Tayla Lyell: Europa Universalis IV Review

Developer: Paradox Development Studio

Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Release Date: Aug. 13, 2013

Platform: PC

Genre: Grand Strategy

MSRP: $49.99

I came, I saw, I conquered

With Europa Universalis IV, Paradox has once again affirmed its status as a colossus of the grand strategy playing field, dominating the genre with their monumental offerings. There are few games that marry the rich, robust knowledge of European history so fully with the imperialistic strategy of kings and emperors–but Paradox has always found a way to one-up their previous entries with even more expansive content, and this is underlined in their newest offering.

At it’s heart, grand strategy is a vast, complex webwork of machinations: from the cunning political intrigue of alliances to the unyielding sabre of war that cuts a swath through whole nations, grand strategy has a certain allure that appeals to the inner monarch in all of us.

From the far East to the West, EU4 outlines all of Europe with hundreds of sovereign nations and countries to interact with.

Grand strategy has a way of making RTS games feel paltry, and that’s largely due to the sheer volume of content offered in games of the genre. This sentiment is felt quite clearly in Europa Universalis IV, who’s historical offering alone accounts for over four hundred years of European politics, warfare, imperialistic expansion and religious conversion from 1444 to 1821.

This era includes a dazzling myriad of interesting timeframes, encompassing some of the most pivotal points in European history, starting with the first spark of the Age of Exploration and ending with the Napoleonic Wars. Throughout these periods, the entire world grows and changes depending on key decisions that players make throughout the course of their campaign, wherein they can radically alter the course of history and create unique alliances, nations, and other interesting possibilities.

The other half of the near-overwhelming level of expansiveness owes to the game’s strategy, which is stretched across a wide range of menus, interfaces and overlays that control everything from overseas trade to the state of your armies and everything in between. In this game*the world is but a stage, and you are but one of the major players who are swept along on the uncompromising tide of time–but that doesn’t mean you can’t bend whole empires and nations to your will and alter the flow of history itself.

Choose your starting country from a huge offering of nations throughout some of the most interesting periods in European history.

At the start of the game, players have the opportunity to select a nation out of the hundreds of possibilities. An overhead world map is offered, showcasing a patchwork of colors and names, with multitudes of possibilities for each playthrough. One of the most entertaining notions about this epic simulation is that the world is constantly changing, and no two campaigns will be alike: the experiences will always be divergent and unique, with unexplored tangents that can run askew to the tide of actual history and send ripples through the fabric of time itself.

While EU4 contains within it an almost overwhelming collection of numbers and values–from the state of England’s economy during the Hundred Years War to the internal mechanisms of Castille’s military presence–with even more facts and overlays to maintain, the game does a nice job in preparing players for long haul strategies. There are a variety of helpful interfaces that suggest different objectives, such as the Missions pane, which features a list of miscellaneous national quests to partake in.

Paradox’s new entry in the flagship series encompasses such a grand scale of content that it could be played for months on end, and gamers would still find new and surprising tactics to utilize. It’s an enormous title, one that encompasses the natural flow of history and military expansion in such a way that it’s easy to get lost within its rich gameplay. There are a variety of improvements and changes, many of which streamline the experience for new players, making it an excellent entry point for beginners to learn the ropes of grand strategy.

Constructing buildings in provinces leads to helpful modifiers and bonuses, and is an important part of maintaining your realm.

The Basics: Mechanics & Interesting Features

As far as simulation mechanics go, Paradox has once again one-upped their previous entries by taking many of the best elements from previous titles and blending in a smattering of new concepts. Some of these new concepts include Monarch Points being split into three categories, Administrative, Diplomatic and Military Power–each of which accrue over time based on certain decisions players make throughout their global campaign.

Battles and sieges are represented quite well, and players have complete control over their on-ground forces as well as their naval fleet. Historical accuracy is a big part of how a realm will fare throughout certain periods–in both warfare and expansion, certain nations will receive “luck” modifiers depending on if players adhere to actual historical events. In this regard, the game inspires players to read up on their nation’s history, and while its not required, it can certainly help to know what events to expect–however the main notion is that you can make your own history and mold your very own realm as you see fit, for better or worse.

In essence, Europa Universalis IV offers players the chance to rule as they see fit; but there are consequences for certain actions. Being an aggressive conqueror will have negative affects as far as diplomatic relations, however the trade off is the possibility of a larger realm–it is this kind of balance that is maintained throughout gameplay, and players can weigh certain decisions and see their effects while trying to juggle national wars and conflicts as well as stabilizing an economy.

Religion is an integral part of any culture, and often determines how other nations react to one another–sometimes sparking brutal wars that last for decades.

The deep level of control that one has over their empire is staggering, and is certainly intimidating at first. Players can see and modify nearly every aspect of their virtual realm; from global trade routes and economical decisions to absorbing other nations through imperialistic war and religious conversion. As every decision has its own circumstances and consequences–many of which mirror actual occurrences in history–players will often have to make tough choices. In this respect, EU4 allows players to don a crown and sit atop a throne, simulating a truly remarkable kingly experience.

The on-screen UI is perfectly streamlined with everything where it should be, and everything in its place. On a whim, players can examine their dipolmatic standing with dozens of nations, explore their trade routes via the Trade Map overlay, take a look on the far side of the known world and check out what Kazan’s main export is and so on and so forth. Half of EU4‘s gameplay is centered upon navigating throughout the main tabs, and as such, they must be optimized and streamlined and neat–a concept Paradox has reflected amazingly well.

