Rome: Total War

Rome: Total War (and Barbarian Invasion Expansion)

Overview
Rome: Total War is the latest game in the Total War series, made by Activision. Set around 2,000 years ago, the aim is the usual, simple one: conquer the world. Players may choose to lead many historic nations/civilisations to victory (although the starting nation is Rome, one must unlock other nations by either destroying that nation in a campaign, or by cheating - like me).

Gameplay
Gameplay in Rome: Total War is very much like gameplay in the previous Total War games - there are two 'views'; the Campaign Map and the Battle Map. The Campaign Map is turn-based - this is where the 'strategy' bit of the game comes in - one must plan, build, train and move units/buildings accordingly. When enemy units are attacked, or cities besieged, the view switches to the Battle Map.

Battles
Battles take place within set locations. These locations are unique, and are determined by the location of one's army on the Campaign Map. For example, if an army is located by some mountains on the Campaign Map, any Battle here will be located near some mountains. This new style of play makes the Battles all the more interesting and innovative, enhancing gameplay.

2,000 years ago, battles were a bloody and (bloody) gruesome affair. In Rome: Total War, that is also the case. Entire infantry armies may be crushed by a single horse charge. Rome's enhanced engine allows for blood and dead bodies to be shown on the battlefield. The ability to zoom-in on the battle gives the more bloodthirsty gamers amongst us the ability to view the painful and merciless deaths of their enemies' men/women (the Germans have female warriors, in addition to males).

The beginning of a battle allows each commander time to organised his/her army on the field, allowing for tactics to be planned beforehand. The fact that units are controlled in battalions means that more units can be controlled - allowing for the massive battles that Rome: Total War was designed for.

Units
Rome: Total War supports a large number of different units, ranging from the Carthaginian Armoured War Elephant, to the Brittonian Chariot, to the Roman Urban Cohorts. Each civilization/nation has different types of unit, depending on the type of nation (e.g. barbarian nations like Gaul do not have ordered troops - Rome does).

There are several unit types: Light infantry, Heavy infantry, Pikemen, Light Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry, Missile Infantry, Missile Cavalry, Dogs/Pigs, Siege Weaponry. Each unit type has strengths and weaknesses, e.g. Pikemen can slaughter Cavalry, but are vulnerable to missile units.

The Germanian Berserker, one of the most powerful Heavy Infantry units in the game.

This unit has the ability to go "beserk" (hence it's name), which will drive it into an unstoppable rage - causing the berserker to exhibit bloodlust at its worst, and become a most fearsome killing machine.

Spies, diplomats and assassins may also be trained, although they may not be used in the Battles - they are used only in the Campaign map. One may also acquire Generals (who are royal members of the nation). These Generals are accompanied by an elite escort of heavy cavalry, and are a crucial element of one's army. Soldiers in an army may become demoralised and may try to desert, Generals help to boost morale and keep soldiers going.

Editor
For those of you that manage to complete all the 'historical campaigns', and manage to conquer the entire world with every playable nation, there is the "Editor" feature. This allows players to create their own set-piece battles (no campaign map editor, unfortunately) as any nation.

City Management
Cities must also be managed - Rome: Total War is not just for commanders and warmongers, but for tyrants and dictators too. Players that capture a new settlement may have the option of enslaving its occupants or simply exterminating them. Health, Public attitude, Trade, Defences and Diplomatic relations must all be managed and administered. This is certainly not a game for lazy people, or people hoping for a 'brain-dead' approach to gaming.

Multiplayer
Rome: Total War also allows for great multiplayer battles. Settings are easily configured for the battle (such as weather, settlement types and terrain), and a money (Denarii - the Roman currency) limit may be set, to ensure that the cheaper players amongst us do not simply fill their army's ranks up with elite, fully-upgraded Beserkers (or Armoured War Elephants!).

Two Roman families (blue: "Scipii", green: "Brutii") wage war

If you don't have Rome: Total War, then go out and buy it! It is an excellent game, that I have enjoyed very much. I am also looking forward to playing Medieval 2: Total War, which is due to come out soon (and picks up from the fall of the Roman Empire).

Thomas Lohse · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Articles: 6 Comments: 8

Looks like a cool game but i belive it also has some pretty high system requirements I think the last i saw.