Europa Universalis: Rome

 PC
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 48 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 48
  3. Negative: 18 out of 48
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  1. Infamous_Z
    Feb 20, 2014
    2
    Acquired this game on the cheap at a Salvation Army thrift store for a few bucks. I won't even get into Paradox's policy of locking down support and other technical issues behind a forum that requires fresh reg codes, and their support of the forum troll's who's answer to everything is snark and sarcasm. This is about the game itself...

    Europa Universalis: Rome, I went into after much    Acquired this game on the cheap at a Salvation Army thrift store for a few bucks. I won't even get into Paradox's policy of locking down support and other technical issues behind a forum that requires fresh reg codes, and their support of the forum troll's who's answer to everything is snark and sarcasm. This is about the game itself...

    Europa Universalis: Rome, I went into after much play on Europa Universalis 3. The game seems graphically the same, just on a far smaller map. The game did not strike me as fun, as while EU3 was very much more straightforward by comparison, this game has a Crusader Kings-like game with various characters that you have no reason to get invested in or care about, and the game does not explain just why you SHOULD care. It screams that you SHOULD pay attention to them, that approving this person as a General or this person to office gives some character of yours points, but with so many different characters and none of them to really call YOURS (Whereas some games let you focus on and build a dynasty), the characters here lead to a sense of detachment to the game. And that may of killed a part of the game that others feel is crucial: The entire characters side of it. The Total War games give you a reason to care about what happens to your character, by simply not overwhelming you, and showing you just how your actions influence that character. My Roman General in TW has a knack for management? Then I'll assign him to govern that frontier post that is crucial to my expansion. My Roman General in EU:Rome got a job and I get higher standing with him? Okay, tell me why that matters? The game seems to want you to care about this, but it is incapable of telling you why.

    The other side of the game, Empire management, comes off as severely limited when compared to EU3 as well. The tech path is very slow, and you don't get a feel for progress, and playing as any other side but Rome is just asking for a beating. This side alone, unlike what I experienced in TW: Rome which starts you off with a divided Rome and the prize of a united Rome MUST be earned, just didn't seem to suck me in either. Both sides of the game, just did not catch my interest nor hold me in it.

    What DID I like? Well, the music is nice. Paradox games usually has nice music.

    The game did have several bugs, which seems to be fixed by the Patch hiding as an Expansion, and I'm getting a growing dislike for Paradox game's policy of rolling out severely buggy games, and fixing them only with patches you have to buy.

    This game gets a 2, but only cause of the music and..well..the music. The game was acquired at the Salvation Army, and after a few years of collecting dust on my shelf, it is slated to go back there this weekend.

    I much more recommend you get Total War: Rome 1.    … Expand
  2. Gratson
    Dec 11, 2013
    4
    What a buggy mess! I've tried 3 times playing this game and always end up crashing after a while. Also the battles sometimes make no sense, my 100000 troops get slaughtered and the enemy loses 10 troops or something. Disappointed and just spent my money on a game I'll probably not play above 5 hours. Avoid this is my recommendation.
  3. KevinBishop
    Jul 5, 2008
    2
    Very poor game, I expected much better from Paradox. It is basically just like EU3, except with a lot less nations to fight and play as, more tedious bugs and features that annoy me to no end, and a different time setting.

    I did not like it. I love EU3 however, and will continue to play it.
  4. Ian277
    May 11, 2011
    2
    this is a horrible game if you know how to play in the first place it is too complecated it forced you to micromanage every aspect of everything. i hate the gameplay and the strategy is dumb i've had a battle i lost about 10000 men they lost 0. totally unrealistic. dont buy it is just a broken AI and some thrown in battles. this game was only 10 bucks so i guess i am not all that mad.
  5. Panopticon
    Dec 17, 2020
    3
    A very boring game. Some great ideas, like characters having their own assets and agenda who can try to take power, but not a lot for the player to do. This was a common flaw in early Paradox grand strategy games - the computer has more fun than the player.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Best PC Game of 2008
76
#76 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
53
#53 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. IGN
    87
    For the rare gamers who can happily lose themselves in a world where the ability to create armies is more valued than the ability to lead them on the field of battle, the EU games are a revelation. When you combine that approach with the appeal of the historical Roman setting, it's like an arrow of happiness aimed straight at our hearts.
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  2. GameWatcher
    82
    From strategic trading, the recruiting of legions, where to garrison them, who’s right for the job from governor to general – Rome is possibly one of the only games out there that can really give gamers a glimpse into just how pressured emerging super powers were. After all Rome wasn’t built in a day, let Paradox show you why.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpy
    60
    Unfortunately getting to a multiplayer game is more trouble than it's worth.
    Read full review
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