| Europa 1400 - The Guild Graphics 3/5 Acceptable graphics for the time, could have been better. But since this game is not about graphics but medieval business, it is acceptable. Play control 1/10 You control no avatar in this game. A shame. Interface 5/10 Decent interface... but the fact that you need to press alt or control keys on your keyboard to find the menues makes it quite annoying... irritating when you do not know that there are some keys on the keyboard to show you "hidden" menues. For all I care, all the menues could have been accessible via the city map screen and remove that "entering business" thingy, everything then could have been managed from the city view... and since there are no avatars, what's the point in getting inside a business anyways? Stretching a game session? Fun 7/10 it is a fun game which you can play with friends as wel as in solo mode. Although, the game is pretty repetitive once you have been through all the carreers once. Luckily, this multiplayer mode elongates the longevity of the game and interest you might have to it. Depth 11/15 The game can take you through generations of medieval entrepreneurs which can last for a very long time. The designers says that if you are able to survive two hundred years or so, they consider that you have won the game. The lack of variety and amount of business, and the lack of the possibility to expand to another city or even country ruins the depth factor, the reason why it is only 11 on 15. But, there is a decent amount of information about the major events in Europe at that period of time, it is both interesting and educational. Although, there could have been a small background for each character in the game like who were his parents, what apprenticeship they have gone through and who were their master, what university they attended to if any, how many siblings they have, etc. A small description of each city at that period of time in history in the game creation screen would have been more interesting than a dull "pick one" screen. Story 1/10 There is absolutely no story in the game. You launch it and play it the way you want it... which is much better than a story oriented game where you have little or no choice in the story itself. Idea 5/5 Great idea. The idea to run a medieval business is interesting an opens many different kind of interpretation. The idea is full of potentioal. Non-Linearity 9/15 Each game can be different if you take the time to make it different. Although, being limited to one city and having a limited amount of buildings you can build in the city is limiting this rating. This is why I just give it a 9 out of 15. Interpretation 5/10 The game is poorly interpreted. It could have been ten times better. Luckily, they have made a sequel to this game and it is much better than this one. The fact that you have no avatar to move about is lame, and that there is little or no speech at all whatsoever is also a downside. The idea is full of potential but the game only scratches the surface of that potential, it is quite unfortunate. Completion 3/5 The game was decently made upon launch albeit some bugs. The game also needed an expansion to make it more worthwhile at replaying it. This is whyy the game only gets a 3 ou of 5 on completion. 50/100 A so, so game. A must rent for fans of medieval trading. Only buy if you want the collection of the series... I would put my money on something else though. |