Bryon Lloyd reports:
''They say that Rome was not built in a day. I don't know where I am going with this; it is just something they say. It may not have been built in a day, but it will take you several hours. Many, many, hours, that is, in Europa Universalis: Rome. It seems a match made in heaven when you think of a civilization-building game and the rise of the Roman Empire. Sure this could be said about many of Earth's civilizations, but Rome holds a special place in our heart. For me, it is not just about the rise of the empire, but its magnificent crash that brings a certain mystique to the period. It is arguably the basis for western civilization. This is a storied series with many entries, all of which have received better than average reviews.
Though it may not win any awards in visual excellence, it is not the intention, of course; everything you need is cleanly laid out before you. The heads-up display has a common layout that is widely known in the RTS world. Each of the necessary information pages are readily at your fingertips. There is no lack of visual representation for the various resources at your disposal, so everything you need is right there. It is just sans the flashy details.
The music is epic and melodic, with all of the harp string and pan flute you have come to know and love in association with the Roman and Greek periods. But hey, I digress. I would say that everything I need from the sound effects is there. The heart of this game is not to be found in its graphics or sound. The best is yet to come.''
