Total War...Best one?

Ok, Steam has Medieval II: Total War for 5 Bucks...But, is it worth it? Is the new one that much better? Should I buy this or a different version?

Thanks!!!

Adam

 

Sweet. Thanks for the headsup.

 

There's really no "best one" between them, it all comes to player's preferences. If you enjoy medieval wars with swords and shields you could either try rome total war or medieval total war (medieval is a bit modern tho, and the game has way better graphics). While empire total war has mostly guns and cannons fights. I enjoyed the medieval battles a bit more, were more interesting and required more skill to play it imo, but the naval battles on empire makes it worth it, also better graphics and more complicated.
I suggest you try them both tho, you will not be dissapointed, great series.

 

Medieval II is a good buy. IMO, Empire TW is the best one. At first I didn't like it, but the Naval battles and the new Research mechanism has grown on me.

 

Shogun Total War = the best..... when is this available on steam... i want it.

 

If bitmapped sprites are your thing...

 

i bought empire a month ago but i just cant seem to get into it.
i was a total fan of rome and medieval2 though.

 

5 bucks? Get it.. its great. I've heard alot of bad things about Empire though, so why not just get medieval 2

 

I have played Medieval 2 and Empire. I prefer the Empire style of fighting, really its a case of pick your preferred historical era. If you aren't fussed about that get the latest most refined Total War which would be Empire. You know if you pre-purchase Napoleon Total war you get Medieval 2 free.

 

I can't wait for Napoleon TW.

 

I've had Empire since release, and it's kind of an off and on deal. It's fun sometimes, but others it's just plain boring. It is definitely a blast if you have a few friends to play with online though.

Never played Medieval, downloading it now. $5 weekend ftw.

 

I'm in the middle of a Medieval II game right now, actually, playing as the English. I've only played Rome and M2, though, so I can't compare with Empire.

Medieval II is a good update, in that some mechanics were made a bit smoother, it looks better, I think the AI is a bit better (maybe that's just my perception), and the cannon units are fun, if you can afford to lug a few with you into battle (especially fun to use in a siege). The distinction between army-building castles and economy-supporting cities was a brilliant move by the designers. However, some of the new features aren't that great - merchants are a lot of work to squeeze out an extra few pennies to fund your armies, and the pope is just obnoxious - you can't play England or any other Western European civilization and not get excommunicated, throwing half your cities into revolt. In Rome you can fight whomever you want, so long as you pay attention to alliances.

The one thing I miss the most about Rome is the diversity of your armies. They are more diverse from civilization to civilization, and within each civilization as time progresses. In Medieval, other than gunpowder units, most civilizations keep the same set of unit types throughout the game, and all Western armies are pretty much the same.

They're both great games, and if you like strategy (or history), you definitely need to try one. $5 is a great deal for the amount of entertainment you'll get out of it.

 

Empire has a demo on steam, you can play a land and a sea battle (on a small scale though).

I think I prefered Medieval's style to be frank. I haven't actually played Empire apart from that demo but it had a really grindy feeling with just rifle shots and cannon fire, non of the fast paced sword and cavalry feel.

I assume that the map screen is better for Empire though, and Medieval can become somewhat of a grind on the map screen as it is pretty repetative at points.

If you like the battles i'd go for Medieval, if you like trade and diplomacy go for Empire.

 

Is Napoleon TW an expansion, or a whole new game... how is it different from Empire?

Also I did buy Medievil II yesterday 5 bucks is just to easy...

 

Well, historically, the Western armies weren't all that diverse. It was whatever the barons could muster together at any given time.

 

Empire is awesome. its funny to see thousands (got it maxed) of soliders charging then stopping a few hundred feet only to shoot each other, if ur done with that you can make them melee, hell of a lot of fun defending forts, i wonder how urban warfare wouldve done since cities can get pretty big lol,most battles are on open fields.


what really gets me is the sea battles! ITS AWESOME, huge boats carrying hundreds of men shooting cannons! oh man its epic to see 10 ships against 10 and the different sinking and blowing up and damage graphics, its gorgeous! i love it.it can be a mess and mirco managing if u really want to win, but if u just watch its fun too, different angles and all,

 

Yeah, the Naval battles are gorgeous.

The water was especially well done and realistic.

 

OMG YES! my first TW experience was with Shogun, then Rome, idk but Rome to me is the best one(even if I have only played the above two TWs haha)

 

Will the last mission involve losing the Battle of Waterloo or becoming the emperor of France?

