This game is one of the best Adventurer Style Total War Games that is really underappreciated. The battles are interesting because of landmarks that give powers - so you end up fighting over strategic locations - and AWESOME concept missing from many games. The generals have powers that are useful and fun and make for interesting decisions. The economy and management is not a major part of the game, but enough. Is it an RPG? Not really as I understand it in gaming terms. I'd say more a Choose Your Own Adventure if anyone remembers those books. This is not a critiscism - just realigning expectations. The choices tend to feel like they matter. The alignment system is very interesting, and again feels like it matters and you can choose. I wish more games felt like the overall "story" that unfolds in this game beginning to end. Games that evolve a good story and sense of cause and effect are always better. And I love the battles! NOTE: The KA2 follow up is really disappointing. It held promise but just never felt the same and too much focus on "improving" battles for basically no gameplay gain.
