An immense battlefield is spread before you, the grass blanketed with
soldiers in rigid formations. Your men are gathered behind your sword
awaiting your command. Archers, cavalry, spearmen and more clutch their
weapons knowing they could die in mere minutes. With the click of the
mouse you order them to unleash hell on the enemy. Swords clash, arrows
fly and the melee ensues. What looks like a chaotic medieval battlefield
is actually two cunning minds attempting to oust each other. One of
those minds is yours.
Medieval II: Total War is a turn-based war strategy game that puts you
in control of a massive medieval army. Its surprisingly detailed
environments force you to rely on strategic wit rather than brute force,
thrusting the power and responsibility of a respected leader onto your
shoulders. Its epic presentation combined with detailed gameplay make it
feel like a playable movie complete with medieval soundtrack.
Tactics, Not Force
Medieval II: Total War is a game of detailed nuance and strategy. You
face a foe on the battlefield who controls an army much like your own.
He may have more warriors to send after you, but perhaps your archers
are in an advantageous location? Every battle is unique and you have to
use your wit to outmaneuver the enemy.
Moving your units and timing attacks are a big part of your strategy in
Medieval II: Total War . You can't just select everyone and send them
into the fray. Instead, consider the terrain, the formation of your
opponent's army and what units he has available. Plan and mount an
intelligent attack by setting your formation and flanking your foe. Or
maybe driving a wedge through the center and taking out the emperor is a
sound tactic? Leaderless soldiers lose their morale and are likely to
flee, giving your archers a clean shot at their retreating backs.
Units in Medieval II: Total War have detailed strengths and weaknesses
you must learn to exploit. For example, horse-bound cavalry are
excellent choices to send trampling towards the opposition, and
seemingly weak peasants can easily overwhelm more powerful foes with
their larger numbers. It's these subtle points of knowledge that will
lead to your victory or result in your defeat.
Medieval II: Total War does an excellent job pulling you out of the real
world and setting you down in medieval Europe. The visuals, while a
little chunky in areas, are impressive and filled with stunning detail.
Thousands of moving objects can be on-screen at once, including arrows
hissing through the sky and soldiers engaging in individual battles.
Calling it breathtaking is a massive understatement, and thanks to a
smooth camera system you can zoom in and watch everything as if you were
there. Without the fear of battle scars, of course.
Conclusion
Medieval II: Total War is a complex game of middle age war strategy.
It's filled with authentic detail that will make any history buff or RTS
fan grin with pleasure. The learning curve is rather steep, but the time
you put into the game will pay off tenfold in the end. Medieval II:
Total War is an unbelievably epic experience that will blow you away.
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