Medieval 2: Total War

Richard_Rahl · 03-01-2007, 05:41 PM

Medieval 2: Total War

By Richard_Rahl

At first, I want to tell you that this game is quite a complex one (compared to most other games of the RTS genre). It's a matter of diplomacy, keeping your relations with the pope on a respectable level (Catholic factions only), making sure your citizens are happy, and of course the militairy stuff. So it is definitely not in "Style Command & Conquer".
Yet, it is a graphically brilliant game, and well balanced. Nowhere in the game, an opponent faction is basically stronger. Every (dis)advantage of factions is made with the others in mind.
What I like so much, is that a lot of information about your relation with the pope and other factions, your royal family,etc. is centralized in 1 window. Besides that, at the beginning of each of your turns (only the battles are real-time), important information is being provided. Think about birth/death of your family members; alliances, truces and wars that have been changed or created; changes in your relations with other factions;etc. Yes, indeed is "your" family important in the game. A son growing up becomes a general, princesses can establish a marriage-alliance with foreign princes and nobles, and so on.

MUSIC ETC
Something very well, is the music. Sometimes, it is simply breathtaking (is that a word?). It gives the game an excellent atmosphere, and it will never bore you.
The graphics are excellent, even on a pc with a G-force 6 card (I have a G-force 6200 SE myself).
Until the add-on "Kingdoms" is being released this autumn (= fall in Am. English), you unfortunately can't control your reinforcement armies.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to install the patch to solve some minor issues (you can download it on this website). Yet, the game doesn't feel like unfinished.

PROMOTION

Let me give you a piece of advice. Some of your battles are better being played without a general, because of two reasons:
1. Your general might die, making the chances smaller for having victory (and a new generation of Royals)
2. Captains might be knighted when they are succesful, which will result in promotion to a general (generals usually have better command and thus establish higher morale in your armies)

But I think you should simply try the Gold demo (that is the most elaborate demo available), and buy the game if you like its style (else you should choose a build-an-army-and-fight RTS like C&C: Tiberium wars).

Well, I will stop writing now and go play with the Holy Roman Empire (= "Medieval Germany") again!

Graphics: 9.8
Sound: 10
Gameplay * : 9.8
Replay : 10

* = how the game is being experienced by the player