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Best RTS After AoE

Customer Rating:
After playing Shogun: Total War, I moved into Age of Empires. Don't get me wrong that Empires is probably one of the best PC games available to normal humans, but it grew tiring destroying the same things over and over, and before I knew it, I had found myself in a gaming rut.

That's when I stumbled onto Rome: Total War on one of my late-night Amazon expeditions. At the asking price (around $15), how could I say no?! I rushed home from work 2 days later and installed it immediately. What I found was gameplay similar to Shogun, but with new features, armies, and a whole new experience. For those who are "history buffs" such as myself, you will find an appreciation in the developers ability to describe history without sacrificing much accuracy in favor of gameplay. And for those who are looking for a brutal, violent recreation of a scene right out of Gladiator or 300, you can always go to "Custom" or "Quick Battle" and get your kill on in about 5 minutes. I will admit that some controls take a little getting used to, as well as an understanding of unit abilities and basically learning the ropes in the Art of War, but you'll be literally stuck to your computer for atleast 4 hours at a time, and considering that the in-game helpers (Marcus and "Lady" as I dubbed her) are more than willing to assist you in affairs of combat and state, you will pick it up in actually no time at all.

As a student of war (Army), I enjoy military history as well as battlefield tactics. And while this is 100% perfect, its about a 99.5 in my book. The ability to move certain troops and to launch ambushes, flank maneuvers, and counter-attacks made me feel just like Hannibal or Patton. There's literally nothing more satisfying than using light infantry and shock cavalry to lure your enemy into a dreaded double-envelope or to see them run in terror at your General or your ferocious wardogs.

Buy this game.

Great Campaigns, Great 3D battles.

Customer Rating:
In Rome: Total War, you play on 2 maps. The Campaign Map, and the Battle Map. I haven't tried Barbarian Invasion yet, but I do enjoy Rome without it so far. That said, what I say here may be inaccurate if you install Barbarian Invasion.
In Rome, you play as a Roman Faction: the Julii, the Brutii, or the Scipii. You have to order the production of buildings, units, and fortresses. You build armies as you go around and conquer settlements, and defeat enemies. The battles on the battle map are really fun, incorporating strategy with sheer force. The graphics are not bad, but in the Battle Map, if you zoom in enough, you really know the people are fake.Rome has a good tutorial and easy enough controls.(Come on, It's just clicking mostly) The time I do find myself frustrated is when it loads the battle map. (It may take up to Half an Hour on my computer, but no more than that) But in the end, the battles are good enough to keep me playing. Also, you will definitely be challenged in this game. I dont care how much experience you have had with RTS/Empire Builder games, this is a challenging game. You can negotiate with rival factions, assassinate generals, and spy on armies and settlements. Multiplayer, has much to be desired, however. Really, you shouldn't get this game for the multiplayer.

Pros:
-The game is a challenge, and doesn't get boring for a while, definitely good replay value
-Involves lots of cunning/strategy
-Battles are fun on Battle Map
-Very involved game

Cons:
-Multiplayer and Random Battles are boring
-No 3D Battle Maps at sea
-Long time to load

Great.

Customer Rating:
RTW Gold Edition is a great gaming experiance. With epic battles and great graphics it depicts the rise of Rome. With its expansion it delivers an awe inspiring invasion of Barbarians and the fall of Rome. Overall a great gaem, and it got here before it was supposed to !

Total excitement, Total Immersion, Total War!

Customer Rating:
Four years hasn't dulled the majesty of this game.

My graphics card recently bit the dust, and I'm stuck with a weak chipset. So, while waiting for my new card, I was looking for an older game my system could handle.

I'm a big fan of MEDIEVAL II: TOTAL WAR, so I decided to give its older brother a spin. Good choice.

Although the graphics are starting to date. (Though they're still impressive.) The game play hasn't. Like M2, this is a game you can play over and over again and only scratch the surface. It's both edge-of-you-seat exciting and intellectually deep. A combination rarely found in today's games.

And its forgiving system specs make it a good choice for an aging system, or a laptop.

This is one of those games you'll play for hours upon hours, and remember for years. Buy with confidence. This is a top gaming experience.

Incredible Games

Customer Rating:
As a 61 year old gamer and historian who started with Avalon Hill games as a teen, I find RTW and Barbarian Invasion to be supremely satisfying. You haven't lived yet until you have fought three separate Hun armies between turns and win with just your one Roman army. Especially intriguing when two of their armies attack simultaneously and you have to defeat one quickly and wheel your army about to face the second coming from your rear. Yes, horses were terrified at the sight and smell of elephants as attested to by the writings of Ammianus Marcellinus, the late 4th Century Roman chronicler and soldier who fought against Persian elephants.