Europa Universalis IV: Emperor Review (peace4tito)
EU4 and Paradox is probably one of the biggest downfalls in the gaming industry.
EU4 stared out as a great game in the grand strategy genre, after countless updates its now a truly horrible experience, filled with bugs and hundreds of bad DLCs.
The absurd greed to release more bad DLCs that destroy the core game for those that don't keep buying every 20€ nonsense is just disgusting. Currently the AI is broken mindless mess that thinks its playing Tetris instead of doing anything resembling strategy, the game breaks in multiple ways (some just crashes to desktop and some in very intended core gameplay changing ways mind you, such as the entire world being on technological parity in the mid 17th century - cool historical accuracy and great gameplay I guess...).
Diplomacy in this game is like negotiating with a toddler or a cat, the AI can be your best friend one day with max relations, having a same dynasty etc only to decide one day it hates you more than I hate Paradox. In the last game a friendly neighbor decided to excommunicate me on a whim even though we had royal ties and green heart relations of +200(max). While his other neighbor is his sworn enemy and they had multiple wars, leaving him on the brink of destruction but why would the AI use any logic in this game when they can roll a dice every couple of days and do whatever. (we are all Catholic btw, nothing prevented the AI to properly use his papal influence)
Combat is sadly also a complete nonsense riddled with historical inaccuracy's. Imaginary power-levels of certain units in specific times are just mindless. Sometimes certain units will be super Sayans due to many stacking factors that make you think you found a bug but no, that's all how it should be according to the people maintaining this game.
In a game heavily focused on colonization is it truly historically accurate that every imaginary nation can field professional armies with 20k+ people with muskets, horses and cannons in locations that COULD NOT HAVE HORSEMEN DUE TO NO HORSES LIVING THERE? (not to mention that every island developed gunpowder and long range artillery completely on their own...)
There is so much more that could be said but I don't care anymore, I don't care about a game that 10 years ago would be in my top 5 favorite games of all time, a solid recommendation... The people that took over Paradox made a mess they cannot fix and judging from the disappointment that is Victoria 3 I guess EU5 will also be a title straight for the dumpster.
The only thing left is to enjoy the slow but sure bankruptcy of this video game company and for some indie dev to make the grand strategy game the players deserve.