Review of Europa Universalis III
Paradox Interactive's Grand PC Strategy Game
Still retaining the board game feel of its predecessors in terms of graphics and game play, Europa Universalis III spans five hundred years of turbulent medieval history in a strategy game which certainly lives up to its title of ‘grand’.
As one of no less than two hundred and fifty nations, players must shape the economic, religious, diplomatic and of course military destiny of their chosen nation, and attempt to emerge as a celebrated superpower – dominating a world map of over twelve hundred provinces - at the height of the eighteenth century.
Universalis: Europa III Content
Indeed the scale and sheer complexity of the game can be overwhelming to a player who is perhaps unfamiliar with the prior additions. Diving straight into the grand campaign without first consulting the colossal one hundred and fifty page game booklet – which is less a manual than it is the Magna Carta – is certainly ill advised.
Attempting to comprehend all of the tables and graphs which are generated by the literally dozens of button icons, some of them simply revealing a whole new set inside like Russian dolls, makes the game seem unplayable to anyone less than a graduate from MIT.
Universalis: Europa III Audience
So it is in this sense that the EUIII may only appeal to a rather niche market. Graphics are certainly not the designer’s first priority, and players looking for a strategy game which delivers on a more visual level would do better to look towards something like the Total War series. However, although the game has little going for it superficially, it is in the layers and complexities of the game play that its real strength lies.
Universalis: Europa III Game Play
Whether it be appointing advisors, passing laws, building up trade centres, recruiting armies, dabbling in espionage, starting full scale wars or sending out colonists to the remote corners of the globe, every event has repercussions which must be methodically calculated for the player to have any chance of success.
Unlike Total War, where after building up a half decent army the player can immediately step into the role of Alexander the Great and set about conquering everything from Europe to the Far East, players of EUIII must be realistically less ambitious.
The player must struggle to take into account all of the games many dimensions and its staggering level of depth. Every aspect, from selecting specific national ideas to customize the nations infrastructure to gaining prestige within the two most important administrations of the time – the Papacy and Holy Roman Empire – must be honed as carefully as one of Mr Miyagi’s Bonsai trees (of Karate Kid fame).
Indeed, for the nation to take root and flourish you practically need the patience and discipline of a martial arts master.
Overall Universalis: Europa III Review
So in terms of appeal, the game is definitely reaching out to a specific audience, and unfortunately, may not have much mainstream success. However, it is not difficult to see why EUIII has such a devoted army of fans, who clearly appreciate its complexity and its unique sense of historical realism.
Its battles - which are based on hit points, and when compared to games like Total War, seem to lack any interactivity – combined with its board game layout, makes EUIII very reminiscent of games like Warhammer. Like Warhammer – a game which demands a real commitment from the player for them to spend hours painting those intricate metal figures - EUIII is similar in the sense that while obsessing some, it will undoubtedly mystify others. A triumph, but definitely an acquired taste. 9/10
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