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Shinida

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#1 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts

Hey,

I've always been interested in Total War games, but have never bought one. I am considering to buy my first Total War game, but my computer will not be able to run the upcoming Shogun 2 Total War. The other ones will run fine on my computer.

I was wondering which Total War game you might recommend and why?

Thanks,
Shinida

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Dark4ever01

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#2 Dark4ever01
Member since 2004 • 321 Posts

From what I've heard Rome Total War is pretty much the best one. I'm also new to the series as I bought Empire & Napoleon a couple of weeks ago but I haven't really played them. Are you sure your PC can't run them?

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Shinida

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#3 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts
Sorry that was a typo. I can run Napoleon perfectly, so the others will be no problem.
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Kinthalis

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#4 Kinthalis
Member since 2002 • 5503 Posts
If you can run Napoleon you can run shogun 2. My favorite total war was definitely Rome. Just the right amount of complexity. Also the campaigns were excellent and offered up real challenge. It looks dated now though, but the gameplay is solid. Medieval two was also great, but some of the aspects if gameplay were more tedious than they should have been. I hope in shogun, the interface makes it easier to manage a large empire.
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Agent_Kaliaver

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#5 Agent_Kaliaver
Member since 2004 • 4722 Posts
Rome was a complete blast. I have just spent way too much time playing that game and while I have gotten Medieval 2 I just haven't been able to play it as much (Of course it does have a sweet Warhammer and LOTR mod). Now if you want to go really old style Total War then get the original Shogun. It is a completely awesome game, but is way more simple than anything since Rome.
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magnax1

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#6 magnax1
Member since 2007 • 4605 Posts

If you can run Napoleon perfectly, you can probably run shogun 2. My favorite is Napoleon, mostly because of the time period. Medieval 2 is probably the most polished.

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Vendayn

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#7 Vendayn
Member since 2004 • 732 Posts

What time period do you like? Did you like the Roman era? Then Rome Total War is perfect for you. Want a bit more Medieval approach? Then Medieval 2 Total War. Want a Total War with guns and more modern? Then Empire Total War. Love Samurais? Then Shogun 2 (and probably Shogun 1 as well, but 2 will replace it, or is supposed to) coming out soon is great.

My personal favorites are Rome Total War (my personal favorite of Rome Total War...love that time period) and Shogun's time period is great as well. Medieval 2 is contender for second place for me...probably tied with the Samurais. All three time periods are good for me, just depends what part of history you like. Personally not a big fan of Empire Total War, but mostly because the time period doesn't interest me. Though naval combat is awesome.

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Shinida

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#8 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts
I'm interested in all the eras. Probably the one I'm least interested in is Shogun, which is why I'm considering to not wait for the upcoming one. Rome seems to be a winner, but I'm just not sure how I feel about the graphics since they look to be a bit dated, where as I can play something as visually appealing as Napoleon. However I heard the campaign in Napoleon was pretty limited, and I've never been a real big online strategy guy myself.
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James161324

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#9 James161324
Member since 2009 • 8315 Posts

The best game imo M2TW.

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LedzZ

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#10 LedzZ
Member since 2011 • 25 Posts
+1 Medieval 2 Total war + Kingdoms expansion is the best imo.... but i havent played the Napoleon yet..
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Shinida

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#11 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts
Kinda wish they were making anything but Shogun II right now, because Shogun II looks extremely nice graphically, I guess we just have to wait for the reviews.
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PurpleMan5000

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#12 PurpleMan5000
Member since 2011 • 10531 Posts
I enjoy Empire the most. It's the most ambitious. The only thing I really dislike is warfare with the Native Americans. It's completely unrealistic to have the Natives fight in tight line formations. The natives should have been much weaker, and acted as rebels that constantly respawn outside of your territory. Also, it is way too easy to just eradicate the pirates in the first few turns.
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EzekyleAbadon

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#13 EzekyleAbadon
Member since 2010 • 1391 Posts

Either Rome or Medieval 2 Gold Edition(The xpac is really worth it). If you get Rome you have to download the Stainless Steel mod, if you get Medieval I would propose the Third Age mod

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thespywholied

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#14 thespywholied
Member since 2008 • 3358 Posts

Rome ( The best)

2) Medieval 2 ( Awesome and it isnt as old as Rome)

3) Empire Total war ( The biggest one of them all, this has the Americas , Europe and India making it the biggest map yet. Be warned though as it has bugs)

4) Nappy ( Have not tried as i own Empire)

Shogun 2 looks like its going to be a all new breed.

