Europa Universalis IV is a strange beast. It’s a strategy game that’s been (slightly) redesigned to make it more accessible… but let’s face it, games in the genre seldom are. It’s a blank slate of sorts too; you don’t really have any objectives placed upon you by the game, and instead are encouraged to decide your own. That might work well for the more creative types out there, but not so much for me.
With that in mind (or, not in mind?) I started to play the game like a tyrant. I took control of a powerful nation and decided I was going to try and conquer the world. After all, that’s usually what you do in a game, right? And I mean with or without direction, there.
My plan wasn’t a great one. To conquer nations, you need money. You need resources. All of those dwindle quite considerably when they need to be funnelled into production of an army. As you wage wars, not only do you piss off other nations around you, but you lose men to battle. On top of that, the people left back in your home nation don’t want to make babies, so the stock you have to work with to raise your army, well… it plain ol’ sucks.
Now, don’t for a second think I understood that straight off the bat. Or even a couple hours later. Europa Universalis IV is complex, no matter what developer Paradox wants you to believe. The game us understandable, yes, but it needs to be expressly said that it has a huge learning curve, especially if you’re new to the franchise like I was.
As I played more – and learned more, of course – I realised I could “conquer” the world by setting out and exploring, first and foremost. Taking over unclaimed lands was far more easier than trying to forcibly take others. Trade became of key importance too, for much the same reasons.
Of course, once I’d built up a large empire, and could afford a proper army, I went and properly kicked some ass. Do you blame me? I had the power and I wanted more!
Once I’d taken over some of the bigger powerhouses, my job wasn’t over. I had to use some of the game’s Monarch Points to change the religions of those areas to match my home nation’s. Now, I’m not saying the populace enjoyed that change… but they made do. It seemed to me to make more sense than letting citizens continue on as if I hadn’t rocked up and seized control of their nation. I made them a bit rebellious with the change, but I’m sure I quelled a larger revolution that way.
… and, it was WAY quicker than sending missionaries into the nations before I took them over to try to influence people beforehand.
In the end, there are tons and tons of systems in the game, and with such an open-ended approach to the strategy title, you’ll have limitless play styles and scenarios to wade through; far too many to detail in a simple review. This is a good thing for some, and a terrible thing for others.
If you’re into history, enjoy the intrigue of “what if” scenarios, a leisurely bit of virtual exploration, or just want a bit of Risk-type action on your PC, then Europa Universalis IV is for you. If you’re like me, my 8-10 hours with the game pretty much was enough. Been there, tried that… and once was all I needed. Still, I can appreciate the world that Paradox has built, and how countless others will truly enjoy their efforts. Know what type of gamer you are before considering a purchase.
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