The first thing that Cossacks veterans will notice is that while much is familiar, the game "feels" a bit different this time. Indeed, it's hard to escape the impression that the game's big new feature, "Battle for Europe" was inspired by the success of Rome: Total War. The Battle for Europe is a turn-based gaming mode played out on a map of Europe divided into territories. Each territory, of course, provides men and material that the players will use to fuel their imperial ambitions. Every turn the player gets an opportunity to move their army around, to go to market to buy and sell needed resources, and to use the diplomacy screen to negotiate agreements with other regions -- everything from getting permission to move troops through to buying their allegiance outright. They may also receive "missions" within the game from other countries that can provide badly needed resources or other rewards.

In their position as commander-in-chief, players will also take on the identity of a famous military leader of one of the great powers of the era. Personalities available include the Duke of Wellington, Prussian Marshal von Blucher, and, of course, the Little Emperor himself, Napoleon Bonaparte. As the game begins, you'll gain control of these historical figures at the start of their career. As such, they won't have much ability, rank, or recognition. As players bring Europe under their iron boot, though, their generals will grow in skill and reputation, adding to the sophistication of the forces they're able to lead (and adding things like engineers, cavalry, and eventually, artillery).