Asian fighting style looks very different to European.

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JackBurton

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#15 JackBurton
Member since 2002 • 3808 Posts

Rome: Total War - Complete

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sinpkr

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#16 sinpkr
Member since 2010 • 1255 Posts

rome rome ROME!!! its awsome

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m25105

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#17 m25105
Member since 2010 • 3135 Posts

Total War: Shogun is awesome, bit dated though.

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kozzy1234

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#18 kozzy1234
Member since 2005 • 35966 Posts

Shogun1 and Napoleon are my favs, but you honestly cant go wrong with any of them (:

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thespywholied

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#19 thespywholied
Member since 2008 • 3358 Posts

Britannica: Total War would be very nice.

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Allicrombie

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#20 Allicrombie
Member since 2005 • 26223 Posts
I did like Rome, even though its the only one I have much experience with.
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vicsrealms

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#21 vicsrealms
Member since 2003 • 2085 Posts

I was a huge fan of the original MTW. MTW2 was a nice addition to the series although, I really haven't had time to get into it because it is pretty limited compared to ETW. Didn't really like RTW a lot, but then that has never been my favorite time period for warfare. ETW if it wasn't so buggy and the AI wasn't strange at times it would be the best in my opinion and currently the one I play more often then not. NTW was alright, but it is kind of a smaller version of what ETW should have been...although the AI is as strange as the AI in ETW. I am really looking forward to Shogun 2. It would be really nice if CA would get into the bring out the whole world into the game, or better yet break into Koei area and bring out a Three Kingdoms TW.

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V_Rapt0r

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#22 V_Rapt0r
Member since 2004 • 25 Posts
Rome Total War is my favorite because of the way the soldiers interact while they're fighting. They actually fight and it's a faster pace than Medieval II Total War. In M2TW, they just kind of run up against each other and no one dies for like 3 minutes and all your guys are just kind of backed up and not fighting at all. Also in Rome Total War you can view your settlements with people walking around, which you cannot do in M2TW. That being said, it's kind of sad for me because the medieval time period is my favorite period. And while the graphics in Medieval II are awesome and a lot better than Rome, the actual battles in Rome are much better, and the strategic map is much easier to navigate. Overall, Rome Total War is a more polished and fun game, while Medieval 2 just looks better graphically. I have not played Napolean or Empire so I can't really comment on them. I think the overall consensus though is that Rome is the best Total War to date. Unfortunately it's graphics are a bit outdated now.
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Shinida

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#23 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts
So difficult, Rome seems like the best, but also one of the oldest. Medieval II seems also great, but graphics and environments aren't comparable to Empire or Napoleon. When I look at videos from Rome and Medieval II the environments look so boring, with scattered trees, but Empire seems to really change the environment of the map.
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XaosII

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#24 XaosII
Member since 2003 • 16705 Posts

Rome is probably the easiest to get into just because its impossible to lose playing as the Romans. They are so incrediably overpowered its riduculous. Theres ablsoltely no sense of realism in the game, especially considering (and i've tested over and over) how a single group of 32 soldiers can take down over 400 peasants. However, its a good introduction into the series. Its heavily focused on melee infantry combat. Not much archery or cavalry combat.

Medieval 2 ups the realism alot and having a 2 kills to 1 death ratio is actually an awesome fight. Theres a much bigger focus on cavalry and archers. Theres alot more detail and stuff you can do in the campaign map.

Empire and napolean are strictly ranged combat. Napolean has a bigger focus on cannons than Empire. Some people dont like Empire/Napoelan quite as much because of the huge shift in mechanics from the previous series. Combat is slow and methodical but totally chaotic at the same time!

I've put well over 100 hours into each of them and i can appreciate each for their unique strengths.

