March of the Eagles
- February 17, 2013
- Paradox Development Studio
- 751h median play time
Paradoxiana at its most approachable and bellicose. Engaging engagements, feisty AI, low price.
"March of the Eagles" is a war-focused grand strategy game set during the Napoleonic Wars from 1805 to 1820. As a leader, command your nation's troops, expand your empire through war and negotiation, and manage logistics in detailed 3D maps of Europe. Experience historical warfare and secure your nation's power in this immersive game from Paradox Development Studio.
Reviews
- March of the Eagles offers a rich and immersive experience set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, making it a compelling choice for strategy enthusiasts and history buffs.
- The game features engaging military strategy, diplomacy, and economic management, ensuring players are constantly challenged and engaged.
- With its intuitive user interface and comprehensive tutorial, newcomers can ease into the game's mechanics, making it a good entry point for those new to Paradox games.
- The game suffers from a steep learning curve and can feel overly complicated and fiddly, especially for those expecting a more straightforward experience.
- Many players have criticized the AI for being unbalanced and the diplomacy system for lacking depth, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- The game has been largely abandoned by Paradox, resulting in a lack of updates and content, which diminishes its long-term replayability.
- gameplay43 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, appealing to strategy enthusiasts with its historical context and deep military mechanics, yet criticized for its overly complicated and simplified systems. While some players appreciate the intuitive interface and engaging tactical elements, others find the mechanics repetitive and lacking in depth compared to other Paradox titles. Overall, it serves as a decent entry point for newcomers to grand strategy games, but may disappoint veterans seeking more complexity.
“With its detailed historical context, robust gameplay mechanics, and engaging strategic challenges, the game provides a compelling experience for strategy enthusiasts and history buffs alike.”
“The gameplay is rather enjoyable and plays very similarly to EU4, albeit with a larger focus on individual tactics within a battle that isn't immediately visible.”
“Where this game truly shines is when players fully utilize the really deep and well-designed battle mechanics, which no other Paradox game could really provide even up to this day.”
“Rulebook claims this is old-school board game inspired - but the gameplay is really just managing spreadsheets and organizing troops.”
“So while it may be board game inspired, the actual gameplay is overly complicated and fiddly for what it is.”
“Everything is garbage, the combat is garbage, the historical accuracy is garbage, the mechanics as a whole are garbage.”
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the music in the game has received positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the gameplay experience and evoke a sense of immersion in the game's themes. While some noted that it may not reach the heights of previous titles, the composition is generally regarded as fantastic and fitting for the game's atmosphere. Players are encouraged to explore the original soundtrack, with many expressing a strong appreciation for its quality.
“Give the OST a listen on YouTube; if you like the style, you won't be disappointed, 8/10.”
“The music adds further grandeur to the game which may not exist otherwise.”
“Music, on the other hand, is where Paradox always delivers, and this game is no different.”
“The only thing that is really lame to me is the music is nowhere on par with their other titles.”
“The music is choreographed by F. Scott Fitzgerald and it is composed by Shakespeare by Mark Twain. It gets you in the music and mood of warfare and it feels like you are really there controlling a country under your dominion. It is truly a masterpiece of design and it really hacks my brain to make me think that I am an owner of land in the war.”
“Music on the other hand is where Paradox always delivers and this game is no different.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered decent, utilizing a familiar engine that delivers visually appealing elements, though they may feel dated and less polished compared to more modern titles. While some players appreciate the visuals, they note that the focus on combat may detract from overall satisfaction, and the graphics alone are not a strong enough reason to engage with the game. Overall, the graphics are good enough but not a standout feature.
“It's difficult to find a Napoleonic game that lies between eye candy like NTW, with great visuals but little depth and realism, and the insanely complex and chunky AGEOD titles.”
“Graphically, it is quite nice, using the same engine as the most recent entries, but as strange as it is, the primary focus being combat was just not satisfying in my mind.”
“And the graphics, I think from the pictures you know what I mean.”
“You'll probably get bogged down by the older visuals and less polished mechanics.”
“And the graphics, I think from the pictures, you know what I mean.”
“If you're going to be persuaded either way by graphics for a game like this, you're probably in the wrong place.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate its depth and the ability to play every nation from the start, others find it lacking in variety and long-term engagement compared to other titles in the genre. The steep learning curve may deter newcomers, but those who invest time may find it rewarding.
“While the learning curve may be steep for newcomers, the game’s depth and replayability make it a worthwhile investment for those willing to delve into its complexities.”
“Every nation on the map is playable from launch (no DLC is a rarity these days), which adds replayability to the game.”
“Sadly, it isn't very good and its limited scope makes it lose on replayability.”
“However, for me, the game doesn't have too much replay value.”
“Finally, it doesn't have the amount of replayability as other grand strategy titles.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report no glitches or crashes and appreciate the user-friendly layout, others criticize it for being buggy and unstable, particularly in comparison to other titles from the same developer.
“No glitches or crashes. Everything is laid out neatly, and the game provides regular alerts to players who are playing on the easiest difficulty and trying to hide out in the backwater that is the Ottoman Empire.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions, allowing for an immersive experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I can focus on strategy without worrying about technical issues.”
“I would give a positive review for just about any Paradox title (yes, including Victoria II and Hearts of Iron III, as buggy as they may be), but this is a title I simply cannot overlook for its mistakes.”
“More like march of the unsupported, buggy games, am I right?”
“Buggy, sure.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be boring and tedious, particularly criticizing the diplomacy and coalition building system for lacking engagement and excitement.
“Seemed boring and tedious to me.”
“The diplomacy and coalition building system holds promise, but in practice seemed more tedious to me than fun or interesting.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's abandonment is viewed as a double-edged sword; while players lament the lack of further development, they appreciate being spared from excessive monetization practices typically associated with the developer.
“It's both bad and good that this game was abandoned - would have been cool to see more development, but at the same time, it's good that this game was spared from the usual routine of monetization to the point of absurdity.”
“It's both bad and good that this game was abandoned - it would have been cool to see more development, but at the same time, it's good that this game was spared from PDX's usual routine of monetization to the point of absurdity.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, delivering smooth performance and stunning visuals. Players appreciate the clean and user-friendly interface, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“Gameplay is awesome, performance is smooth and incredibly optimized, visually it is beautiful, the time period is one of the most fascinating in history, and the UI is clean and easy to navigate.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as amusing and infused with a Napoleonic flair, suggesting a unique blend of wit and historical references that enhances the overall comedic experience.
“Funny, with a Napoleonic twist.”
“The humor is sharp and clever, making every moment enjoyable.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations.”
Critic Reviews
March of the Eagles review
Paradoxiana at its most approachable and bellicose. Engaging engagements, feisty AI, low price.
80%March of the Eagles Review
March of the Eagles is a good wargame whether you're new to the genre or not. Multiplayer is a lot of fun. The soundtrack is nice, but the visual presentation is lacking and this type of game is also not for everyone to enjoy.
50%