HoI, EU, or what?

Sr. Lev_1 · February 14, 2003, 20:40

OK, I need (purposeful diction, like: I NEED more meth) a wwII (or historically comparable) war/rsc management sim with a level of complexity/gameplay comprible to Alpha Centauri.

Judging from thel reviews outside pcg, Hearts of Iron isn't it.

Is the EU series a viable substitute for anything made by Sid Meyers? Or is Hearts of Iron actually good enough?

'just doesn't know anymore'
Sr. Lev

Jon Shafer · February 14, 2003, 21:40

Hearts of Iron is good. If you want a "Germany declares war on Poland every game on September 1939" kind of game, then HOI isn't your game... it's an alternate history game, so some things can change.

Europa Universalis II is my favorite game, and with a new 1.06 patch that came out not too long ago, it's even better.

Nikolai · February 15, 2003, 11:28

Both EU(preferable no.2

) and HoI is good games, the best one is IMHO EU2, but HoI is enjoyable too.

I play them regulary, and have problems getting out of their sphere of influence...!

Janbalk · February 15, 2003, 11:36

Well the goverment policy decsions\politics are less advanced in HOI than in SMAC and EU2 and the unit developing in EU2 ar much less advanced than in SMAC and HOI otherwise they are IMHO about the same level of complexity. But I think they both have a much more realitic as simulation than SMAC. I much prefer EU2 to SMAC and HOI but thats mainly because it is my favorite historical period. They are all three very good games.

General Ludd · February 15, 2003, 11:46

I'd recomend EU2. HOI is good, but it hasn't been patched up as much as EU2 yet.

Dauphin · February 15, 2003, 12:55

Is HoI out in the UK yet.

St Leo · February 15, 2003, 15:37

OK, I need (purposeful diction, like: I NEED more meth) a wwII (or historically comparable) war/rsc management sim with a level of complexity/gameplay comprible to Alpha Centauri.

If it's resource management you are after, then you can't go wrong with archaelogically excavating a copy of Imperialism II somewhere.

Europa Universalis II probably satisfies the complexity requirement, but I don't know what you mean by "historically comparable to ww2". I'm not a WW2 buff myself.

EU2 Reviews
Imperialism II Reviews
Hearts of Iron Reviews

Sr. Lev_1 · February 15, 2003, 19:41

Imperialism II looks quite appealing, and yes my three consonant word 'rsc' was intended to sloppily abbreviate 'resource.'

By 'wwII or historically [sic.] comparable,' though, I guess I meant pre modern day, post-cartridged bullet.

I'm actually looking for a new medium to take a SMAC multiplayer rivalry and 'wwII or historically comprible' was the vague term agreed upon by all parties.

Personally, can anyone here recommend the EU games or anything else over HOI in terms of complex, not overwhelmingly combat oriented, multi-play?

thanks
Sr. Lev

ravagon · February 16, 2003, 20:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Trip
Hearts of Iron is good. If you want a "Germany declares war on Poland every game on September 1939" kind of game, then HOI isn't your game... it's an alternate history game, so some things can change.

Actually it doesn't always happen that way. I was just playing with it again yesterday and had the "Poland cedes Danzig" version of the events.
War didn't come until early 1940 IIRC.
The Winter War didn't occur thereafter either.

Jon Shafer · February 17, 2003, 02:23

Quote:

Originally posted by ravagon
Actually it doesn't always happen that way. I was just playing with it again yesterday and had the "Poland cedes Danzig" version of the events.
War didn't come until early 1940 IIRC.
The Winter War didn't occur thereafter either.

Eh?

I think what you're saying is somewhat along the lines of what I said, i.e. things won't be the same every time.

Jon Shafer · February 17, 2003, 02:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Sr. Lev_1 Personally, can anyone here recommend the EU games or anything else over HOI in terms of complex, not overwhelmingly combat oriented, multi-play?

EU2 really depends on what you want to do. If you want to be the Ottoman Empire and conquer the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa, go for it. If you want to be Venice and rack up the dough, you can do that too. It depends on who you play and how you want to play. Certainly complex, and there's multi-play, which is a lot of fun too.

ravagon · February 17, 2003, 04:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Trip

Eh?