My opinion? Try the demos of all of them. Start with Rome. it has the simplest mechanics. See if the graphics in the demo are acceptable for you. Move on to Medeival and see the change in mechanics and realism. Then try the Empire demo. Dont just ask us - try it for yourself!

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Shinida

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#25 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts

Rome is probably the easiest to get into just because its impossible to lose playing as the Romans. They are so incrediably overpowered its riduculous. Theres ablsoltely no sense of realism in the game, especially considering (and i've tested over and over) how a single group of 32 soldiers can take down over 400 peasants. However, its a good introduction into the series. Its heavily focused on melee infantry combat. Not much archery or cavalry combat.

Medieval 2 ups the realism alot and having a 2 kills to 1 death ratio is actually an awesome fight. Theres a much bigger focus on cavalry and archers. Theres alot more detail and stuff you can do in the campaign map.

Empire and napolean are strictly ranged combat. Napolean has a bigger focus on cannons than Empire. Some people dont like Empire/Napoelan quite as much because of the huge shift in mechanics from the previous series. Combat is slow and methodical but totally chaotic at the same time!

I've put well over 100 hours into each of them and i can appreciate each for their unique strengths.

My opinion? Try the demos of all of them. Start with Rome. it has the simplest mechanics. See if the graphics in the demo are acceptable for you. Move on to Medeival and see the change in mechanics and realism. Then try the Empire demo. Dont just ask us - try it for yourself!

XaosII
Anywhere I can find a demo?
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PurpleMan5000

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#26 PurpleMan5000
Member since 2011 • 10531 Posts
You really can't go wrong with either Rome Total War Complete or Medieval 2 Total War Gold. Both are $10 on steam, and those games are both so well done that if you are interested enough in them to want to try a demo, you will enjoy them.
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Shinida

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#27 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts
You really can't go wrong with either Rome Total War Complete or Medieval 2 Total War Gold. Both are $10 on steam, and those games are both so well done that if you are interested enough in them to want to try a demo, you will enjoy them.PurpleMan5000
yeah I saw that, and that's a very good point. I guess the thing I'm mostly considering is Empire, but will probably just wait out until Shogun if it gets equally good reviews.
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XaosII

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#28 XaosII
Member since 2003 • 16705 Posts

Anywhere I can find a demo?Shinida

Steam should have demos for them. If not, then right here on this site:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/download_6105478.html?sid=6105478&om_act=convert&om_clk=files&tag=files%3Bdownload%3B7

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/download_6159550.html?sid=6159550&om_act=convert&om_clk=files&tag=files%3Btitle%3B8

I think the Empire Demo has to gotten from Steam. Empire/Napolean use Steamworks.

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PurpleMan5000

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#29 PurpleMan5000
Member since 2011 • 10531 Posts
[QUOTE="PurpleMan5000"]You really can't go wrong with either Rome Total War Complete or Medieval 2 Total War Gold. Both are $10 on steam, and those games are both so well done that if you are interested enough in them to want to try a demo, you will enjoy them.Shinida
yeah I saw that, and that's a very good point. I guess the thing I'm mostly considering is Empire, but will probably just wait out until Shogun if it gets equally good reviews.

I know that a demo for Empire was available on Steam before the game released, and it probably is still there. I would definitely try the demo before purchasing because a lot of people have trouble running that game on machines that shouldn't have much trouble.
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Shinida

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#30 Shinida
Member since 2006 • 2256 Posts
thanks guys. downloading demos now.
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thekodaman

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#31 thekodaman
Member since 2006 • 1733 Posts
Vanilla Rome: Total War was okay but I found it unchallenging in general. It's expansion Barbarian Invasion however was quite the opposite when playing as the Western Roman Empire which is incredibly hard as for the first quarter of your campaign at least you're left managing a constant cycle of economic decline whilst holding off just about every faction in the game. Challenging stuff and I'm pleased to say I spent (wasted?) at least a hundred hours playing that expansion.
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Cruse34

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#32 Cruse34
Member since 2009 • 4468 Posts

Medival 2 holds up very well. But Rome has a stronger AI.

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shakmaster13

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#33 shakmaster13
Member since 2007 • 7138 Posts
Medieval 2 with Kingdoms is the best. The mods just make it even more epic.