Rome 2: Total War

[gregathit]

Based on the battles and campaign map features I have seen from the various vids being posted I can't see how this could possibly go wrong.  With regards to a game being a sure thing, I think Rome 2 is as close as you are ever going to get.  Has anyone seen the vid that had the city expansion that "actually" did expand the city in real time?  I about fell out of my chair.  There were even slums growing up outside the city walls.  I am really pumped about this game coming out.  I haven't looked forward to a game this much since the original command and conquer game....

[ChancellorKremlin]

As something of a history buff seeing the Ptolemies fighting from chariots was a bit of a turn off. I also don't like the map view which is Shogun 2 in style, and while your radar map seems like you have a huge area to play with, what you actual see in game seems a little cramped and the cities a little too big. 

 

Other than that, it seems solid.

[Astaroth-Lite]

Yeah, the Egyptians in Rome: Total War were changed so that there could be a non-Roman and non-barbarian army that isn't yet another Hellenistic Greek phalanx-fest even though that would be closer to what the Egyptian army was like at the time. It's not historically accurate, but Creative Assembly does understand that.

[Angrybird]

DLC already? Really? This is why I rarely pay more than 10€ for a game anymore.

[DoctaSax]

Phalanxes make for boring gameplay; that's one area where historical accuracy can take a back seat to sheer enjoyment.

As a fan of the Rome TV series, I hope CA also makes good on the promise of having some use for the women in terms of intrigue etc. And ffs, let's have assassins who actually know how to kill from the get-go this time, eh?

[windpl]

Phalanxes make for boring gameplay; that's one area where historical accuracy can take a back seat to sheer enjoyment.

As a fan of the Rome TV series, I hope CA also makes good on the promise of having some use for the women in terms of intrigue etc. And ffs, let's have assassins who actually know how to kill from the get-go this time, eh?

 

I actually waiting for that more than fighting part. Plotting and scheming in senate :>

[Astaroth-Lite]

Phalanxes make for boring gameplay

 

Not to mention that they're easy to counter if you have some cavalry and some expendable infantry.

 

Super-easy if you have some kind of artillery piece.

[ChancellorKremlin]

 

Phalanxes make for boring gameplay

 

Not to mention that they're easy to counter if you have some cavalry and some expendable infantry.

 

Super-easy if you have some kind of artillery piece.

 

 

In vanilla RTW they are. Play any of the modded games (EB, IB, RS) and they're almost invincible both from the front and behind. My problem with some of the vanilla content is that a lot of units are completely overpowered. One of the RTW II videos showed an artillery piece firing one projectile and wiping out an entire century of soldiers, which is totally unrealistic.

 

Then there was another with the Chariots, and again, four chariots ran over an entire century, with men flying up and around by various meters.

[gregathit]

 

In vanilla RTW they are. Play any of the modded games (EB, IB, RS) and they're almost invincible both from the front and behind. My problem with some of the vanilla content is that a lot of units are completely overpowered. One of the RTW II videos showed an artillery piece firing one projectile and wiping out an entire century of soldiers, which is totally unrealistic.

 

Then there was another with the Chariots, and again, four chariots ran over an entire century, with men flying up and around by various meters.

 

 

Hopefully this will be fixed in the next 2 months.  If they are far enough along to have the bulk of the game made and can concentrate on the mechanics of combat, then theoretically they should be able to resolve issues like these.  They already stated they are working on revising the Rome 1 flying animation to something more realistic.  Many of the animations were placeholders and not the final deal according to another interview, so again the completed game may be vastly different.

 

While the chariots would indeed break up the ranks of a Roman unit as they passed through, this would only be an issue if a follow up charge of cavalry or infantry was behind the chariots, as the Roman units would reform rather quickly with their high level of training.  I think I read somewhere that they knocked the soldiers down to simulate the disorganization and that many of them would get back up rather than actually be dead. 

 

We can only hope that the vanilla game will properly balance realism with fun game play.  If it doesn't then good ole' Darth Vader will jump in and fix it for them. 

 

I sincerely hope the guys who make the unit editor program can create the tool pretty quickly, as I almost never play any of the Total War games in their vanilla states.  I just can't help myself when it comes to tinkering with things to add challenges to overcome. :lol: :lol:

[Astaroth-Lite]

 

Then there was another with the Chariots, and again, four chariots ran over an entire century, with men flying up and around by various meters.

