Bollox to Spore, gimme Empire: Total War

[friznit]

[img size=400]http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article ... 353946.jpg[/img]

I'm a diehard Total War fan, ever since the early days of Shogun, then the first Medieval foray around Europe with charging knights and castle sieges, followed by the staggering revamp to Rome that brought a 3D campaign map and burning pigs, and I still play the Medieval 2 regularly. These games have a wonderful mix of grand strategy and realtime tactics that make them much more engrossing than a conventional RTS. Creative Assembly also have an uncanny ability to genuinely improve the series with each release. I've always lamented though that there has never been an attempt at the Napoleonic era, which is one of my favourite periods of history.

So it's not entirely surprising that I'm more than a little excited by the latest installment, Empire: Total War, which spans the 17th and 18th centuries. They've reportedly made significant additions to the AI and linked the campaigns and battles themselves more coherently. Oh, and there's sea battles as well now.

There is a short write up and some screenies on IGN. Release schedule for Feb 09.

[buzzmong]

[img size=400] Creative Assembly also have an uncanny ability to genuinely improve the series with each release.

If you say so.

/thinks M:TW2 wasn't a patch on the first and it gives the rage on the stratergy map with the pieces taking ages to move.

[Lexy]

significant additions to the AI

My favourite addition in the last TW game was the one that made the puter players march up and down in random directions while you filled them full of arrows.

The siege tactics the AI used are awesome too ... the whole ... stand there and die ... it really caught me off guard.

Totally understand how persons can like Total War ... I keep thinking I like it till I play it. Strategy map becomes stagnant like an MMO grind, multiplayer gameplay is balanced like a big kid on a see-saw and it really just ends up being all Matrix-trilogyish ... I would like it to be good, but it's just pretty to look at.

[friznit]

If you say so.

/thinks M:TW2 wasn't a patch on the first and it gives the rage on the stratergy map with the pieces taking ages to move.

Press space, they move faster.

I'm perhaps looking at it from a different perspective since I long ago installed an 'Ultimate AI' patch which is pretty fun and challenging to play against. I've certainly not witnessed any of the things you mention.

Not sure what you mean by the campaign becoming an MMO grind. Admittedly towards the end game when you are supremely powerful and everyone else is insignificant it can get a bit monotonous mopping up the last few regions. But the addition of a proper strategy layer makes the series much more rewarding than your average linear RTS. I guess I just like the added complexity in games. I find my attention span in most FPS's short lived for much the same reason.

Anyway, I'll be keeping a close on this one and will review it when the time comes, for those who might be interested in something that a bit different.

[Nicketal]

^This

Really looking forward to empire provided there are AI improvements.

What is this, AI Patch you speak of though? Sounds good.

Does it work for battles only or will it stop the mongols randomly walking off into the desert for 10 turns then coming back too?

[friznit]

Ultimate AI v1.3 available here

Details can be found here

[Nicketal]

That does sound interesting.

Cheers m'dears

[buzzmong]

Press space, they move faster.

That they do, but they still take a fucking age to move after pressing space.

At least Medieval 1 had them zooming around, made for MUCH faster end of turns.

[Dog Pants]

I'm rubbish at strats, but I always liked the strategic element of the Total War series. Similarly with Star Wars Supremacy. I could always skip the fighty bits if I was really shit.

[buzzmong]

Similarly with Star Wars Supremacy

Utterly amazing game, and one of the best star wars one's to boot.