 is pretty good, IMO. That's about what I expected.

You "expected" an 8/10? You're pretty confident!

[bluemonday]

ORIGINAL: jchastain

I added a user review for CoG. You can find it at : LINK

For those who agree, please add to the stars/trust rating at the bottom of the numbers section (hopefully by click on the star at the far right [;)]).

You gave it a 9.5? That would make it one of the best games I've ever played. Is that how you feel - it's one of the best games you've ever played?

No offense intended here - you've made a ton of super-helpful, very intelligent and insightful posts on this board, so I respect your opinion. I just feel that for my part, I'm closer in opinion to the other reader review. There is too much here that is broken or doesn't work, and I am starting to have real questions about the utility of all the detail in the economic system. If you can get past all this and really love the game enough to give it a 9.5, then I actually kind of envy you because I'd love to be able to like it for what it is, too.

I'm still enjoying it in PBEM play, but m/p is always better.

[jchastain]

ORIGINAL: bluemonday

You gave it a 9.5? That would make it one of the best games I've ever played. Is that how you feel - it's one of the best games you've ever played?

No offense intended here - you've made a ton of super-helpful, very intelligent and insightful posts on this board, so I respect your opinion. I just feel that for my part, I'm closer in opinion to the other reader review. There is too much here that is broken or doesn't work, and I am starting to have real questions about the utility of all the detail in the economic system. If you can get past all this and really love the game enough to give it a 9.5, then I actually kind of envy you because I'd love to be able to like it for what it is, too.

I'm still enjoying it in PBEM play, but m/p is always better.

Since this game came out, I've spent several hours each and every day playing it. Very VERY few games hook me in that way. So, in a way, yeah it is one of the best games I've played - without a doubt within the top 5%. Maybe I'm an unusual soul because I don't mind the ambiguities. In fact, I enjoy trying to decipher how things work. The economy is almost like a puzzle to be solved to me. I'd do several things differently, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the game now.

As for the quality level and bugs, sure there are a few problems but they are really pretty minor and the game is still quite playable in its current state. Let's just say that it is far ahead of where EU was at its initial release and I consider EU and the subsequent EU2 to be an all-time classic.

I suspect the people who enjoy this game least are those who dive right in and play France. To me, it is perhaps the worst nation to play. Try Prussia if you want to experience the game at its best. Play for at least 10 years with highest glory as the winner. If you still don't enjoy it, perhaps this isn't the game for you. But I'm really enjoying it.

[nukkxx5058]

ORIGINAL: GreenDestiny

I think he wanted the colors on the tiny map of Europe (on the bottom right) to be on the main map. And I could see were you could have a problem with it if your somewhat color blind. Even with me, it sometimes hard to tell in the territories with the different strips in it. Because of the faded pigment colors that are saturated. Also the map does look like it could be 200 years old. But also during Napoleon's time would they be really looking at a faded map of Europe?
Overall I think it was a good review.

I would also have prefered a more colourfull map even if this look less like an acyual napoleonic map. We all know it's a game [;)]
Colors are confusing and to pale. If colours were modifiable, it would be perfect.

[Reg Pither]

ORIGINAL: jchastain

ORIGINAL: bluemonday

You gave it a 9.5? That would make it one of the best games I've ever played. Is that how you feel - it's one of the best games you've ever played?

Since this game came out, I've spent several hours each and every day playing it. Very VERY few games hook me in that way. So, in a way, yeah it is one of the best games I've played - without a doubt within the top 5%. Maybe I'm an unusual soul because I don't mind the ambiguities. In fact, I enjoy trying to decipher how things work. The economy is almost like a puzzle to be solved to me. I'd do several things differently, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the game now.

I suspect the people who enjoy this game least are those who dive right in and play France. To me, it is perhaps the worst nation to play.

Yes, I thought 9.5 was rather high. That would put it up there with the likes of Age of Empires, Civilization and Doom as one of the greatest games ever made! [X(] Still, each to their own, and it's all just personal opinion, anyway. [:)]

Having said that, I'm still enjoying it despite the bugs and that's because... I've dived straight in and played France! [;)] Being able to control La Grande Armee is the number one attraction for me, so I reckon it will be a looong time before I play any other country. Plus the simple fact that as I'm a Napoleonic nut and this is the only game of its type around, I'm something of a captive audience. Last night was the first day I can remember when I haven't played it since the day it came out...

I think I'd probably give it slightly better marks than IGN - maybe 8.2/8.3 - with the potential to be a 9.0 or above with patches and add-ons. [:)]

[Mr. Z]

ORIGINAL: bluemonday

ORIGINAL: Mr. Z

Yeah, 8.0 is pretty good, IMO. That's about what I expected.

You "expected" an 8/10? You're pretty confident!

Heh, well, I just mean based on their reviews of other games [;)]

[jchastain]

Thinking through it a bit more, if you assume an even distribution of game where the top 10% gets in the 90's, the next 10% gets in the 80's, etc, then my review score is right on target. However, that really isn't the way that it is done. Assuming a 10 is an ideallic state that no game will ever really hit, then the score I gave this game is slightly high. I'd still give it a 90 though. I really do think it is that engrossing. And I'm not a routinely easy grader; as a comparison I gave GGWaW a 69 and I thought that was a gift.

[mogami]

Hi, I think it is some what amusing that I using a machine that is not supported (Win ME) have few problems with the game and enjoy it greatly.
I like the economy, diplomacy and combat systems.
Where I part company is I think none of these come into full flower unless you are playing online with at least 4 human players.

COG requires a skillful French player. The others don't have to be as expert as the French
I'd rate the player skill require
1. French
2. Austria
3 Russia
4. Prussia
5. Britain
6. Spain
7. Turkey
8. Sweden

To learn the game in solo mode play the nations in reverse order. By the time you get to playing France you will understand the system.

[Naomi]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, I think it is some what amusing that I using a machine that is not supported (Win ME) have few problems with the game and enjoy it greatly.
I like the economy, diplomacy and combat systems.
Where I part company is I think none of these come into full flower unless you are playing online with at least 4 human players.

COG requires a skillful French player. The others don't have to be as expert as the French
I'd rate the player skill require
1. French
2. Austria
3 Russia
4. Prussia
5. Britain
6. Spain
7. Turkey
8. Sweden

To learn the game in solo mode play the nations in reverse order. By the time you get to playing France you will understand the system.

Ya, Britain doesn't demand much skill, if you always remember stabbing France on her back, making best use of the natural proximity to Paris. :p