This game is good, but I recommend to buy HOI 2 Doomsday and also the Armageddon expansion. It will then surely get you caught in many, many hours!...

Hearts of Iron 2 is the greatest strategy game of all time. It is not without flaws, and the learning curve is notoriously steep, but the reward of taking the time to learn is one of the deepest and grandest games ever made. Get Hearts of Iron II: Complete to get the best experience, with both the expansion Doomsday and the booster Armageddon included. The virtues of this game include all but eliminating micro management. This is not a speed clicking contest, like other supposed 'strategy games,' this is real strategy, with the management of the economy of an entire nation; the production and deployment of troops at the divisional level, and the leadership of that nation through the deadliest conflict in Human history. Among the only shortcomings of the game are the naval combat system, and the aforementioned learning curve. Navies, which while less important than land or air forces is still a hurdle for the new player. Watch your navies carefully if you want to keep them. As for the learning curve, play the tutorial for the basics -- it might not be necessary in other games, but this one demands it or you'll never get past the first year of the game. There's always the forums for the other things you don't know. Lastly, make sure you have a year of your life to give to this extremely replayable game!

Make no mistake: this is the best grand strategy game ever. The amount of detail is just enough to keep you entertained and learning for hours and hours. The learning curve is very, very steep- but once you learn the mechanics, you can probably conquer the world with cuba. You can play as any nation in the world during WWII, each with its own leaders and policies. The research mechanic in this game is top notch, being simple and intuitive, while not holding your hand throughout the game. But the best part about this game is the fact that you can go through WWII historically pretty much without fail; that, or you can start in 1936 and kill everything in your path from the beginning. It's your choice.

This would have to be my most favourite game of all times.Worth every cent, have spent hundreds of hours playing this game and it is still interesting and fresh.

This game is one of my all time favourites. I have spent more time having fun with it then any other game I have ever bought. It is a game you need to learn on your own without to much help from the tutorial.

Don´t buy this game. The tutorial is too vague and poorly written to follow - especially in the Advanced Warfare portion which is essential.