| Crusader Kings II: The Republic Expansion GENRES Real-Time Strategy, Role-Playing, Strategy, Historical PLATFORM Windows, Mac PUBLISHER Paradox Interactive DEVELOPER Paradox Development Studio RELEASE DATE 01/14/2013 The Top PC Games: Last update: March 10, 2013 |  |
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Crusader Kings II: The Republic Review
The Republic was released as the third expansion for the strategy game Crusader Kings II last week. If you rememberCrusader Kings II, you’ll remember an intricate grand strategy game focused on building your legacy – all the way down to its personal roots of the people in your bloodline. Heavily laden in history with an unprecedented focus on the people behind the history, Crusader Kings II has all the hallmarks of a game made by Paradox Development Studios, who are well-known for providing gamers with an extremely immersive experience through complexity and depth. It’s a game that strays away from the modern approach to the RTS genre and instead looks to challenge you through diplomacy and economy while providing a much deeper micromanagement level of all the subtle details in-between.
For fans of Crusader Kings II, the Republic offers the same underlying theme, but with a fresh approach that brings with it an array of new challenges and strategies – as well as a direct focus on the financial elements of the merchant empires: Venice, Genoa, Pisa, the Hanseatic League, or Gotland. These empires are finally able to be played and experienced in this expansion, something the game’s many fans have been asking for.
The game still takes place between the years 1066 and 1452, but instead of being a feudal lord or king, you play as the head of a patrician family battling for control over the merchant republic. This becomes not only a battle of wits, but one of wealth: the patrician families are driven by money rather than bloodshed and a lot of the expansion’s additions are thematic as such. For example, one of the interesting new features in this expansion are the trade posts. Expanding your trade posts, as well as defending them, is vital to your success. They increase your income as well as have a variety of new buildings that can be used to increase its defense in case you come under siege.
The game still takes place between the years 1066 and 1452, but instead of being a feudal lord or king, you play as the head of a patrician family battling for control over the merchant republic. This becomes not only a battle of wits, but one of wealth: the patrician families are driven by money rather than bloodshed and a lot of the expansion’s additions are thematic as such. For example, one of the interesting new features in this expansion are the trade posts. Expanding your trade posts, as well as defending them, is vital to your success. They increase your income as well as have a variety of new buildings that can be used to increase its defense in case you come under siege.
