Matrix Games Forums

8/10: http://pc.ign.com/articles/632/632721p1.html

Pretty good review, though it has the first comments I've seen saying that the game is nothing special graphically and with the low score of the review in the graphics category.

Compared to many mainstream titles, sure, but compared to wargames I would have to disagree (as many in this forum have noted, the graphics are quite excellent for a non-3D wargame). The comment "looks like a boardgame" to me is actually a compliment but I can see how gamers used to Rome Total War's 3D strategy map would not be overawed (yet I personally like Crown of Glory's better than that used in Medieval or Shogun Total War, for example).

Regards,

- Erik

Decent review although I think the bias against graphics is a bit strong.

I think that when judging graphics as with other areas of a game, reviewers should consider what the intent of the graphic set is and whether or not the game achieved that goal. Were the graphics meant to increase the enjoyment of the game as say in an RPG? Or were they designed more to represent information as opposed to immersion?

I think the marks on gameplay were about right but I'd have probably given it a 9. Sound is where I think the game should have gotten a bit of a lower score. The violin music is nice and provides a good background soundtrack, but a few more pieces for variety would have been nice. I'd be happy if even the opening music could have been alternated with the violin music during map movement.

Lasting appeal would have also been about a 9.5 as opposed to the 8.5 due not only to the number of nations but also due to the ability to play tcp/ip and pbem thus giving a person many different avenues to play.

A pretty fair review, though I am quite happy with the period look of the strategic map as it is now.


There are 40 violin pieces, which is a pretty fair selection. The real music problem is that the violin score doesn't work well in the detailed battle.


Eric

Does the game alternate playing the violin pieces? I seem to here the same few over and over. I honestly dont mind it, but it would nice to hear the full 'soundtrack' be worked through.

It does alternate between all of them, at least on my installation.

Hmm, does it work through it every turn? I always seem to have it 'reset' to the first track every turn. Perhaps I go through my turns too quickly and never let it have time to work through all the tracks?

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins
Pretty good review, though it has the first comments I've seen saying that the game is nothing special graphically and with the low score of the review in the graphics category.

Yeah, I thought that was a pretty heavy penalty on the GFX. My thought on this are:
A) It's supposed to look like a boardgame, or maybe a map Napoleon would have moved pieces around on.
B) A 'boardgame' IS the metaphor people use to understand these type of games, and lots of people who like this type of game also like boardgames. Honestly, I really don't know what a better graphic concept could be (satellite photo?), or why it's a problem to look like a boardgame.
Anyway, we've got some good improvements for the next project... I think our next thing will be much cooler graphically.

Worth pointing out: Doom3 got an 8.3 at IGN ...

ORIGINAL: pixelpusher
Yeah, I thought that was a pretty heavy penalty on the GFX. My thought on this are:
A) It's supposed to look like a boardgame, or maybe a map Napoleon would have moved pieces around on.
B) A 'boardgame' IS the metaphor people use to understand these type of games, and lots of people who like this type of game also like boardgames. Honestly, I really don't know what a better graphic concept could be (satellite photo?), or why it's a problem to look like a boardgame.

Agreed, while the reviewer commented that he wanted more colors, I think the map does a great job of conveying the period feel. With that said, I think that unfortunately there is a certain level above which you can't get without 3D graphics, regardless of whether they actually serve any purpose. Overall a fair review though.

Hi, I wonder if he even finished a scenario. It appears he has problems counting (thinks there are only 6 nations for players to choose from)
Clearly the game is supposed to look like a board game, how else could it be presented?
You have a map. You have military units. You divide the map for movement and economic control duh result is a board game.

Yes, I think that's not a bad review, all in all.

Two things in particular struck a chord with me - the word 'clunky' which is how I described some of the processes and lack of tactile feedback; and the maps could do with some bolder colours to help define provinces and seas.

But 8 out of 10 for such an esoteric game on a mainstream site is pretty good in my book. [:)]

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 notice that there is a section at the bottom right of the page where gamers can rate or review the game as well. It requires registration (which is free).

ORIGINAL: Uncle_Joe
Does the game alternate playing the violin pieces? I seem to here the same few over and over. I honestly dont mind it, but it would nice to hear the full 'soundtrack' be worked through.

If your national morale is <0 then it only cycles through the "sad" pieces of music, which somewhat limits the selection. The pieces of music are otherwise played purely in a random order (with the caveat that the same piece isn't supposed to be played twice in a row).


Eric

On the subject of the music, I wish there were separate volume controls for it and the sound effects. As I really like the music but don't want it overpoweringly loud, but I do want the battle sound effects to be a decent volume, I end up just turning the music off as I cannot achieve what I want. I either get too loud music or feeble sound effects.

Separate volume controls would be great. [:)]

Yeah, 8.0 is pretty good, IMO. That's about what I expected. He just wanted to see something like the RTW "strategic" map. Was generally uninterested in comparing it to board games. A pretty sharp hit to the rating, though--looks like it would have had maybe an 8.5 otherwise, which would have been nice. Note that he did say the game mechanics were very solid.

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 [;)]).

I've noticed that all reviewers these days don't really look at a game in it's genre and what it needs to be successful so to speak. Just because one type of game can have 3D graphics as eye candy doesn't mean all games need it to function. A first person shooter needs great graphics to have a realistic world but the visual feedback is different than a wargame. If someone can see the map, their units and tell what's going on then the graphics are fine. I'll take gameplay over pretty graphics in a wargame any day.

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.[;)]

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.