Hey Kids!
I figured since i was one of the first to pick up and play this game i should jot down some impressions for the rest. Most (if not all) of this is the same stuff you've read about already, so forgive me if it's a bit redundant.
Let me also get this out of the way: the large battle bug has been fixed, as far as i can tell. No slowdown at all.
I think i should start simply.
Two words:
Blown Away.
Shogun: Total War, when it was released, was probably the best thing to happen to strategy gaming since "Risk". STW pushed the envelope and basically redefined the genre for computer gaming. This next iteration in the Total War series will most likely go down historically as having done the same thing. Strategy Game of the Year honors are pretty much sewn up, and CA should be very, very proud of how accurately this game depicts empire building, management, and expansion. (They should also be commended on actually making the release date :-p )
Alright, enough accolades; onto business:
The first thing that strikes you is the sheer breadth of the strategy map. Thinking back on Shogun, the map was pretty manageable and it was relatively easy to keep up with what was going on all over Japan. Not only is the map bigger (duh), but since there are so many AI opponents, it is almost impossible to know what everyone's doing at any given moment. When you begin, and for most of the first 20 or so years - even after youve revealed a large chunk of the map - you'll want to concern yourself only with those events around you.
The second thing that will probably occur to you is that the tech tree has been significantly enlarged. My biggest fear was that this game would play largely like Shogun in the tech department. Boy, was i mistaken. Sure, everyone already knows that the number of units is almost overwhelming, but even within a faction, the different units you can produce with different strengths and weaknesses is staggering. Add to this the ability to hire mercenaries, bribe armies, etc., and you've got some pretty interesting options for the battle map. I haven't yet got to a point where i could carry out a naval assault, but believe me, i'm looking forward to it, even if it is auto-resolved.
Another interesting dynamic in the battle map is the ability to take prisoners. These prisoners are great bargaining tools for dragging a hefty ransom out of a king. On the battlefield, they're also useful for turning the tide of battle. For example, i decided to take Aragon early in the game. The two armies were fairly evenly matched, but my enemy had the upper hand in having been able to defend across a bridge. After forcing his army back and making it across the bridge, i got completely stymied. The battle at that point was not going my way... Ruthlessness was the order of the day; i executed 67 POWs right then and there, and completely turned the tide as the enemy began to rout. It was beautiful. After the battle, my general picks up a virtue that went along the lines of "Your general will not hesitate to execute captives when he thinks the battle might not go his way. +2 Dread". Like i said, it was beautiful... almost brought a tear to my eye...
Dammit, i have to get going. More later, after i get to work and get a few minutes... feel free to ask any questions,
Lord Æon
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"You have offended my family, and you have offended a Shaolin temple."
[This message has been edited by Lord Aeon (edited 08-21-2002).]
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