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1It might have been enough if this series had awesome gameplay (and nice bits of hidden humour), but it is also well known for having some inspired and very captivating soundtracks.
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3[[AC:Europa Universalis II]]
4* The very idea behind this soundtrack is genius in its simplicity: It's ''nothing but period music'', with each century the game takes place in being represented by a set of songs and/or musical compositions from that era. Some of the finest European and worldwide period music artists and ensembles contributed to the soundtrack with music from their own past albums. Without further ado, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bLm7-cEyAA have a listen]]. Why yes, the whole soundtrack is ''two and a half hours long''. Not bad for a game published back in 2001.
5* For better orientation in the various tracks, [[http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?200626-Music-List here's a listing]]. Unfortunately, back when the game was developed, the devs accidentally mislabeled some of the songs chosen for the soundtrack from existing period music albums. Thankfully, [[http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?137238-Im-Maien-lyrics this discussion thread]] set the record straight on some of those mislabeled names of the songs.
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7[[AC:Europa Universalis III]]
8* After the simple but more experimental approach of the second game's soundtrack, Creator/ParadoxInteractive hired composer Andreas Waldetoft to work on the music for the third game. Let's just say [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4DEF72408C390DF7 the results were well worth it]]:
9** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxR-XdJo2cA Conquistador]]", the menacing but justifiably ''epic'' main theme of the game.
10** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cCB7nrhaKE A Cruce Victoria]]" probably takes the cake when it comes to an interesting build-up and near-cinematic melodic qualities.
11** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sKHYaMLl5A Para Bellum]]", a sweeping moody choral piece which starts with a slow instrumental build-up, and reflects both its title ("Prepare for war") and the nautical/maritime themes present in the game.
12** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-rG8pD6iK8 Battle of Damascus]]" is an unabashedly dramatic wartime theme.
13** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmoiFNpWmpg Discover New Land]]" brings out some Age of Sail exploration atmosphere and the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwY1Oj9qMQ Swashbuckling Privateers]]" theme caters to your seafaring and piratey needs...
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15[[AC:Europa Universalis IV]]
16* To promote the game, [[AscendedMeme they made]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clau80YFtg4 this]].
17* Though the third game's soundtrack was in many ways a ToughActToFollow, Waldetoft [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2_QPP3jkeV_PWWWm7BehT3id7sAkxrL did his his best]] to prove again why he's Creator/ParadoxInteractive's key composer.
18** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9yzenyI7_0 "The Voyage"]]", the main theme of this installment. Watch a live performance of it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99_qehhZUds here]].
19** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYmL-i6fIyU The Snow Is Coming]]", one of the finest of the calmer themes on the soundtrack.
20** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycl0vpbMfWw Ride Forth Victoriously]]" couldn't be any different, as it's a highly dynamic orchestral and choral piece running from beginning to end at breakneck speed and with great intensity.
21* In a tip of the hat to the third game's music, several themes from its soundtrack make a return in ''EU IV'', [[RearrangeTheSong though in rearranged form]]:
22** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxR-XdJo2cA Conquistador]]" (''EU III'') -> "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJkeTFGPMI The Stage is Set]]" (''EU IV'').
23** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sKHYaMLl5A Para Bellum]]" (''EU III'') -> "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtCTMv0g-PU The Stonemasons]]" (''EU IV'').
24** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwY1Oj9qMQ Swashbuckling Privateers]]" (''EU III'') -> "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z3sCLlP1JE Discovery]]" (''EU IV'').
25* The ''[[http://store.steampowered.com/app/327830/ Guns, Drums and Steel]]'' [=DLC=] gives a metal bend to five of EUIV's themes:
26** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2MyD8PkO9I The Voyage.]]
27** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFTp6po0cns Battle Of Lepanto.]]
28** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds6_5Ad-YOw King's Court.]]
29** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MCjOyR9gcQ The Stage Is Set.]]
30** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29h3IMVPDD4 Ride Forth Victoriously.]]
31* The ''{{Music/Sabaton}}'' Soundtrack music pack puts several songs from the band in the game, primarily from their ''Carolus Rex'' album. It's pretty fitting.
32* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKFSfqnsrR0 March on Granada]], perfect for when your armies are marching to war.

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