Crusader Kings 2 Review (Steam)
For this Crusader Kings 2 Review, we have Paradox Interactive bringing us a dynasty/Kingdom simulator, in which you pick a leader to control from medieval times in Europe, your goal is to build your empire up around you. The game has no end game as such, instead you kind of make up your own end game. Game over can occur if you/when you die and you have no heir to the throne. let us take a look at how this game plays out.
Crusader Kings 2 Review Pros:
- Decent graphics.
- 2.39GB Download size.
- Steam achievements.
- In-depth and optional tutorial area.
- Steam trading cards.
- Dynasty Strategy gameplay.
- Can rebind the buttons.
- You will be in charge of managing the council, enforcing and even changing the laws of your land.
- Hiring your staff around you, giving them missions to help you like spreading lies or taking out soldiers on the borders.
- Planning attacks or defending your land is all down to you and the army you have amassed and trained. placement is going to help you.
- You can build castles, and defenses and really become the top dog.
- Your first real goal though is to find a wife and have a son, for having a son means your legacy will live on long after your death.
- Your tactics for victory can get very dirty and underhanded. I sent a chancellor into a country to spread lies about their ruling methods and his spending, this caused a revolt between the people and the kingdom. I then merely waited until they were all wiped out then swooped in and took control, all the while looking like an opportunist rather than a war-threatening tyrant to the rest of Europe.
- Keep a watchful eye on the people around you though, for they can be a backstabbing and even deadly opponent.
- Play how you want.
- Randomly generated every game mechanic, meaning every time you play a new game even if you pick the same leader, things will be different. I had it where in one game I had a girl from the off, she landed up wanting to marry a guy who in the previous game tried his darndest to attack my kingdom at every opportunity.
- Infinite replayability.
- The game is huge and full of menus allowing you to tweak and raise taxes, and change the laws to your heart’s content. My second game went on for well over a week of solid play.
- Mod support.
- You won’t realize just how much power you have. I had it where a guy who tried to kill me, was on my staff and landed up getting extradited to an island far far away, with only a few crazy criminals to keep him company. I saw a 10-year-old boy get married to a 60-year-old queen so I stayed away from her I can tell you! it’s these random events that really keep you engrossed.
- The tutorials do a good job of giving you the basics and helping you understand how to get through your first few games.
- turn-based combat.
Crusader Kings 2 Review Cons:
- While the tutorials will help you somewhat, you can’t help but feel a few more simply put tutorials would have been a benefit, especially to new players.
- So much information to take in.
- Can be hard to know where to go or what to do.
- Your first game will be the most daunting experience, the sense of being overwhelmed, and unsure of anything is common but it does get easier.
- So many menus and buttons to click, and you have the power but without clear guidelines, you don’t know what half of them do.
- Doesn’t support the controller.
- Getting the game moving relies heavily on your button presses in the many menus which are where the confusion is born.
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In summary, once you have gotten over the vast array of menus, you have a solid huge game. Loads to do and tactics are key to winning the war and taking over the whole of Europe. It is the little things that make the game experience though, with its random marriage proposals for your kids to a wife that hates you and wants you killed. It is like a medieval soap opera and everyone wants you to be the victim! I had a lot of fun just letting things play out and trying to wind the pope up as much as possible. My only son I had in the game turned out to be gay and I couldn’t get the law changed to allow him to succeed me so my dynasty died with me.
Stick with the game and it will reward you.