Throughout every second of gameplay Paradox guides you along with a series of overlays that offer in-depth descriptions of everything that you need to know about the game. Just about everything can be highlighted with a quick mouse-over, which activates a convenient drop-down box that explains certain parameters. This is extremely helpful and is an invaluable resource to new players, and is just one of the ways that the developers have optimized the game for newbies.

The Trade map-mode shows the current trading nodes and traces their paths across all of Europe, giving players an idea of how their nation prospers in overseas mercantilism.

Kingly Matters: Maintaining Your Realm

Maintaining your empire isn’t an easy task, and it’s quite time-consuming. Expanding your land isn’t the only way to solidify your standing in the known world; it’s important to build up your core provinces as well. This takes time, money, and the pools of resources like Administrative, Diplomatic and Military points.

One of the central ways to solidify your realm is to add buildings to your provinces. Many times they will already have buildings attached, and they can’t be upgraded until you unlock various technology levels. Technology is directly dependent upon the three main powers that are listed above, requiring a certain value of points before a new level unlocks. Once unlocked, the new level must then be purchased with the appropriate cost.

The three main powers are also associated with a pool of Ideas, which also give bonuses and fortify your known realm quite nicely. Each idea set is unlocked by having a certain number of power, and offer a multitude of passive values that reduce various costs and can even raise profits from trade.

The Economy tab showcases a variety of elements of your nation’s domestic income, giving players an in-depth look at the current state of taxation, trade, and other elements.

Along with increasing your ideas and technology, keeping a good eye on the national income is another way to maintain your empire. Income is generally generated through taxes and trade, and it helps to have a few ships patrolling your trade routes to protect shipments. Raising taxes can mean more ducats, however it sows disharmony throughout your provinces and may lead to revolts, and at dire times of war or economical turbulence loans can be taken out.

The Economy tab shows everything you need to know about the state of your treasury’s coffers, displaying their expenses, taxation income, inflation, and war taxes. Every month a certain value of ducats are taken distributed as maintenance costs to your fleet, army, missionaries, etc. These costs can be reduced, but like everything else, adjusting the numbers has an effect that can be detrimental if not maintained properly.

Armies can attack enemy-controlled territory during war-time and siege the walls of a city in order to occupy the province–eventually absorbing it into your kingdom via diplomatic war treaties.

The Spoils of War

War is the heart of imperial conquest and remains one of the largest parts of Europa Universalis IV. Carefully laid strategies can be the difference between losing half your army–or worse, losing every battle–during wartime. Nations will have natural allies and rivals, many of which are neighboring and outlying countries and are determinant upon actual history. The game allows you not only to make new allies but to reinforce the relations with the ones you already have, which in turn gives you much-needed help during battles.

Building up your forces can be expensive, but it’s a necessary part of war. At any time players can pause the game and look at their opposing nations–examining their infantry numbers and naval fleet is extremely helpful, as well as their locations. Combat in itself is broken up into various battles and skirmishes across provinces. Through sieges and battles both sides can earn Warscore, which in turn leads to bonus modifiers and Prestige, but you have to win in order to earn points.

Victory doesn’t just depend upon having the bigger army and laying siege to enemy cities–although it does help. Many times nations–even superpowers like England–can be exhausted by the war efforts, especially if a domestic event is causing a rift in the country, disturbing their focus on war. Having a lower Warscore puts strain on the economy, which in turn strains the national income, and ducats are needed to purchase regimens as well as maintain your forces.

Warscore is a measure of the success of two sides in war, depending upon the number of battles each side wins and loses. It also puts strain on each country, especially the losing side.

Political intrigue is another determining factor in wartime victory, especially when it comes to alliances. It’s possible to launch coalitions against your rivals, teaming up with other nations to take enemies head-on. Improving your diplomatic standing is invaluable especially when you’re expecting a natural event involving your rivals to occur. Basic alliances can be forged by offering wartime guarantees of aid as well as royal marriages, and your friendly neighbors will often join you in domestic battles when they happen.

When the tide of war starts pulling in and one side claims victory, diplomacy is key to expanding your realm–or ceding it, if you lose. The spoils of war–in this case the colonies and land–are carved up and handed to the victor depending on the diplomatic agreements, and the nations go their separate ways until they are called upon by their allies.

Paradox’s newest entry encompasses all of Europe during more than 400 years of historical events.

Conclusion

All in all Europa Universalis IV reinforces the series’ standing as the hallmark franchise of grand strategy. With streamlined interfaces and on-screen queues, Paradox has fashioned the perfect entry-level title, but at the same time all of the robust and deep elements are still maintained throughout. The game offers players the chance to once again don their crowns and conquer the known world throughout one of the most interesting periods in history, with a plethora of entertaining and deeply strategic mechanics that will keep players busy for months on end.

From the start Europa Universalis IV pulls you in with its alluring psiren’s song and appeals to the inner monarch in all of us. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this grand strategy masterpiece is the notion that players can create their own alternate historical timeline, all of which offer near-infinite possibilities.

Paradox’s newest release once again marries the complex machinations of grand strategy with man’s deep fascination of world history, all while incorporating a distinct epic feel that truly unlocks the majesty of the past. Seeing the world’s most illustrious nations form and thrive before your own eyes is a unique experience in itself, and is an incredibly engrossing experience that speaks to man’s fascination of the ever-flowing tide of time.

Pros

+ Incredible amount of control

+ Amazing level of historical accuracy

+ Players can make their own history

+ Expansive menus & interfaces

+ Beautifully detailed

+ Optimized for new players

+ No two playthroughs are the same

+ Massive level of replayability

+ Chronicles the history of Europe

Cons

- Can be confusing and intimidating at times

- Takes time to get used to

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