I do not think I have ever been more disappointed with a Paradox Interactive game. This is my most prized gaming company, I own every title they release, and now this...

I regret pre-ordering this game.

This game has the look and feel for a great grand strategy game. It looks like it combines the best elements from all their titles into a fitting, classical era Roman fight for world dominance. That is the main issue here... All we have is looks.

Almost everything that you can get points for, gravitas, religion, etc., is next to useless. You have nothing to spend it on and when you do, such as an omen, it's beyond basic in its conception. There is no depth to this game. There is no diplomacy, there is very little civilization building, and the economy is something beyond understanding, it simply just works (very badly I'll admit).

I have almost six hours on gameplay, and that is all I need to figure this game out completely. The only aspect of this game that is mildly entertaining is event reading and military actions. But even your military decisions feel lackluster and only meant for button mashing. Half the decisions you have, such as formation or flank size, do not seem to have any noticeable effect and their dynamics is so poorly explained all you have to go on is the games percentage of effeteness.

Paradox is very good at updating games after release, sometimes for free, so lets just wait and hope.. As it is, this is the worst game they have tried to release with false advertising. I expect this from EA, not Paradox.

I do not think I have ever been more disappointed with a Paradox Interactive game. This is my most prized gaming company, I own every title they release, and now this... I regret pre-ordering this game. This game has the look and feel for a great grand strategy game. It looks like it combines the best elements from all their titles into a fitting, classical era Roman fight for world dominance. That is the main issue here... All we have is looks. Almost everything that you can get points for, gravitas, religion, etc., is next to useless. You have nothing to spend it on and when you do, such as an omen, it's beyond basic in its conception. There is no depth to this game. There is no diplomacy, there is very little civilization building, and the economy is something beyond understanding, it simply just works (very badly I'll admit). I have almost six hours on gameplay, and that is all I need to figure this game out completely. The only aspect of this game that is mildly entertaining is event reading and military actions. But even your military decisions feel lackluster and only meant for button mashing. Half the decisions you have, such as formation or flank size, do not seem to have any noticeable effect and their dynamics is so poorly explained all you have to go on is the games percentage of effeteness. Paradox is very good at updating games after release, sometimes for free, so lets just wait and hope.. As it is, this is the worst game they have tried to release with false advertising. I expect this from EA, not Paradox.