Poll: Which Total War?
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I wanna be part of the chorus too!
Get Rome: TW!
If not, Empire seems the best pick from the list: even in plain vanilla the scope of the game is just EPIC- nothing quite like fighting in America, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Sub-Continent all at the same time while trying to maintain your trade routes in Africa, South America and South-East Asia.
Get Rome: TW!
If not, Empire seems the best pick from the list: even in plain vanilla the scope of the game is just EPIC- nothing quite like fighting in America, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Sub-Continent all at the same time while trying to maintain your trade routes in Africa, South America and South-East Asia.
Medieval 2 is the best in the series IMO, if you can cope with the slightly dated graphics. It has scope and variety, but at the same time it has most of the features that the series accumulated through time. It has also aged fairly gracefully and plays well even today.
Shogun 2 has the most refined mechanics and great presentation, but lacks the scope of earlier games in the series, as well as variety in playable factions. Namely, you get to play the Japanese, with the actual differences between the clans being microscopic for the most part. However, the it's a well crafted experience that I'd put in second place.
Empire has some cool concepts, but the ranged combat it focuses on works poorly in the game's engine. Also, there are some cases of poor balance in the campaign (England, Spain and France getting their colonies automagically, Maratha always winning in India and becoming borderline unstoppable, etc.), but it's still a solid game, especially if you are interested in the time period. I'll put it in 3rd place.
I'm sure a lot of people in this thread will say Rome, but by this point the game is showing its age. It feels a bit featureless compared to the later entries in the series and the graphics are quite dated. However, it was the best Total War game at its release and is wort taking a look. I'll let it share 3rd place with Empire.
Shogun and Medieval are VERY dated by now and are both superseeded by their respective sequels. They should only be considered for nostalgia or historic value.
Napoleon is poop.
Shogun 2 has the most refined mechanics and great presentation, but lacks the scope of earlier games in the series, as well as variety in playable factions. Namely, you get to play the Japanese, with the actual differences between the clans being microscopic for the most part. However, the it's a well crafted experience that I'd put in second place.
Empire has some cool concepts, but the ranged combat it focuses on works poorly in the game's engine. Also, there are some cases of poor balance in the campaign (England, Spain and France getting their colonies automagically, Maratha always winning in India and becoming borderline unstoppable, etc.), but it's still a solid game, especially if you are interested in the time period. I'll put it in 3rd place.
I'm sure a lot of people in this thread will say Rome, but by this point the game is showing its age. It feels a bit featureless compared to the later entries in the series and the graphics are quite dated. However, it was the best Total War game at its release and is wort taking a look. I'll let it share 3rd place with Empire.
Shogun and Medieval are VERY dated by now and are both superseeded by their respective sequels. They should only be considered for nostalgia or historic value.
Napoleon is poop.
Gah. For all the people who demanded Rome, I put it up there, but apparently the site ate that part of the poll...
I'd say Medieval 2 of the ones listed. It has the biggest variation in terms of factions, and with some of the mods out there it is incredibly varied.
Rome is a very good game and well worth a try. I can easily look past the graphics, but a new comer might not do so well. Which is a shame because in terms of campaign, Rome is hands down the best one.
It very neatly avoids the late game lethargy that Total War games can suffer from.
If you like the period, Empire and Napoleon are worth a try, but with the combat being mostly focused on ranged warfare, the battles can feel a little less exhilarating.
Shogun 2 is a great game, but as someone pointed out, all the factions feel pretty similar.
Rome is a very good game and well worth a try. I can easily look past the graphics, but a new comer might not do so well. Which is a shame because in terms of campaign, Rome is hands down the best one.
It very neatly avoids the late game lethargy that Total War games can suffer from.
If you like the period, Empire and Napoleon are worth a try, but with the combat being mostly focused on ranged warfare, the battles can feel a little less exhilarating.
Shogun 2 is a great game, but as someone pointed out, all the factions feel pretty similar.
Rome
Shogun
Medieval II
Empire
Can't stand Empire's land battles, I find them incredibly boring.
Shogun
Medieval II
Empire
Can't stand Empire's land battles, I find them incredibly boring.
Get them all, they are pretty cheap. you can get he whole lot of them for 17 bucks Except for Shogun Which is only 25, thats still only 42 bucks.
I just picked up Rome and Medieval the other day. Playing Rome now and one huge point in its favor are the load times. Like 15 seconds. Shogun 2 can take up to 2 minutes just to get to the title screen and then loading between battle and campaign map isn't much better. Aside from that if your into the genre get them all.
I just picked up Rome and Medieval the other day. Playing Rome now and one huge point in its favor are the load times. Like 15 seconds. Shogun 2 can take up to 2 minutes just to get to the title screen and then loading between battle and campaign map isn't much better. Aside from that if your into the genre get them all.
If I had to choose one it would be medieval 2. Half the enjoyment comes from which era you are interested in. Personally I would say the older games are more enjoyable eg before Empire.
Worth a look (along with the many other great mods): http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=314
Worth a look (along with the many other great mods): http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=314
Medieval 2: Total War with the Stainless Steel mod is absolutely sublime and by far my favourite. That said Empire gets too much flak, I enjoyed it immensely and the sight of hundreds of line infantry all firing at once amid clouds of smoke and the booming thunder of canons is jaw-dropping.
Still, Medieval 2, amazing.
Still, Medieval 2, amazing.
Rome, with the Roma Surrectum (The Rise of Rome) mod.
[EDIT] Someone mentioned the crappy graphics, and the end-game goal of defeating the two opposing factions (3 if you include the Senate I suppose). The mod I mentioned completely redoes the entire game, adds a bigger map, historically accurate units (including numbered and named Legions later on), makes Rome a single unified faction (much better) and gives the whole thing a complete graphical overhaul. Easily puts R:TW at the top of the Total War table again.
[EDIT] Someone mentioned the crappy graphics, and the end-game goal of defeating the two opposing factions (3 if you include the Senate I suppose). The mod I mentioned completely redoes the entire game, adds a bigger map, historically accurate units (including numbered and named Legions later on), makes Rome a single unified faction (much better) and gives the whole thing a complete graphical overhaul. Easily puts R:TW at the top of the Total War table again.