Europa Universalis

The Good
There isn't much not to like about it. The game gives you the option of controlling one of a variety of European powers during the era of colonization, and the detail and fun in the simulation is awe-inspiring. The best diplomacy model in recent memory, massive multi-front wars, exploration and colonization, discovery of new lands - it's all here.

The interface is elegant and easy to use. The game's depth and interest in phenomenal. Attention to detail is excellent. The game's replay value is astonishing - any one of the dozen scenarios could be played a hundred different ways, since all the countries handle differently and each offers a variety of strategies to follow.

But what really sets this game apart is the astonishing immersiveness of it all. Paradox has done a phenomenal job of making the game really elicit the historical dynamics of the times. Each country plays differently; playing Russia is completely different from playing Portugal, which in turn is completely different from playing England. The strategic, military and financial decisions you make interrelate with the other powers and the dynamics of the time in a manner I've never seen in any other game, ever. The designers very wisely made religion a major part of the game, too (it was a major part of European history at the time.)

Europa Universalis is truly one of the finest games on the shelves today. If you like strategy, you must run out and buy this game.

The Bad
1. Like all games, it's buggy out of the box. Get the version 1.08 (or later) patch and install it or you'll get crash bugs.

1. Irritatingly, even with the patch, the game seems to hang your system after you exit it. This game is worth the reboots, believe me, but I'd still like to see it fixed.

2. The graphics and sound aren't anything special, not that it really takes away from the game.

3. The Europa Universalis manual is awful, explaining next to nothing. Fortunately, the Web community is very strong, so you can get your questions answered.
   
   The Bottom Line
   This is one of the ten best strategy games I have ever played on my PC, and I've played them all. A must have for the serious gamer.