This is an incredibly detailed game with a host of features and some of the best game-play ever created. It is divided into an overview map screen which features turn-based strategy gaming and individual battles featuring real-time strategy gaming. This clever blend makes Rome: Total War a genuine leap forward in the genre. The same split was apparent in former Total War titles but for Rome they completely overhauled the turn-based map screen and created something with far more options, depth and visual quality.
On the map screen you can cycle through your cities and queue up troops or buildings to construct. There is a wide range of buildings available in an expanding menu which grows as you develop. In order to succeed a careful balance between economic development and military development is required. You can also construct a wide range of troops and all the options are historically accurate and include information about their abilities and purposes. You can collect troops together under commanders and lead them to attack opposing armies or siege rival cities by clicking on them on the overview map. Once they arrive and battle is due to commence you enter into the real-time strategy portion of the game.
After a brief load a cut scene introduces each battle and with your commanders rousing speech out of the way you take command of the troops. Each of the battlefields is extremely detailed and you can zoom in and out and spin around for any view you desire. The scale is fantastic and battles can involve thousands of units.
The tactical depth is extremely satisfying and use of terrain, troop formation and timing are all vital components if you want to win a famous victory. The AI is drastically improved over previous iterations and will give a decent challenge on the higher difficulty settings. As well as open battles between opposing armies you can lead attacks on cities using a range of siege equipment, although a good commander can hold a city with far fewer numbers if he uses his troops wisely.
The main campaign is an epic challenge in which you have to conquer 50 provinces including Rome itself. Different factions usually have additional cities that they are expected to hold. Once you conquer a nation in the game that faction becomes available to you from the main menu so you are not limited to playing as Roman factions and the other nations offer a completely different challenge which is fantastic for replay value.
Your faction is ruled by a family and members of your family develop personality traits, skills and weaknesses which you can check via their individual report card like screens. Maintaining a healthy family is another necessary task if you want to claim victory. This is a game with real tactical depth and it offers countless hours of game-play.
