It’s always great when you find a new gaming addiction in a genre you never thought you would. As someone fairly new to the world of Victoria 3, I can tell you that it was extremely difficult to step away from a campaign. Once you manage to follow the faintest thread of what’s going on in this intricate simulation, it becomes a world you can’t escape from. Furthermore, the new additions of Sphere of Influence make it the perfect time to jump into Victoria 3 to lead your country to victory or lead it to bankruptcy; it’s up to you.
Intricate Global Economics
When I heard about Victoria 3, I couldn’t fathom how deep its economic and political systems were. It was only when I played my first campaign that I realized how intricate this simulator was. Also, it isn’t just a simple simulator that leads you to a historically accurate scenario. It’s the complete opposite. You can pick any country out there and take them through “what if” scenarios and change the course of history. And while the intricacies of every feature of Victoria 3 are fantastic, Sphere of Influence adds many more. On top of that, while great, it still doesn’t make the onboarding process much easier.
A New Course of History
If you’re playing Victoria 3 for the first time, you should know that you’re the one who makes the story. You have a few objectives you can pick to achieve victory. It’s up to you to decide which road you want to take. Anyone with even the slightest knowledge about their country can alter key historical moments. Whether it is by passing laws, helping an interest group, or declaring war on everyone, you are in control. Victoria 3 gives you a magnifying glass, and you decide whether you want to point it at the sun to burn everything or pursue a different path.
Yet, Victoria 3 finally adds an objective with a more narrative approach in Sphere of Influence. The Great Game, the DLC‘s new game mode, puts players into the conflict between Russia and Great Britain as they compete for influence in Asia. You can pick any of these countries or stick to the smaller ones as you try to remain independent. While only the involved countries enjoy the new content, others can see the effects of this event through the campaign.
In a way, The Great Game feels like the perfect point to start enjoying Sphere of Influence as it encourages you to use many of its new systems, like Power Blocs. Beyond that, this campaign makes me hopeful to see more “narrative-driven” objectives, including different countries with new sub-goals. With a period as rich as the one Victoria 3 tackles, Sphere of Influence serves as the cornerstone for exciting game modes and intriguing campaigns for future updates.
An Intricate Simulation Web You Can’t Escape From
Whether you’re playing for the first time or returning for a dozen-hour campaign, know this: Sphere of Influence doesn’t make the gameplay of Victoria 3 much easier. This will be a boon for some and a bump for others. For the former, which applies to veteran fans and experts in the genre, it is good to know the DLC improves the intricacies of the game while preserving its difficulty and permutations. However, the expansion doesn’t make the onboarding easier for anyone, which might deter new players.
I won’t lie to you: I had difficulty getting into Victoria 3. Not because it was bad but because it is extremely challenging to understand. Even after the long tutorial, many systems remain buried. It’s up to you to see how far you want to dig to understand it all. While I pushed through it all because I wanted to save my country from going into bankruptcy, many might not have the patience to see every thread of this tapestry.
On the other hand, those who’ve been waiting for opportunities to roleplay as a new country’s leader, take their favorite nation to war, or just establish a new Power Bloc will find it all in Sphere of Influence. Power Blocs, being my absolute favorite, allows you to create an influential group with a specific goal. Even if someone doesn’t want to join your group right away, there are many ways to make them do it. Yes, a few options aren’t as peaceful as one might think.
Beyond that, the new Foreign Investment mechanics or the plethora of new things you can do with your subjects are amazing and a dream come true for any fan of Victoria 3. If you felt some features were missing from the game at launch, I can assure you the developers have made up for them. You’ll find many more hours of enjoyment in trying these new mechanics in multiple scenarios.
Victorian Beauty
Victoria 3 keeps bringing the beauty of this time period in Sphere of Influence. While the base game already boasts fantastic visuals in its map designs, journal entries, and events, the DLC improves it all. Those with keen eyes will recognize the new additions quickly. Newcomers will find one of the smoothest UI designs in the genre that makes navigating both easy and charming. Also, the performance issues that many complained about months ago are gone. Or at least, I never experienced one. My playtime was smooth and never crashed or had any sort of frame drops.
Even if the visuals are something I applaud, the audio design is something I can’t get enough of. One thing I’ve always found contrasting, in a good way, is how my heart can be racing due to watching my money disappear while having ballroom-like music in the back. How Victoria 3 captures the Victorian era style beyond its gameplay aspects is amazing. All of this translates into an immersive experience where you truly feel like a pivotal part of this era.
A Promising Road Ahead
With a few technical issues at launch for Victoria 3, the initial experience might’ve not been the best, but Sphere of Influence fixes most of it. While the DLC enhances most of the gameplay elements, there are some that still need work, especially the onboarding process. Even if some consider Victoria 3 a niche game, an easier or more streamlined tutorial would attract an even larger player base. On the other hand, this huge DLC will be the dream of many veteran players.
Still, this is the perfect time to join Victoria 3, regardless of how familiar or unfamiliar you are with the genre. It feels like a complete version with all the new additions. Furthermore, the player agency this game provides is second to none. Once you learn the ropes of every system, you’ll find a historical playground like no other. Hopefully, this will be the first brick in a wall full of worthy updates. Because even if I’m not the most expert ruler, I can’t wait to learn even the slightest mechanic of this deep political simulator.
Victoria 3: Sphere of Influence (PC Reviewed)
Victoria 3: Sphere of Influence feels like the definitive way to play this simulator. Veteran players will feel at home with the new additions, while newcomers will find a fantastic starting point in this intricate world.
Pros
- Every new feature enhances the already in-depth gameplay systems
- The Great Game is a fantastic campaign to pursue
- Power Blocs are a game changer for many countries
Cons
- The onboarding process might still deter some from playing the game
