Crusader Kings II for PC Reviews by Gamers

Hands down, one of the best strategy games this year. If you're familiar with Paradox games, it still has the same old issues with their UI not being the most friendly to new players. However, if you wade through the very small issue of figuring out how to do things (yes, there are tutorials). The politics this game manages to produce at random and truely... well... human! The AI players in this game, including your family members and members of your court, manage to do things and react to things the way a real player would.

I'm still having issues getting my kingdom from falling apart after I die of old age, my son (that I get to continue as) gets assassinated, and then my half-brother decides to try and usurp my throne. The scripting is simply genius.

Overall, if you're a fan of strategy, empire building games, you'll love this one. Worth every penny. Just remember to put the time in and really try to learn the game and it will pay off in the end. Trust me.

First let make a point, I love strategy games. I like complex systems and have always wanted a game that let you could control every aspect. For instance, I always wished SimCity would allow players to control rent, city streets and when they were being repaired, etc., like a true city would run.

Then this game came rolling along and boy I was excited. Promises of being able to micro manage families, empires, and able to control every aspect really excited me. First off, lets not kid ourselves, the graphics are just a blank map with characters moving around (like a flat chess board with chess pieces moving around), I could handle that if the game play didn't suck but.... Second, being able to control every aspect of the game play is fine, but HOW DO YOU DO IT. There are simply way too many buttons, too many differing menus, and a complex system of family crests that you'll have to learn if not memorize. I think the game could be really good, BUT, it is almost out of control with the amount you can control?, don't understand?, allow me please....

There is no reason to have every family crest or seal or flag or whatever on the game board at once. There is no reason to have 1000 different regional names on the game board at once (you can change this but it makes it even more complex, oh boy). What they should have done is limit your region, conquer it, move to the next region.

Over all I was excited about hearing about a game like this but with the lack of graphics, horrible game interface, and confusing "story" line I have to give this game a 2.