Which to get?

[Sovereign Dixie]

Ok, so my wife in her never ending generosity has given me the green light to feed my gaming addiction a bit more. So, I've been debating about which game to get. I shall therefore put the choices forth before this esteemed community for some feedback.


Victoria II - never played the first one, but looks good and seems like people are enjoying it. getting AHD and playing as the CSA is a big plus too Getting both games for 40$ is a plus also!

HoI 3 - Seems to have come a long way since release and CSA badass's mod really ups my interest factor. Just not sure if it would be worth the 50$ I'd have to shell out for the collection + TFH I could just get collection for 30$ I suppose, but not sure if the Deo Vindice mod would work with that seeing as how it's evidently been updated for TFH.

CK II - Looks amazing. I've got EU3 though, so would this be different enough to justify a purchase even though there at least seems to be some theme and time period overlap? Also one of my pricier options.

SR Cold War: The latest patch seems to fix most of the issues with it and make it a possible choice. I loved SR2020 but lost the digital key for it and can't remember where I bought it from, so getting some SR love going on could be cool. A 20$ price tag is a huge plus as well.

Lastly, there is SoTS2. I know this game was an absolute train wreck upon release, but from what i'm reading on the forums it has been patched into an enjoyable state. I've never played the first one, but I do like galactic sims and such (old Star Control freak) and this looks interesting. Not a front runner in my mind, but if it's good I'd eagerly give it a shot.

So there ya have it boys and girls, any input would be appreciated!

 

[LYNCHY]

Well they are all very diffrent games. if i was you though i'd go for Victoria 2 or CK2

 

[diegosimeone]

I think you'll like Victoria 2 the most. Never played CK2 though so don't count that out. Don't have time for that one on top of everything

 

[Ordo Impavidus]

Ok, so my wife in her never ending generosity has given me the green light to feed my gaming addiction a bit more.

My teeth cringe when I hear things like this.... :closedeyes:

Anyway...

CKII is a bit boring and yes, costly, but very different from EU games. I almost prefer the EU games over CKII because EU games lack the foolish politically correct male vs female crap. If you are to go with CK II, I strongly advise against the music DLCs since they provide very little benefit in enhancing game play experience & you would most certainly do better playing your iTunes collection of sacred chants and other similar music instead.

HoI more interesting but there beware the awful music. Mods, from what I've heard, are really good for enhancing the actual game play, but I've never tried them myself.

Can't comment on Cold War.

Can't really comment on Victoria but from what I've heard, if micromanagement is your thing, Victoria I would be a better game for you.

SOTS II ? :blink: It has improved but how enjoyable it has become really depends on one's tolerance. I for one don't seem to think that it has reached the "all clear" but that is just me.

I also strongly encourage you to check out the strategy games produced by AGEOD. Pride of Nations happens to be one of my favorites. So too the game Rise of Prussia. The latest game by AGEOD is called Alea Jacta Est which relates to the Roman Civil Wars. Check out their website to see what other titles they offer. You won't be displeased.

 

[Marshall18]

Download the demos, and find out for yourself which one you prefer

 

[Sovereign Dixie]

My teeth cringe when I hear things like this.... :closedeyes:

LOL I mostly said that for levity. The actual conversation was more along the lines of "Hey, I'm gonna hop on here and buy a game or two, we good for that?"

But anyways, thank you and everyone else who responded for your help! I did check out AGEOD and looks like they have quite a few good titles. I can't believe I hadn't heard of them before now.

 

[Swuul]

Get CK2 and your wife will steal it from you after you teach it to her. She will then give you greenlight to buy another game

 

[Ipsissimus]

CK2 is the best currently for me. Hope a new Victoria 2 expansion would get me to play more V2. HOI3 is also good but better try the demo.

 

[ashandresash]

For me it's a tie among HoI3, Victoria2 and Crusader Kings II. If I had to give a hierarchy, that would be the order, attending the number of hours I'm playing them.

 

[Zevrow]

You could always take the free option and install mods for Europa Universalis 3 I see you have, try my EU3 Unlimited Time Mod for one: http://youtu.be/HcvYmD-7aIc - This mod extends the game time to 200000 AD so you can actually finish your games of world conquest and give the world back in vassals, free them and conquer the world again with some other nation Or you can try Death and Taxes at http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?641542-RELEASE-Death-and-Taxes-8.7

 

[Kolonel]

Get CK2 and your wife will steal it from you after you teach it to her. She will then give you greenlight to buy another game

This. I got my girlfriend to play it and she's hooked.

 

[BaptismbyFire]

They're selling CK II for pennies now on Gamersgate and Greenmangaming (If you prefer Steam keys), so you should definitely grab it, along with its DLCs.

And CK II is in no way like EU3. I personally found EU3 gameplay simple and boring, and though CK II isn't that complex itself, there are many things that you have to account for, and it's a pretty much a hands-on game.

I wasn't much interested in the time period of CK II, but got it because I was intrigued by its more complex character development system. But after having played it for only a few days, I was eager to know more about the time period, and so I watched a lot of documentaries, and bought some books on the era. If you get it, you will be amazed by just how well polished the game is (especially when compared to past Paradox releases).

As you know, the best mark of a good strategic game is if it wets your appetite for learning

 

[generalolaf]

CK2 or Vicky, I'm biased towards CK because I've actually played it but from what I've read here Vicky2 is also an excellent game.

Better still: get both! One in secret if you have to

 

[Gunnarr]

They're selling CK II for pennies now on Gamersgate and Greenmangaming (If you prefer Steam keys), so you should definitely grab it, along with its DLCs.

And CK II is in no way like EU3. I personally found EU3 gameplay simple and boring, and though CK II isn't that complex itself, there are many things that you have to account for, and it's a pretty much a hands-on game.

I wasn't much interested in the time period of CK II, but got it because I was intrigued by its more complex character development system. But after having played it for only a few days, I was eager to know more about the time period, and so I watched a lot of documentaries, and bought some books on the era. If you get it, you will be amazed by just how well polished the game is (especially when compared to past Paradox releases).

As you know, the best mark of a good strategic game is if it wets your appetite for learning

how can someone NOT be interested in the medieval age!?!?!!?

 

[RELee]

Seriously. You just can't go wrong with any of the current crop of Paradox Development games. You could draw straws and pick a winner. Look how long I've been here and still having a great time, when I find time.

 

[cacra]

This. I got my girlfriend to play it and she's hooked.

She's a keeper!

And id get vicky 2 op, I never got into hoi3 for some reason

 

[Damorte]

CK2 is the most accessible game of the lot. Its easy enough to get in too, and has enough dept to make you stay. It has a nice variety of different kinds of mods, ranging from small changes in to complete overhauls. CK2 is also paradox current flagship pretty much and is therefor recieving a bunch of DLC's.

Vicky 2 is my favourite game of the grand strategy series, its got loads of depts and a large variety of strategies (well except that you should ALWAYS sphere Brazil, empires are built on rubber after all) Its not very easy to get in to though since it has a kind of steep learning curve. The community is very helpful though and once your in youll stay in until youve pretty much played very concievable scenario you can think of. Im for example currently in a mexican empires expansion in to china game...

I never got in to HOI3, even though i played hoi2 a large amount back in the day. Its to much of a simulation for me,id rather have my options open. But if grand war strategy is your thing this game is definately the game for you, i doubt any game does it better.