 

you mean emperor of Europe. wow what a play if that happened, and Germany won WW2 and Russia Invading the US xD

i dont know how they would seem to do Modern Wafare Total War, its not about numbers anymore but about pin point precision

anyway TW Medieval is awesome esp with mods my bro just showed me, id give it a spin, AFTER a few rounds at MW2

 

Caveman: TW?

Caveman 2: TW - The Day after Tomorrow (Post-WW3 nuclear apocalypse TW) :laugh:

 

Nah man. The next logical step is to update Rome TW with Rome 2 TW. The engine itself was so ahead of its time. You add in some custom skins by an artist by Ferris and you'll know what I'm talking about.













Keep in mind this is under the old Rome TW engine!!!

This artist is a legend in the Rome TW modding community.

More Screenshots here
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1180156&postcount=2523

The Greek faction mod screenshots are here.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=46617

 

The first total war game I ever played and the one that got me hooked. Still my favorite.

I would really like to see a Shogun 2 and a Rome 2 update.

Just checked the Steam site- they offer a "Mega Package" for $89.99 which includes Empire, all Rome and all Medievil 2 games... very tempting.

 

Medieval 1 is the best of the series, followed by empire.

 

For some reason, I loved the Shogun Total War but never got around to play Rome and Medieval. Played a bit of Empire but decided it wasn't for me :/

 

I just bought Rome: TW Gold off Steam for $10. Darn Brittons just won't stop attacking! I'm hooked on it, again! The last time I had to stop playing because my computer died and I didn't have the patience to build up my armies/cites all over again....this time = Total World Domination!

 

I like how in empire you don't have to worry about money as much... it seems in all the previous games medieveil, rome, etc. I always ran out of money, but in empire I dont....

 

Looks amazing. Thanks for the heads up.I'm going to download the mod when I reinstall Rome. Are there any issues with installing mods?

 

Someone fancy me this. How can you tell which TW game is the best when you haven't even played all of them?

It's like saying when asked what cars have the best driving experience, you answer, "Well, I've only driven cars up to the 1950s and I have to say the 50's are the best..."

 

Medieval 2 Total War is GREAT I just can't stop playing it
anyways i heard that Empire Total War was poorly optimized is it true?? if so, how will it run on desktop(spec in sig)?
Or should i just wait till Napoleon Total War??

 

That's why I didn't answer.

The mods look really sweet. Wonder if they are a pain to install.

 

Empire TW does still have some small issues, mainly to do with crashes from the sound files.

Rome TW mods are easy. copy the text files over along with the new textures.

I think it was starting with Medieval 2 that modding became more complicated. They moved the settings files over to a binary format.

 

Sweet, thanks. It looks like multiple mods, (assuming different factions) won't affect each other.

 

Multiple mods sure won't affect each other. It just makes it harder to install because you gotta cut and paste the information manually for any mods after the first.

But essentially these mods are just texture replacements. And they look friggin ridiculously awesome.

 

Medieval II for $5 is a steal. get it.
Get the Kingdoms expansion and with the best mods (like Stainless Steel and Third Age) you have gaming for years.

And Shogun 2 is a no-brainer, still don´t understanda why wasn´t launched yet.

 

I know the deal is over now but I have to laugh at questions like this. You are getting advise for a game that costs as much as a large latte that will last you 5 minutes. LMAO it's $5!!! AND there's a demo to boot. Gah, you people.

 

I didnt like any TW games until empire.
Im saving up for a gaming PC just so I can play napoleon total war at home, not at the cyber cafe!

I dunno, it seems empire needs more tactics, and I love gun warfare, swords and arrows are OK, but muskets and cannons and way more fun!

 

Shogun was the best one but I'm only saying it because of nostalgia.

 

Hah, I always run out of money in Empire. Maybe, you're playing on a too easy difficulty and with a large country like Russia or the UK. Even then, you have to spend a ton of money on improvements. Armies and especially Navies if your a sea power are incredibly expensive.

Right now, I'm playing as the Dutch, real glad Britain is an ally otherwise I'd be screwed. I'm spending like 8K separately a turn on my Navy and Army fighting the French and Spanish. Luckily I have maxed out all of the trading sea posts in the Dutch Indies...but even then.

 

Playing as the Brits is ez.

And don't play it on Normal. Normal is way way too easy cause the AI never builds a strong enough navy. All the AIs can be easily defeated by building a navy and raiding all their trade ships.

