Empire: Total War Hands-On

[Martok]

Great find, guys.


While I normally don't care much about visuals, I have to admit this part sounded kind of cool:

What was really neat about this particular small-scale conflict was that we could see inside the garrisoned structure, meaning there was an actual interior space there with troops moving back and forth and between windows. By moving the camera so we could get a better view, we could even catch a glimpse of our soldiers running in and engaging in hand-to-hand battles.

However, I found the following passage somewhat worrying:

which gave us the impression that with Empire there'll be more battlefield micromanagement than in games past as closer attention must be paid to each unit's behavior.

And later on:

As it turns out there's quite a bit of micromanagement to be done with the ships since you need to take into account which direction they're facing not only to allow to them to hit enemy ships with cannon volleys but also to get out of the way if the enemy catches them in a vulnerable position.

I hope that's an erroneous impression on IGN's part. IMHO, units in previous TW titles have to be micromanaged (read: baby-sat) too much as it is; we don't need more of it.


On the other hand, this made me happy:

Every unit on the field also has a sphere of influence, represented on the map by a red disc extending from the unit on all sides for a limited range. If any enemy unit happens to wander in it has to engage in combat, meaning the area of the discs can be used to create choke points on the map for defending territory.

Spheres of influence. At last.

....a rebellion might break out in your capital city. In these cases your army splits between loyalists and those striving for a new type of system. At this point you get the choice to align with either side and decide which system of government to go with. You don't actually lose control of your settlement in these cases, but if you pick the losing side you're forced to go with the style of government championed by the victors.

So unlike in MTW or RTW/BI, you don't lose the game if your chosen side loses the civil war, but instead you simply have to deal with whatever government the other side wants. Interesting.

Who looks at their faces anyway? In the middle of a battle you'll either be zoomed out or focused on the vicious bayonettings going on ;)

Indeed. I really couldn't care less if they look alike. They all fight and die the same anyway.

[Fondor_Yards]

Every unit on the field also has a sphere of influence, represented on the map by a red disc extending from the unit on all sides for a limited range. If any enemy unit happens to wander in it has to engage in combat, meaning the area of the discs can be used to create choke points on the map for defending territory.

Spheres of influence. At last.

Hasn't that been in since Rome? That little bit of red surrounding armies and cities that you can't move through.

[Fisherking]

Hasn't that been in since Rome? That little bit of red surrounding armies and cities that you can't move through.

I think we are in hopes of them being more than just the adjacent square, hex, space of the unit.

I hope this time they have done something about the retreat priorities of the units too.

It is irksome to have the little ugh-humms retreat into your rear areas past a solid line of troops.