Europa Universalis IV: Conquest of Paradise

Europa Universalis IV is the finest strategy game on the market. And it just got better.

A bit light in content, this expansion concentrates on adding features that enhance gameplay in the New World. The new features make Native American nations more rewarding to play, and add an interesting possibility wherein the Europeans could be kicked off the continent.

Conquest of Paradise is a solid, although somewhat narrowly-focused expansion.

It’s a decent expansion, but the weak colonial nation AI brings it down – they are supposed to be able to start wars and stuff on their own, but I haven’t witnessed that much autonomy so far.

Though the natives still feel underdeveloped and the colonies don’t really become interesting until they attempt to gain independence, Conquest of Paradise is still a welcome addition to Europa Universalis IV. It adds more than it takes away.

Conquest of Paradise adds colonial and indigenous mechanics which undoubtedly improve the main game, but does it in a way that introduces a new problem or two.

Conquest of Paradis isn't a bad DLC by any means, it's just a bit light, the new mechanics aren't entirely spot on and the historical plausibility of the colonial era remains debatable.

Yes this is only an expansion but it adds too much to the game and pretty cool new mechanics. This is a must have expansion. Not giving a 10, because it could have much more.

This expansion adds a randomized new world that changes every new game. There is also a free patch that gives you tribes to play with and some new trade notes. Personally I like the idea of the play with one randomized world because its a new world. Paradox Interactive has for the first time a randomized world and It looks great. But there are some minor problems with it. -Too big provinces -Every randomized world looks squarish. But there are many good things in this expansion. -Awesome randomized worlds. -Many cool unique tribes. -The 1.4 patch makes the game fun again because in the previous patch it was not. -Migration - Unique natives building that make you stronger against the western world. Overall I will give this expansion one 7 because the expansion is great and I know Paradox can do a better job at this. I hope to see them make more random worlds in their future games.

Reviewing CoP without reviewing patch 1.4 is impossible, since they are coupled together. But I will mainly speak only about Colonial Nations, Natives and Protectorates. Generally, the idea is great - but the realization is dull. 1) Colonial Nations - it gives no options, it just converts any 5 provinces in a colonial region into a Colonial Nation. Since then it is is basically your overseas vassal. You can appoint governors (just as an usual republican election), there are few generic events, you can raise tariffs for adm points, raising your income and their liberty desire. Colonial Nations are very passive, they barely do anything to expand. AI is bad with it as well - previously aggressive colonizer Portugal can suddenly stop colonizing a region after according Colonial Nation has been formed. After a Colonial Nation was released independent, it immediately loses any cultural flavour. Your Vinland will become Canada with the Red Ensign as its flag, your New Norway will become USA which will immediately get an event about Independence from British. USA (and almost all other) became monarchy in my case, which is hilarious. 2) Natives - it one of the main points of the DLC/patch. Well, the natives even got no special events in their DLC. Should I continue on this one? 3) Protectorates - if a nation's tech group too low (50% + lower than yours tech group), you will not be able to vassalize it. You will only be able to create a Protectorate, which will give you 50% trade power. It is very nice to see Muscovy not conquering Kazan, but ESTABLISHING PROTECTORATE. Seriously? As well as Muslims from Maghreb countries can not vassalize Sub-Sahara Muslims, because the tech group difference is 60%. And again, there is no choice - you can not choose between protectorate/vassal. Overall, patch brings many needed changes, but lack of testing (from insane Coalitions in 1.3 to almost non-existing Coalitions in 1.4, for example), lack of attention to the details, unprepared AI, and too much of imposing (no choice over whether or not make a Colonial Nation or rule directly) make this patch/DLC not as good as it could be.

I liked many of the new things but if you pay 10 euro you expect more than this. 1. Natives There is almost no difference and the South american natives are not effected by this DLC 2.Random New World A fun idea but there some issues from my own experience it seems like the Missions (Colonize Brazil) etc does not work properly. It is very annoying when you have the same trade region names Brazil, California etc. It also seems that if you play Random New world every coast region in Brazil, Peru, Rio de plaza has Tropical environment witch makes colonization as slow as in Africa witch makes it very frustrating. Western Trade region i believe is a update and not part of the expansion but i like the idea but still it´s not fair if you are the only Colonization nation and you almost does not earn anything of the trade. Protectorate is a good idea but it´s needs more work, It does not seem worth it to have a Protectorate for the time, I tried to make the Mayans my Protectorate and now i can´t conquer them and it gives me no profits at all. I think people expected more of this expansion if you haven´t bought it yet don´t buy it. This Expansion needs a update to make the money we paid worth while.

Base game is pretty good, this expansion is absolutely horrible. I can't even bring myself to play the game anymore with all of the broken half baked mechanics. Colonial nations and protectorates are an absolute abomination in their current form. A game focuses around colonial expansion seems to now fail at exactly that, and diplomacy, cascading wars, and war leaders changes have never been worse.