 

I suppose it all depends on how many chariots you have.

[nonusnomeni]

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/06/total-war-rome-ii-review

all in all BIG disappointment

[gregathit]

I have to laugh reading articles like that.  They are so seriously full of shit that it boggles my mind that anyone would hire that jackass to write the review.

 

The "highly touted" original Rome TW was just as big of a mess on release, as was all of the games between Rome 1 and Rome 2.  Creative Assembly, like Bethesda, can't seem to spit out a completely polished game to save their lives, HOWEVER they are pretty damn good at producing a very good framework that modders can perfect.  CA is already turning out their DB files to modders, as well as helping unlock files and settings, which is something they didn't do for 6 months to a year in previous releases.  They are well aware of their strengths and what the community does better.  

 

While it may be sad that modders have to fix the game to unlock its full potential, at least the "ability" to do so is there.  One can't complain too much to a company that is willing to cooperate with its fans.  

 

As to unplayable, sounds like the writer doesn't know jack shit about computers, that or he has a POS.  I was able to play the game with no graphical issues and no crashes.  I had all settings on their highest levels and breezed through with very good frame rates.  My computer is a gaming computer, but other than my graphics card (650 gtx) it is 2 years old.

 

The potential is there for Rome 2.  One of the most annoying things about the original Rome TW game was the late game army spamming, they resolved that in R2, and with modders like Radious and hopefully Darth Vader having at the AI, it will blossom into its full potential.

 

The one thing I would agree with the author on is unless you are a die hard TW fan, wait for a steam sale to get it.  If you are a die hard fan then you regularly tinker with files anyway with PFM (which is out by the way) so many of the issues can be resolved with a few adjustments and tweaks.

[windpl]

I have to laugh reading articles like that.  They are so seriously full of shit that it boggles my mind that anyone would hire that jackass to write the review.

 

The "highly touted" original Rome TW was just as big of a mess on release, as was all of the games between Rome 1 and Rome 2.  Creative Assembly, like Bethesda, can't seem to spit out a completely polished game to save their lives, HOWEVER they are pretty damn good at producing a very good framework that modders can perfect.  CA is already turning out their DB files to modders, as well as helping unlock files and settings, which is something they didn't do for 6 months to a year in previous releases.  They are well aware of their strengths and what the community does better.  

 

While it may be sad that modders have to fix the game to unlock its full potential, at least the "ability" to do so is there.  One can't complain too much to a company that is willing to cooperate with its fans.  

 

As to unplayable, sounds like the writer doesn't know jack shit about computers, that or he has a POS.  I was able to play the game with no graphical issues and no crashes.  I had all settings on their highest levels and breezed through with very good frame rates.  My computer is a gaming computer, but other than my graphics card (650 gtx) it is 2 years old.

 

The potential is there for Rome 2.  One of the most annoying things about the original Rome TW game was the late game army spamming, they resolved that in R2, and with modders like Radious and hopefully Darth Vader having at the AI, it will blossom into its full potential.

 

The one thing I would agree with the author on is unless you are a die hard TW fan, wait for a steam sale to get it.  If you are a die hard fan then you regularly tinker with files anyway with PFM (which is out by the way) so many of the issues can be resolved with a few adjustments and tweaks.

 

I have myself few issues with R2.

- CO-OP campaign de-synch (since fucking empire)

- They promised intrigue, there is no such thing in game.

- 1 turn 1 year is baaaaaaad. My generals are dying like flys ;(

- AI diplomacy is dump as fuck. I conquered almost all of some german tribe, they had only 1 province left - so they send envoy with peace proposal in which they demand money from me... Sure I'm filthy rich, but come on rly?

- Navy is useless. My land army on transport ships is better than any navy... And they got free ships woho!

[gregathit]

Windpl,

 

As I stated before, most all of the things you are calling issues (and I would agree with all of them) are things that can be resolved by modders using the PFM tool to change the files.

 

Someone has already added 4 turns per year as well as started tweaking the AI.  Additionally Radious has adjusted naval units to be stronger than transport ships.

 

I am fairly certain that intrigue can be implemented as the core for jockying for power is there.  CA just did their usual half-assed attempt at it and let it for modders to fix.

