You've Got the Old World in Your Hands

The Old World simulation game 1701 A.D., above, may be the easiest to play, but The Guild 2, at left, is a true winner for its detailed graphics and overall fun factor. (Jowood, Left; Aspyr Media)

The time between 1400 and 1789 was a turbulent one. The medieval period ended and the Renaissance began. Colonization started in earnest, and some of the greatest modern nations of the world clawed their way to the top. It's only natural that the gaming community has embraced the era, and lately there has been a deluge of new simulation games set in the Old World.

Europa Universalis III puts you in charge of nearly every aspect of managing a nation, be it a humble one or a potential massive power. The game 1701 A.D. is the most like a traditional simulation, in which you colonize random islands for a fictitious queen. The Guild 2 puts you in charge of a medieval family struggling to create a dynasty.

We dived into their worlds of court intrigue, back stabbing, bloody warfare and conflict to rate each game on historical accuracy, ease of play, graphics, combat, uniqueness and fun.

Historical accuracy: If you play this type of game for the realism, then Europa Universalis III is the one you want. You can start at any date between 1453 and 1789, and the world will be exactly as it was then, including religion, rulers, standing armies, royal marriages, fleets, relationships between nations and how much of the world has been discovered.

And I do mean the world. You can play as any of 250 historically accurate countries from the era. Anything can happen, so if you think you can lead Switzerland in a war of conquest against France and England, give it a try. This is also the only title that takes non-European nations or style into account. Play as Japan or Korea if you like. Perhaps you can get Japan to discover and colonize America first.

The Guild 2 is also accurate in terms of medieval life, though there are many sim-type elements to speed gameplay. It starts in 1400, and you can be a merchant, priest, politician or thief as well as several subclasses. You have to build up your chosen business and deal with the medieval legal system, town politics and rival families whose attitude can range from friendliness to open warfare.

The 1701 game is not accurate at all. The islands are basically random. Some have zebras sharing land with herds of moose.

Europa Universalis III gets the nod for accuracy. (It could almost be considered an educational aid for college-level history classes.)

Ease of use: Unfortunately, none of these games is particularly easy. There is just too much to do. You need to go through four to eight tutorials each plus read the game manual to be safe.

That said, 1701 A.D. is the easiest to play. Once you learn the rules about how your colony works and how goods are picked up for storage or selling, you can run things fairly proficiently. As your colony grows, more buildings and units become available, but all follow the same basic pattern.

The Guild 2 is fairly easy at first, but the complexity quickly rises as your holdings grow and you seek to court a significant other and have children to further your family. Unfortunately, many aspects of the game are not covered adequately in either the tutorials or the game manual, so events such as the first time you are accused of a crime and have to face the court are extremely scary since you have to learn by trial (no pun intended) and error.

With Europa Universalis III's extreme freedom comes extreme complexity. You can manage every aspect of your country, but that means there are seemingly hundreds of buttons to learn. Although the game is easier than previous Europa titles, expect a long learning curve.