Recent reviews by Liquid

Since it's launch I've gone back and forth with it. Now, after the Marius update, the entire game has changed!

Having culture, POPs, and the military all being intertwined you have to make some tough decisions. With Rome it's no choice, doubling your levies by integrating any Italic culture is the first thing you should do.

Playing a small tribe or Greek state you have to balance integration with conquest. There are so many decisions to be made. The new mission trees are also lovely and playing a nice, calm and rich Egypt is even more rewarding! With Rome you're at war constantly which can be fun when you're stomping them!

As an example, I started an Icenia game on a whim and did not expect it to go anywhere. Then things worked in my favor and I formed Pritania and am presently working towards forming Albion! All the while fighting off the tribal council, paying off rival clan chiefs and having to balance that with your own disloyal generals (who are the same chiefs) when you raise their levies.

I was forced to assassinate the chief of a senior tribal family which sparked a civil war that they promptly lost. I put them all to the ax and now, a few decades later, there is still resentment brewing while we prepare to invade the continent.

All in all, the dev team has done a fantastic job and this update is the turning point.

You're either going to love it or hate it within the first few hours.
This is probably the most pure and actual "game-in-which-you-play-a-role;" in the last two decades.