Europa Universalis

THE BAD:
Well, I never really played the game.

SUMMARY:
I started to play through the tutorial. A short 6 hours later I'm still trying to get my armies onto my ships and then to disembark where I want them to in the unexplored territories.

I can't remember the last time I had to read the manual to play a game.

I DID try reading the manual but it didn't help. The tutorial sucks and so does the manual. Maybe once you start to play it is alot of fun but I wouldn't know.

THE BAD:
Real-time (I prefer turn-based strategy games)

SUMMARY:
An excellent game. It's easy enough to play and get into, whilst being very challenging to do really well at. I can't say much more, as I only just got it, but at the moment I'd say it almost scales the heights of Civilization II.

THE BAD:
Combat. User can't fight battle.

SUMMARY:
The most detailed and realistic god-game yet. Leading a country to greatness. What more could a history buff want. Other than a greater scope of time. This games realism so far outscales the CIV series that comparos are not applicable.

THE BAD:
Slightly simplistic economy and research options.

SUMMARY:
This game goes beyond Imp. II. While it lacks the tactical combat of Imp. II, that is ok - with the number of battles that you fight tactical combat would be unrealistic.
Great map (the entire world), fascinating religious and diplomatic system. I have not tried the multiplayer yet, still convincing some gaming buddies to buy the game.