New games, should I buy?

Jules · February 17, 2002, 19:51

I was shopping with my parents the other day and walked into a Software, Etc. store. Two games peeked my interest: Capitalism II and Europa Universalis II. I have the original Capitalism Plus and enjoyed it a lot. Never played the original Europa Universalis, but read the glowing review from Games Domain. Looks pretty interesting and possibly challenging, which is what I'm aiming for (sick of pushover AIs).

Please comment on either game. Are they worth it? Thanks.

John-SJ · February 17, 2002, 20:24

Capitalism II is interesting, but more than anything it is a graphics makeover for the original. True, there are some new features and options but I don't feel they are sufficient for a full new game. IMO, this isn't really Cap 2, more like Cap Plus Plus. (C++?

)

John-SJ

ixnay · February 17, 2002, 20:26

EU2 is a great game. I got it for xmas and played it nearly nonstop until i burned out on it a few weeks ago... I find it very interesting and engaging, moreso than civ3...

Urban Ranger · February 17, 2002, 23:53

On the other hand, I tied the original Europa Universalis for a few hours before I wiped it off my HDD.

yin26 · February 18, 2002, 01:28

I also deleted EU only to try it 'for real' a few weeks later. EU is *not* a game you fire up and get impressed with its bells and whistles. What's more challenging up front is that the game mechanics aren't initially very intuitive.

However, if you stick with it (I almost never allow a game so much time, but I'm glad I did), you'll find a very rewarding gaming experience. Again, I need to emphasize: EU is not the kind of game you load up for a few hours of good graphics and some kind of 'ending.' It's a game the mimics some elements of the sprawling, often chaotic nature of history itself. If that doesn't excite you, stay away.

Jogilius · February 18, 2002, 07:15

Buy GC...

(just trying posting on the other forums... silly that my profile says that I had never posted, since all of my posts so far are in the off-topic forum)

Chowlett · February 18, 2002, 09:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Jules
Two games peeked my interest:

I hate to do it, particularly in an On Topic thread I don't have the knowledge to contribute to, but that should be "piqued".

BTW - Yin, nice Avatar!

yin26 · February 18, 2002, 10:22

Urban Ranger · February 18, 2002, 23:20

Quote:

Originally posted by yin26
Again, I need to emphasize: EU is not the kind of game you load up for a few hours of good graphics and some kind of 'ending.'

Stop guessing what I did.

What happened was after I finished the tutorial, I tried my hands on the Fantasia scenario. However, dispite my max'ed out stability rating in three attempts my home provinces were occupied by rebels every single time.

That didn't seem realistic to me.

General Ludd · February 18, 2002, 23:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger

Stop guessing what I did.

What happened was after I finished the tutorial, I tried my hands on the Fantasia scenario. However, dispite my max'ed out stability rating in three attempts my home provinces were occupied by rebels every single time.

That didn't seem realistic to me.

You played the tutorial and fantasia?? Play the grand campaign!

yin26 · February 19, 2002, 00:24

Quote:

Stop guessing what I did.

Actually, I wasn't talking about you in particular, but if it hit a soft spot...

Urban Ranger · February 20, 2002, 14:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Osweld
You played the tutorial and fantasia?? Play the grand campaign!

I was going to do that, but not after my three attempts at a Fantasia scenario all became fiascos.

Urban Ranger · February 20, 2002, 14:19

Quote:

Originally posted by John-SJ
Capitalism II is interesting, but more than anything it is a graphics makeover for the original. True, there are some new features and options but I don't feel they are sufficient for a full new game. IMO, this isn't really Cap 2, more like Cap Plus Plus. (C++?

)

I heard that they now have stock and property markets, and the computer players are much smarter.

General Ludd · February 20, 2002, 14:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger

I was going to do that, but not after my three attempts at a Fantasia scenario all became fiascos.

Frankly, I don't think you can say anything about EU with out even trying the grand campaign or other such scenarios. They are the real purpose of the game, Fantasia is more of a "extra" or "goodie" then anything else.

Jules · February 20, 2002, 19:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
I heard that they now have stock and property markets, and the computer players are much smarter.

Cool.

Anybody else know of other new features in Cap 2?

Grumbold · February 22, 2002, 07:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Stop guessing what I did.

What happened was after I finished the tutorial, I tried my hands on the Fantasia scenario. However, dispite my max'ed out stability rating in three attempts my home provinces were occupied by rebels every single time.

That didn't seem realistic to me.

The only possible reasons I can think of for this is that you

a) Set your religious tolerances so that your national religion was not favoured by the state.

b) Got in a war that lasted so long that war weariness caused the country to revolt against you.

Even with negative stability you won't get revolts unless something is badly wrong. Holding the mouse cursor over the revolt risk % should list all the factors individually so its easy to see what the problem is.

Fantasia is absolutely NOT the way to learn how to play the game because you are running in an abstract vacuum that never recurs in the proper scenarios. The tutorial is recognised as being pretty poor at introducing key concepts too. Many people recommend starting a Grand Campaign as Russia. You've got cheap army costs and initially you're concerned with beating up on the Khanate remnants of the Mongol hordes while keeping a wary eye on Poland-Lithuania. With all the helpful advice available on the main website the rest soon becomes easy.......

Give it another try sometime, you may be surprised. I'm bursting with anticipation for EU2 to fially get released in the UK. Once it does there will be a lot of dust collecting on my copy of Civ III.

Urban Ranger · February 22, 2002, 23:24

Rebels appeared less than 6 months after I started.

I didn't have time to do much.

General Ludd · February 22, 2002, 23:30

UR, I demand that you reinstall EU, get the latest patches and play the Grand Campaign.

By the way, are you playing 1 or 2?