This game combines elements from just about all previous Paradox titles. The perfect mix between CKII, EU4, Vic2, HoI4.
Except that it isn't.

The elements it ports over are bare bones.
-There's individual characters and their relations with others in your nation (but never foreign) like in CKII, but there's no control over them other than some instant click-to-win interactions via events.
-There's ruling a nation and steering it towards growth and prosperity, but there's no depth. It's only click-to-win buttons via spending mana. There's only 4 types buildings to build ever and trade goods/income is barely influencable.
-It has pops like in Vic2, but there's next to no growth, no way to influence them, no mobility -unless- you actively press mana buttons to do so. Want to assimilate? There's a mana button for that. Sure you could change the governor's policy for the region so that they'd slowly assimilate over time, but you incur tyranny for that! Imagine that; telling a governor, appointed by you- following you, what to do makes you a tyrant.

And that just brings me to the biggest problem with Imperator: Rome; The ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ mana.
Mana isn't a new concept for Paradox games and hasn't been without it's controversy. I myself didn't mind the addition of mana to EU4 when it first came out, it was handled relatively well and didn't feel like a burden or a hamper on many things.
In Imperator: Rome however, things are different. It's a waiting game. 90% of player actions require mana. Some mana points are used literally EVERYWHERE (I'm looking at you, Oratory Power) whilst some are barely used at all (Military? Religious?)

And since the mana buttons are always, all of them, instant click-to-win buttons, the game turns into a waiting game. There's no more strategy or tactics in this `Grand strategy´ game. It´s sitting on your butt waiting for mana to pile up. The sources of these mana points are static too. They´re based on your ruler and there's next to nothing you can do to add on to those points. EU4 had a variety of perks and bonusses to increase or decrease mana income. Imperator: Rome has none of these.

This is not a game that 'combined elements of previous games'. This is EU: Rome (Another, ancient paradox title) remastered. And by remaster I mean literally just reskinned, without MUCH needed gameplay changes.

But of course, by taking a look at their other successful titles in the past, this could just be a ploy to sell actual good parts of the game as 20 dollar DLC down the road (Looking at you EU4, CKII). On top of the 40 for a broken base game.

All in all, I do not recommend. I won't condone these kind of business practices.

This game combines elements from just about all previous Paradox titles. The perfect mix between CKII, EU4, Vic2, HoI4. Except that it isn't. The elements it ports over are bare bones. -There's individual characters and their relations with others in your nation (but never foreign) like in CKII, but there's no control over them other than some instant click-to-win interactions via events. -There's ruling a nation and steering it towards growth and prosperity, but there's no depth. It's only click-to-win buttons via spending mana. There's only 4 types buildings to build ever and trade goods/income is barely influencable. -It has pops like in Vic2, but there's next to no growth, no way to influence them, no mobility -unless- you actively press mana buttons to do so. Want to assimilate? There's a mana button for that. Sure you could change the governor's policy for the region so that they'd slowly assimilate over time, but you incur tyranny for that! Imagine that; telling a governor, appointed by you- following you, what to do makes you a tyrant. And that just brings me to the biggest problem with Imperator: Rome; The goddamned mana. Mana isn't a new concept for Paradox games and hasn't been without it's controversy. I myself didn't mind the addition of mana to EU4 when it first came out, it was handled relatively well and didn't feel like a burden or a hamper on many things. In Imperator: Rome however, things are different. It's a waiting game. 90% of player actions require mana. Some mana points are used literally EVERYWHERE (I'm looking at you, Oratory Power) whilst some are barely used at all (Military? Religious?) And since the mana buttons are always, all of them, instant click-to-win buttons, the game turns into a waiting game. There's no more strategy or tactics in this `Grand strategy´ game. It´s sitting on your butt waiting for mana to pile up. The sources of these mana points are static too. They´re based on your ruler and there's next to nothing you can do to add on to those points. EU4 had a variety of perks and bonusses to increase or decrease mana income. Imperator: Rome has none of these. This is not a game that 'combined elements of previous games'. This is EU: Rome (Another, ancient paradox title) remastered. And by remaster I mean literally just reskinned, without MUCH needed gameplay changes. But of course, by taking a look at their other successful titles in the past, this could just be a ploy to sell actual good parts of the game as 20 dollar DLC down the road (Looking at you EU4, CKII). On top of the 40 for a broken base game. All in all, I do not recommend. I won't condone these kind of business practices.