 

The only thing that can't be fixed by modders is the multiplayer and coop campaign.  I am pretty sure they will eventually get around to fixing that, but I have been wrong before.

 

Please understand I am not defending CA or Sega, they released their usual unfinished game, I am just noting that this has been par for the course for over a decade.  That anyone is shocked or surprised by it is pathetic.  Wake up, ten years of doing the same shit over and over should NOT be a surprise anymore!

 

One thing that pisses me off is the fixed percentage amounts for monetary demands in the diplomacy screen.  When you are rolling in gold (later in the game) it is annoying as fuck for someone to ask for a shit load of cash all the time.  Why did they fix the amounts by the random percentage? Why could they not have left it like every fucking other TW game and let you enter the amount?   I like to "gift" other factions to prop them up so I have larger battles, but not to the tune of half my damn treasury.

 

 

[geonosis]

and the running Joke of Creative Assembly continues.....

why all the hate? fans of the series know that almost evry Tatal War game was bugged and they always tried to fix it.

Hell even ppl like Angry Joe take this as a Sad Joke and give Creative Assably time to fix some AI problems and UI fixes.

for me i had so much fun with the diplomatic menu to the extend i got evryone to declare war with one another and i was allied with all of the waring factions i put to fight via the Diplomatic menu. so i give CA the benefit of the doubt and some time to fix this game.

[Vedli]

Windpl,

 

Please understand I am not defending CA or Sega, they released their usual unfinished game, I am just noting that this has been par for the course for over a decade.  That anyone is shocked or surprised by it is pathetic.  Wake up, ten years of doing the same shit over and over should NOT be a surprise anymore!

 

I don't recall Shogun 2 been this broken. And you totally are defending Ca & Sega. Calling people pathetic for expecting the product they paid money for or are reviewing to work with out drowning in a sea of technical issues is being a fanatic of the worse kind. You know after ten years of CA shoving a half finished product out the door and saying "we will fix it it later/ you fix it" you figure you might finally take a stand, maybe not buy it on launch but no no, Anyone not heaping praise on CA is a sad pathetic jackass.

[gregathit]

 

Windpl,

 

Please understand I am not defending CA or Sega, they released their usual unfinished game, I am just noting that this has been par for the course for over a decade.  That anyone is shocked or surprised by it is pathetic.  Wake up, ten years of doing the same shit over and over should NOT be a surprise anymore!

 

I don't recall Shogun 2 been this broken. And you totally are defending Ca & Sega. Calling people pathetic for expecting the product they paid money for or are reviewing to work with out drowning in a sea of technical issues is being a fanatic of the worse kind. You know after ten years of CA shoving a half finished product out the door and saying "we will fix it it later/ you fix it" you figure you might finally take a stand, maybe not buy it on launch but no no, Anyone not heaping praise on CA is a sad pathetic jackass.

 

 

 

Shogun 2 was just as pathetic.  They had the same mob pooling, the same broken ai, the same retarded diplomacy, the same battle moral nuttiness, the same issues with units moving at warp speed across the battlefield and on, and on, and on....

 

You clearly can't comprehend what I stated.  I made NO attempt excuse CA for turning out their "usual unfinished game."  Look closely and actually read my freaking post for crying out loud!

 

What I am ranting on is CA has been doing this for 10 years!  If someone does something CONSISTENTLY for 10 FREAKING YEARS STRAIGHT, then only an idiot would expect something to be suddenly different.  If folks bought the game expecting things to be different, then they pulled a stupid and have only themselves to blame.  They needed to wait for the honest reviews (like Angry Joe) and THEN make a decision on whether to buy the game or not.  Buying something without either testing it or researching it (watching multiple non-paid advertiser reviews) is silly.  If you get screwed over, then YOU are to blame.   No one held a gun to your head to buy the broken game.

 

Take freaking responsibility for your own actions and quit blaming others.  You'll waste less of your hard earned cash and be happier.  

[windpl]

 

 

Windpl,

 

Please understand I am not defending CA or Sega, they released their usual unfinished game, I am just noting that this has been par for the course for over a decade.  That anyone is shocked or surprised by it is pathetic.  Wake up, ten years of doing the same shit over and over should NOT be a surprise anymore!

