Hearts of Iron II

zoomar · Mar 15, 2005

Just bought the new PC grand strategy game, Hearts of Iron II. Seems ideal for plausible AH. Set in the WW2 "era" spanning 1936 to 1947 and players can direct any nation on the whole earth, including some internal factions (there several different independent Chinese entities in 1936, including a few warlord held areas, Tibet, the Nationalist-held areas and communist-held areas!). There are three basic "alliances", but to make the game as open as possible, each alliance basically starts with only one main country in 1936: Allies (GB and Commnwealth states), Axis (Germany), Comintern (USSR). As game progresses OTL alliances may or may not develop out of these. Diplomacy, economics and production, internal state politics (you can gradually change your nation's ideology/direction if you want) and research is important. There are also some set scenarios, some from OTL and other purely AH (like a campaign between German-allied Argentina and US-allied Brazil in the Rio Plate area). Very large-scale but complex game. If you want, you can try to keep your nation neutral thru the entire war and just see if you can gain more economic influence and power than your real-life analog Winning faction/nation is that holding most of the world's production centers in January 1947.

I've started a campaign as 1936 Argentina and will try to slowly throw off the yoke of Yanqui and British economic oppression in South America, with German help if I can swing it once WW2 starts, without having the USA come down on me too soon.

Anybody else play this?

The Sandman · Mar 15, 2005

Yeah, it's a pretty fun game. Try playing as Italy or Japan; you can get a pretty good sense of just how badly screwed those countries were as far as having any possibility of winning the war.

As far as South America goes, Bolivia could actually be interesting if your goal is to recover all of the territory it lost over the previous century.

Midgard · Mar 15, 2005

It is on my to-buy list... I've really liked Paradox's other titles (Europa Universalis I and II, Crusader Kings, and Victoria), from what I'm hearing this one should be just as good, gameplay-wise.

eschaton · Mar 16, 2005

I love Paradox games, but I bought HOI, and there is no way I will buy HOI2 based upon my experience with it. It's too much of a wargame compared to their other series, and I feel like the micromanaging of the tech tree, having to worry about different units and supply lines, ect, just is not fun. I always like my games strategic and not tactical though. It's up to my generals to figure out battle plans, not me. Heh.

Michael · Mar 16, 2005

Yeah, I tried the demo, but couldn't get into it

DominusNovus · Mar 16, 2005

I've got the original HOI, how does 2 compare?

zoomar · Mar 16, 2005

eschaton said:
I love Paradox games, but I bought HOI, and there is no way I will buy HOI2 based upon my experience with it. It's too much of a wargame compared to their other series, and I feel like the micromanaging of the tech tree, having to worry about different units and supply lines, ect, just is not fun. I always like my games strategic and not tactical though. It's up to my generals to figure out battle plans, not me. Heh.

I didn't play HOI1, but I understand some aspects have been simplified in HoI2. I am finding it hard to play intelligently, however. But when I deliberately tried to screw things up as Argentina, I found myself unepectedly allied with Japan before I wanted and eventually invaded by Brazil. For some other reason I can't fathom, a war broke out in 1941 between Peru and Equador. Interestingly Japan never attacked Pearl Harbor.

Romulus Augustulus · Mar 16, 2005

A Cold War Mod for HOI2 would be fun. I'd replay For All Time.

FederationX · Mar 16, 2005

HoI 2 is has a better learning curve and looks like a lot cleaner and easier to use.

FederationX · Mar 16, 2005

Romulus Augustulus said:
A Cold War Mod for HOI2 would be fun. I'd replay For All Time.

I heard they are working on one right now. Hopefully it comes out soon.

The Gunslinger · Mar 17, 2005

HOI 1 is a great game... blast those infernal convoys to hell! I've been playing for years and I still can't quite figure it out. I looked at number 2, it looked like even more micromanagement which be like Victoria (don't even get me started on that game...).

Korppi · Mar 17, 2005

HOI 2 has totally different techsystem (some like it some dont)
And different kind of battle system. (I really like new HQ system).
Also there are difference in economy side, (those damn rare material, allways low of them.)
Scenarios are quite interresting.

I like it but still waiting patch 1.2.

eschaton · Mar 17, 2005

The Gunslinger said:
HOI 1 is a great game... blast those infernal convoys to hell! I've been playing for years and I still can't quite figure it out. I looked at number 2, it looked like even more micromanagement which be like Victoria (don't even get me started on that game...).

Victoria is fabulous once you understand the model. If only they had a reasonable migration/immigration model I would say it would be one of the best strategy games of all time.

The Gunslinger · Mar 17, 2005

The thing about Victoria is that you have to run the economy yourself. No matter what, the computer doesn't give you enough rescources, it trades them away on the world market. Like sulphur. No sulpher, no explosives, which means no artillery which produces huge amounts of money.

Midgard · Mar 17, 2005

The Gunslinger said:
The thing about Victoria is that you have to run the economy yourself. No matter what, the computer doesn't give you enough rescources, it trades them away on the world market. Like sulphur. No sulpher, no explosives, which means no artillery which produces huge amounts of money.

Yeah, that's probably my main gripe with Victoria (and why EU II is my favorite Paradox game so far)... too much micromanagement, and the resource model, while great idea in itself, is not executed as well as it could be. I do like the diplomacy model though...

FederationX · Mar 17, 2005

While the economic structure in Victoria can be a pain in the ass, I think its better than HoI and HoI because it goes into so much more depth on the world stage.

FederationX · Mar 17, 2005

I find that the technological aspect of HoI 2 is a lot cleaner and easier to use than then the first one. Researching is a lot better than before, in my opinion. Also, the animations look a little better. Side not: Who else plays Vicky?

Korppi · Mar 18, 2005

FederationX said:
I find that the technological aspect of HoI 2 is a lot cleaner and easier to use than then the first one. Researching is a lot better than before, in my opinion. Also, the animations look a little better. Side not: Who else plays Vicky?

I Paradox games from EU2-HOI2 (well my HOI1 was lost when I moved to bigger appartment). I like to play Vicky sometimes. I dont think there is too much micromanaging in world market... But I do really hate when you have huge country and you have to start building railroads.

eschaton · Mar 18, 2005

Korppi said:
I Paradox games from EU2-HOI2 (well my HOI1 was lost when I moved to bigger appartment). I like to play Vicky sometimes. I dont think there is too much micromanaging in world market... But I do really hate when you have huge country and you have to start building railroads.

That's why I don't play huge countries. I find the most fun countries are places like Belgium, Sardinia-Peidmont, one of the South American nations, ect. Big enough to get an economy humming along and into the colonial game, but small enough for easy management.

Michael · Mar 18, 2005

It's also why sweden is the greatest country to play through first time