Generic topic name because I couldn't think of anything else.

Anyway, my first Total War game was Shogun 2. Only bad thing about it, in my opinion, was the abundance of DLC. I later got Medieval 2+ Expansion, and decided I liked it as well, but that Shogun 2 had taken out some things that annoyed me.


Without going into too many specifics myself, I just want to know why, aside from the abundance of DLC issue I have with it, Rome 2 is so hated. I see a lot of generic comments about it losing the "Soul" the previous game had, but no specifics. At least from people who rag on me for playing it occasionally. I've even had a friend recently refuse to speak with me anymore because I enjoyed it, which is crazy.


Personally, I think it's pretty alright. I got it from a friend, though, as a gift, and was pleasantly surprised. I see how it's less complex than Medieval 2, but I don't necessarily mind all that much.


Anyhow, off to finish learning Sword of the Stars so I can play co-op with my brother.

Remember, be civil and have fun.

Sorry for not staying on the Rome 2 topic, but I have to say Medieval 2 is an amazing game. It is also the most recent Total War game I've played, all I know is that old guys like me tend to have extreme dislike for Empire on up.

You need a basis of comparison. Ever notice how old timers complain about cars these days, yet young people don't seem to have a problem with them? Same thing with games. If you began the Total War series with Shogun 2, then I'd have to say you're missing out on some truly great games earlier in the series... particularly Rome 1 and Medieval 2. Even the first Shogun and Medieval are great games, even if the battle engines are a bit dated now.

Rome 1 had great mods, a beautiful map, a fun family tree to play around with, and great control in the 3D battles. The AI was pretty weak, but the AI had always been pretty bad in all the TW games.

You can get Rome 1 and Medieval 2 for pretty cheap now. I recommend you go back and play the older TW titles. You won't regret it. If anything, you'll gain the appreciation that older gamers have for what those games had that they've lost over the years.

I did mention I already have and quite enjoy Medieval 2...

I especially like the Third Age mod. I also got Rome 1 in a humble bundle and just haven't played it yet.

I have so many fond memories of Rome I, especially of the Julii family I was in charge of. So many beautiful things happened in that little game that Rome II can only fail, it's doomed to fail, no matter how well it is done. The only thing that would have been a good Rome II would have been the exact same game with better graphics and some settings that the user can change to tweak the game or leave it like the predecessor.

Why do games always try to reinvent the wheel and in doing so leave out parts? That's the one thing I liked about Blood Bowl, they included the original Tabletop Ruleset, a tweaked setting and an action mode for people who hated turn based games. How wonderful, why don't the other companies try that for a change?

Preferred Rome 1 and Shogun 1 to be honest, although Napoleon was supposed to be the best (maybe more polished) of the current crop?.

Give Rome a try. It's still awesome. If you do, I'd recommend a couple of mods to play around with. One is the EB mod, arguably one of the most historical mods, with units, leaders, and even audio dialogue done in original languages. The other is Roma Surrectum. RS is simply greatness. It takes Rome to the limits of what's possible. HUGE battles and better AI.

Here's a faction trailer for RS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q7UMwm4vmw

Definitely try out vanilla Rome. But once you have, give a few mods a try, especially Roma Surrectum. It's everything Rome 2 should have been.

Rome 2 AI is worse than before and CA's map designing skills seems to be lost.
I think it has really nice new mechanics crippled by really poor execution.

World map is niceish, units models are great, city developpement interesting, what else ?
So far the mods I tried are not satisfactory to my tastes (they are geat but not what I expected so far).

No offense as Shogun is a great game BUT Shogun 2 refined that game play in EVERY way. EVERY WAY! I can understand Rome is by far a better game than Rome 2 but Shogun is just a dated heap compared to its sequel.