 

I don't recall Shogun 2 been this broken. And you totally are defending Ca & Sega. Calling people pathetic for expecting the product they paid money for or are reviewing to work with out drowning in a sea of technical issues is being a fanatic of the worse kind. You know after ten years of CA shoving a half finished product out the door and saying "we will fix it it later/ you fix it" you figure you might finally take a stand, maybe not buy it on launch but no no, Anyone not heaping praise on CA is a sad pathetic jackass.

 

 

 

Shogun 2 was just as pathetic.  They had the same mob pooling, the same broken ai, the same retarded diplomacy, the same battle moral nuttiness, the same issues with units moving at warp speed across the battlefield and on, and on, and on....

 

You clearly can't comprehend what I stated.  I made NO attempt excuse CA for turning out their "usual unfinished game."  Look closely and actually read my freaking post for crying out loud!

 

What I am ranting on is CA has been doing this for 10 years!  If someone does something CONSISTENTLY for 10 FREAKING YEARS STRAIGHT, then only an idiot would expect something to be suddenly different.  If folks bought the game expecting things to be different, then they pulled a stupid and have only themselves to blame.  They needed to wait for the honest reviews (like Angry Joe) and THEN make a decision on whether to buy the game or not.  Buying something without either testing it or researching it (watching multiple non-paid advertiser reviews) is silly.  If you get screwed over, then YOU are to blame.   No one held a gun to your head to buy the broken game.

 

Take freaking responsibility for your own actions and quit blaming others.  You'll waste less of your hard earned cash and be happier.  

 

 

But still, I expected from Rome 2 to be rome original but on steroids. Rome 2 just lack of content. For now Shogun 2 IS better game. I can't really immerse myself in to this new rome. It is lacking that "thing"

[gregathit]

But still, I expected from Rome 2 to be rome original but on steroids. Rome 2 just lack of content. For now Shogun 2 IS better game. I can't really immerse myself in to this new rome. It is lacking that "thing"

 

 

 

I agree in part.  It updates many of the things from the original Rome and provides a framework for modders to really make it awesome.  The list of features that are shoddily done or flat out broken would take a wall of text that no one would bother to read.  However, the potential is there buried under all the glitches.

 

Remember also that Shogun 2 has had a butt load of patches by CA and a shit ton of fixes by modders.  I have absolute confidence that Rome 2 will kick its ass a year from now or perhaps even sooner if CA continues to release\unlock core files like they have been doing.  

 

I also agree that it doesn't "grab" you like the original Rome did.  I think that it will after modders have had time to dig into things.  

 

I'll state again, the game has a number of serious issues, a blind man could see that, but sadly this is normal for a CA game.  Either CA will fix things or modders will.  You just have to be willing to wait awhile.  This is becoming more and more the norm for all gaming companies.  I don't like it anymore than anyone else, but this is the way it is.  Not much you can do about it other than refusing to buy the game.

[Snoopy911]

It's not that bad. Didn't see a single technical problem during two campaigns up to now on a 3 year old machine with high settings. I mostly like the gameplay but have to admit it could be better. Once you have conquered about 20% of the map it get's much too easy because the other factions seem very passive and no major opponents arise. I'm playing on normal difficulty and perhaps this behaviour changes with higher difficulty but rather think this will effect battles and not the strategic behaviour. The KI also seems to have a real problem with the first round of  a war. Let's think of a opponent with one city. I have one army at the border, declare war and move towards their city. They have 2 or 3 armies near the city and i should get kicked my ass back over the border big times but instead of defending their city or attacking my army they move towards my territory. In the next round they loose their nearly undefended city and armies without a city left try to take the next hostile one ignoring all odds. The defender has some real advantage if you don't want to play every single battle and use the auto calc function which results now in a complete defeat when trying to take back their own walls. It's not always this way and but much too often. If someone (having still some cities to avoid this let's attack the closest city behaviour) manages to get an army behind your lines  it can get quite challenging, but this brings me back to my first problem. Since noone seems ambitoius enough to get more territory you see about 2 or 3 armies  facing your 12 which makes their odds to getting anywhere near your cities look rather slim. Ok i don't move all armies for one single opponent. They are usually split in 2 or 3 groups but you can do the math.