As a turn-based strategy fanatic and immense Rome/Europa Barbaroum fan I ask you all the question - dont you ever wish you'd get your ass kicked in this type of game?
In Vanilla and Europa Barbarorum, granted that starting off as someone like Pontus can be challenging - lets be fair, for money reasons only, once you come near to leveling the field economically your enemy doesnt stand a chance.
When I was a young lad I was an avid fan of Birth of the Fed, a game some of you will remember, and its still a favorite of mine despite being about a decade displaced, and in said title I despite having similar numbers and economical strength would often have my ass handed to me. Fleet movements were difficult to predict, enemies seemed to get PMT at random intervals and all out attack, allies would rally to your defense or stab you in the back (but sensibly, for gain or because a better friend of theirs is against you). And when the chips were down and I was struggling to even hold my borders and was even losing colonies I felt like I was being truly challenged. At times a space creature of cube would come along at my most desperate hour and injure my enemy giving me a reprieve to launch an ultimately successful counterattack.
What I'm getting at is, it felt like I was fighting living breathing nations with scruples or without scruples, or with common sense or blind xenophobia, with selfish aims or altruistic ideals. Dont take me wrong, I dont dare dis the total war experience or believe that this game could be improved in such a way. Just thinking out loud, I wish some other game could match that political dynamic or the near lifelike AI model.
What I'm saying is, I'd like to be given a run for my money in these game types... Pity the ol campaign map cant be played Multiplayer
Bookmarks