 

I agree with this statement...However, I regret many of my $5.00 game purchases because I should have probably saved my money for a $30.00 game I actually wanted

 

okadam111 has a good point, but M2TW is definitely worth the $5 if you are at all into strategy. I've only played M2TW and RTW, and found both about equally enjoyable, and well worth buying. Might get ETW once it's cheaper - still haven't played Alexander: Total War, so don't need to buy Empire yet.

Graphically, M2TW is better than Rome, but it doesn't thoroughly outclass RTW. Switching back and forth between them is smooth from an eye-candy point of view.

My guess is Napoleon will someday be released along with Empire in a joint package, as Alexander was with Rome. A ways off, of course, but something that might save money in a few years.

And although bitmapped sprites are my thing, I've yet to try Shogun: Total War.

 

Yea see I don't spend so much on navies - navies can't capture cities

I have 1 medium sized fleet with 2nd and 3rd rate ships, that patrols around and delivers invading armies. Mainly I have built up very strong land armies. I am in year 1780 ish I believe, so my tech is almost maxed, and no one cant withstand the might of my battle lines on the ground! I rake in about 25k each turn (after expenses) and my outgoing cash flow is around 45-50k I believe for upkeep etc. I control UK (obs I am UK) All of the French territory, the dutch territory all of spain, most of north africa, the carribean, florida, lousiana, the northern territories montreal, etc. just made a expiditionary invasion of India (Maratha Confederacy is actually putting up a good fight!) I have alliances with the U.S., Poland-Lithuania, and good relations with Austria in Europe while I focus on the America's and India. Poland has benefited greatly from our long alliance (over 30 years now) and has expanded westward considerably, against Russia (though russia is still huge) I think my impending war with them will be a lot of fun and have begun to amass armies on the border. I plan to invade with 5-6 years, once I have a strong foothold in India. Oh I also forced some minor nation into being my beotch protectorate. I plan to follow history and in 1812 break my alliance with the U.S. and invade in Washington MUHAHAHAHA little do they know

Fun game though, naval battles are to complicated for me so I just auto-result them all when they do (rarely happen)

 

Wow lol, then again the British has a pretty easy time and all. Thing is the Dutch need navies since I've literally got pockets of territories all over the world lol. And I can't really ferry troops half way across the world being at war with France and Spain. And those damn pirates in the Carribean, thought I got rid of them but they rebelled and took back the windward islands! Plus, I have France trying to take Flanders from me and Hanover on my doorstep. Bother, why doesn't Britain do something besides declare war against Spain and France and just sit there with a few navies lol...

Also, if you want an even easier time than the british, play as the Martha Confederacy lol. All you have to worry about is land battles, and there's no European powers to stop you. I was able to take over all of India and most of the Middle East really quickly. Didn't even have a single navy until like 100 years into the game haha...

 

all total war is great... and can be made greater by getting some customized mods that are out there...

google for some total war mods.. there's a ton out there... and some looks amazing!

 

Prolly why Maratha is such a headache now, they've had like 80 years sitting in India just building land armies... no matter they will fall

I played as the dutch once, but almost was immediatly destroyed, my only territory was that one place in Europe The Netherlands. France war dec'd me like 5 turns in, and 2 large armies sieged me. was able to hold out like 10 turns, but with no money coming in eventually I was down like just a few badly depleted units and the city fell..... seems like they are tough to play but yea I didn't start with any "pocket" territories elsewhere??/

 

Id have to say Rome: TW was the best followed by Medieval 2. if they would remake these with a polished naval battle system with boarding parties ect. perhaps even allow you to scuttle a tireme,quinqirime,galley ect on a beach and use its crew as a makeshift land force in dire situations. i might never be seen by the world again.

Shogun(mongol) and Medieval(Viking invasion) were ok but i was glad when they eleminated the way your pieces move across the board. It was too easy to find a bottleneck and hold it off till u built up several army stacks to destroy the opposition in one charge.

Empire has me a little off with the bugs and cookie cutter troop types. im waiting for the modding community to finish the product that obviously should have spent a lil while longer to develop. I havent gotten to play with Napoleon but my gut says its going to emmulate empire on a less grand scale.

As ive mentioned in a similar thread theyre quickly moving toward a WW2 and modern total war game. it will be intresting to see if they do.

 

Total war games are all pretty good... but you REALLY need to use mods on most of them. Rome Total War is probably the "best" of the classics because it has the most mods (and personally I prefer the more diverse armies and styles over medieval 2.... and they f-ed up the engine in medieval 2 in a variety of ways that I won't get into here)....

Get Rome Total War and install the Rome Total Realism mod (or europa barbarborum if you want to go real hardcore)... it's heaven

 

I always loved the ninja animations in Shogun TW