I will call these impressions "Shot in the Dark" because the last thing I expected this weekend was to be playing a new Paradox game. Seriously, I had no idea it was coming out. Haven't really played a Paradox game in a few years, because I've been busy IRL and I know what time sucks they are, so been avoiding a bit.
But I went on Steam today because I heard Portal was free and I wanted to grab it, so I did. Pretty fun game, great idea obviously, great writing and voiceovers, but it's a puzzle game basically and I don't like those. So I got bored and looked around the strategy section and Lo and Behold, damn, Paradox game. Medieval Japan. Had to buy.
Okay...okay....
First impressions: This is really polished and stable for a Paradox game, which often are buggy on release. Is this a re-release? Brand new? I'm that in the dark.
Main thing: The very first clan I played, I stupidly chose a one kori clan way up north and thought I will just hide out for a while and learn how to play. Wrong. Dead fast.
No worries. Second clan I played, the great Shimazu in the southern end was a really good choice. Just big enough to bully others, plus that whole ocean guarding my back thing.
The biggest thing I had to learn, quick, I think, was the pacing of the game. You don't just buy tons of armies and go conquer the world. Well maybe you can, I haven't tried that yet, but that's not how it's designed.
You want to agonize over your heirs. Get wives for your main, and his heirs. And his brothers. The whole "who do I choose to rule this new territory I conquered" mechanic adds such a level of depth like I've not seen in a strategy game.
The "five province limit of direct rule" just brings things alive. Being forced to study your clan, your relatives, their relations, their happiness, just adds verisimilitude. No ridiculous cyber-Caesears conquering the world in one turn.
And such odd situations your family gets into! The polygamous option is amusing, and one of my lords married two sisters from the same vassal -- turned out to be a mistake though, because once he turned bitter and angry in his old age, they both became cold too. That same vassal somehow had one of his youngest sons marry his own niece, while he married his aunt!
But the whole part where you conquer a province and you can then give someone a title, that is incredible. Because it's a whole new gameplay dynamic, something new under the strategy game sun.
Quite possible this has been in other Paradox games that I have missed, but it's the first time I've seen it!
Anyway, to conclude, awesome game, love it, telling all my friends and co-workers and the eye candy crackheads who think Gears of War 3 is a strategy game. Argh!
But I went on Steam today because I heard Portal was free and I wanted to grab it, so I did. Pretty fun game, great idea obviously, great writing and voiceovers, but it's a puzzle game basically and I don't like those. So I got bored and looked around the strategy section and Lo and Behold, damn, Paradox game. Medieval Japan. Had to buy.
Okay...okay....
First impressions: This is really polished and stable for a Paradox game, which often are buggy on release. Is this a re-release? Brand new? I'm that in the dark.
Main thing: The very first clan I played, I stupidly chose a one kori clan way up north and thought I will just hide out for a while and learn how to play. Wrong. Dead fast.
No worries. Second clan I played, the great Shimazu in the southern end was a really good choice. Just big enough to bully others, plus that whole ocean guarding my back thing.
The biggest thing I had to learn, quick, I think, was the pacing of the game. You don't just buy tons of armies and go conquer the world. Well maybe you can, I haven't tried that yet, but that's not how it's designed.
You want to agonize over your heirs. Get wives for your main, and his heirs. And his brothers. The whole "who do I choose to rule this new territory I conquered" mechanic adds such a level of depth like I've not seen in a strategy game.
The "five province limit of direct rule" just brings things alive. Being forced to study your clan, your relatives, their relations, their happiness, just adds verisimilitude. No ridiculous cyber-Caesears conquering the world in one turn.
And such odd situations your family gets into! The polygamous option is amusing, and one of my lords married two sisters from the same vassal -- turned out to be a mistake though, because once he turned bitter and angry in his old age, they both became cold too. That same vassal somehow had one of his youngest sons marry his own niece, while he married his aunt!
But the whole part where you conquer a province and you can then give someone a title, that is incredible. Because it's a whole new gameplay dynamic, something new under the strategy game sun.
Quite possible this has been in other Paradox games that I have missed, but it's the first time I've seen it!
Anyway, to conclude, awesome game, love it, telling all my friends and co-workers and the eye candy crackheads who think Gears of War 3 is a strategy game. Argh!
EU Rome also has a character system, but it's not dynasty-oriented and there's not a whole lot of interaction required from they player.. the families just kinda do their own thing, although you can imprison an unruly subject and a couple other odds & ends. That one needs another patch, though, and it's supposed to be getting some attention on that subject soon.