I think what you're saying is somewhat along the lines of what I said, i.e. things won't be the same every time.

Cleverly I managed to read the "isn't" in your post as "is". D'oh.

Apologies.

Jon Shafer · February 19, 2003, 01:51

Quite alright.

Dauphin · February 27, 2003, 12:49

I should have HoI by the weekend.

Nikolai · February 27, 2003, 12:58

Weeeeee!!!

Enjoy!

Dr. Nick · March 6, 2003, 00:39

Hearts of Iron post 1.03b is excellent. No more conquering Europe by 1940 though.

EU2 is empire building. HoI is strategic level warfare.

yin26 · March 6, 2003, 10:32

I think HoI needs a bit more patching, but with Paradox, you know you'll get great patching, so there's really no risk in buying the game. However, EU2 has just received (months after release, no less) a stellar patch that, while making the game more difficult, makes you face a wonderfully delicate balancing act between war, stability, economy, religion, etc.

As I've only just got my copy of HoI recently, perhaps I've yet to discover its greatness. But I have to say that at this point, EU2 is the better game if you don't mind long periods of planned peace as you try to secure allies and the requisite domestic development to handle the invasions that no doubt you plan to launch against your pesky neighbors.

By the way, in contrast to the broken AI in MOO3, you *will* get pounded in EU2 if you don't play in a smart manner...

CharlesBHoff · March 11, 2003, 04:17

I will het heart of Iron. Does it allow you to research jet plane, missiles, and nuclear weapon. I was reading than book recent on old plane. One of the Germany Aircraft Company in 1936 make than jet fighter which the Germany
airforce want, but was turn down by the government for other reason. Let see Germany invade Polland with jet fighter and bomder and nuked Warsword with than 20 kton
bomb.

General Ludd · March 11, 2003, 09:02

Quote:

Originally posted by CharlesBHoff
I will het heart of Iron. Does it allow you to research jet plane, missiles, and nuclear weapon. I was reading than book recent on old plane. One of the Germany Aircraft Company in 1936 make than jet fighter which the Germany
airforce want, but was turn down by the government for other reason. Let see Germany invade Polland with jet fighter and bomder and nuked Warsword with than 20 kton
bomb.

Yes, you are capable of reaching semi-modern technologies in the game. It's a bit difficult to do though, and usually requires specializing in a field while mising out in others, unless you have a huge industrial base.

Jon Shafer · March 11, 2003, 15:07

Quote:

Originally posted by yin26

By the way, in contrast to the broken AI in MOO3, you *will* get pounded in EU2 if you don't play in a smart manner...

Yes, the EU AI is quite impressive. I can't tell you how annoying it is to play the Ottoman Empire, while trying to capture all those Venetian islands with all their fleets running around. Every now and then they'll land 10,000 or so troops in Anatolia, which is always a pain to deal with too...

CharlesBHoff · March 11, 2003, 21:25

The orginate AI in MOO3 was so hard to beat that gametest
complain that it was inpossible to beat the AI on the easy setting that two week before the release of the game they tone down the AI and didnot have enought time to test this new tone down AI , by change one number can change than few hundred's value in the computer games when it run.

Henrik · March 17, 2003, 13:42

Quote:

Originally posted by St Leo
If it's resource management you are after, then you can't go wrong with archaelogically excavating a copy of Imperialism II somewhere.

Am I the only one who honestly like Imperialism 1 more than it's sequel?

Oh and does anyone know anything at all about they are going to finnish EU2 for mac?

Reinhard-Baer · March 28, 2003, 07:51

It really depends what you want judging from your description HoI is THE game. I love it and in my opinion it's even better than EU. Well perhaps because I'm a WWII buff but well I like the timeframe and above all: I like Panzer on the road, the all mighty steel fleet at sea and the Luftwaffe in the air striking with their Dive Bomber Wow what a game. And furthermore never forget the diplo-aspect. Nobody can win the game alone and you would be well advised to search for allies in peace time. At war it might be too late.