Latest ETW Reviews

[Fisherking]

We have so many review threads it is getting hard to figure out which is which.

If no one minds, could we post them in one thread. It may eliminate some of the duplicates and we can find what is newest.

I just found this from two days ago…I hope it isn’t posted already, but I can’t tell.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=207715

You can change economic and political history
There's a sense of alternate history to the Total War games, and Empire is no exception. You have the chance to deviate from the real world's technological development, along avenues of ideas pioneered, but never progressed upon. Like, say, the Puckle Gun - a precursor of a machinegun that could fire nine rounds a minute. Don't laugh, that's three times the rate of a traditional musket. The Puckle Gun failed to attract investors and its creator, James Puckle, eventually fell into bankruptcy. In our timeline, he'll own India.

Next a vid...posted by bloodshed

my quote

I had never before seen and alien gray! Let a lone seen games reviewed by an albino alien gray!

There was a tiny bit of information in this video…but I am not sure it is worth all the stuff that went before.

That is unless to think lame is funny…
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...pdates;title;1

More!

gamasutra
From bloodshed
13 Feb
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/featur...uture_the_.php

gamespy
From Mailman653
21 Feb
http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/empire-t.../955966p1.html

IGN
From bloodshed
24 Feb
http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/956/956728p1.html

eurogame
From Alexander the Pretty Good
27 Feb
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/em...-review?page=1
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/em...tal-war-review


insidegamer
From quadalpha
27 Feb
http://www.insidegamer.nl/pc/empiret...ecensies/24355 (Dutch)

IGN
From Dogfish
27 Feb
http://pc.ign.com/articles/957/957883p1.html

Another:

Nowgamer
From Monk
28 Feb. ?
http://www.nowgamer.com/reviews/pc-m...pire-total-war

[knoddy]

has been posted b4, but still the thread idea is a good one :)

[Sir Beane]

I'll sticky this, and hopefully people can contribute links as and when they find them. It means you're in charge of updating the OP with links though Fisherking.

[Pinxit]

Thats not a review, its a preview.

[Sir Beane]

Thats not a review, its a preview.

You can't spell preview without review.

Your right of course, but this thread can be for previews, QA's and interviews aswell.

[bloodshed]

New thing at gamespot.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...pdates;title;1

[Wausser]

You mean the love advice?

[bloodshed]

Oh man I almost didnt even want to get to the stuff about empire it was so bad lol.
Just my opinion but the people who did the preview to me didnt really get it right. Like they said so its pretty much the same tactics as the previous games. Even though the people from CA said that you shouldnt play empire the same way you played the others and if you did you would get beat bad. I dont know, its late and im just venting.

[KozaK13]

What the...? Peadophiles?

Anyway, interview wasn't that bad.

[Fisherking]

Thank bloodshed

I put it up top with a comment...

[daveoshea]

Pc Gamer gave it 94%

[Aide de camp]

This one is a GamespotVideo from yesterday, but not much new info (at least for me ).
ETW starts aprox. at 16:00.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...-february-2009

[Wausser]

look at the review thread at the top of the page

[Sir Beane]

This one is a GamespotVideo from yesterday, but not much new info (at least for me ).
ETW starts aprox. at 16:00.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...-february-2009

Threads merged. They'll be very happy together.

[bloodshed]

I saw this posted on tw forums. New Interview.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/featur...uture_the_.php

not much about the game just how they develop and work on their games.

[Mailman653]

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/empire-total-war/955966p1.html
Gamespy preview, has some interesting tidbits about the US and the 11/12 factions in the game. It seems to suggest that there are 11 playable factions with the 12 being the US which unlocks after you finish the RtI campaign. But the article also pointed out that modders usually unlock all the factions within the first few days anyway.

With that in mind, if the US is the 12th playable faction, does that mean they will start from 1700 like everyone else? If so will the game bend history and just make the US a nation from the start or will it be under the protection of England untill you trigger some event to cause independence. I'd love the latter, I don't mind paying some form of taxes to England if it means being under their protection and have the added benifits of trade with them. Or when I feel threatend from France or Spain, I could send a diplomat and ask the King or Parliment for troops in addition to the militias I could raise on the contient.

From a modding point of few, perhaps it's possible to start with Republican France instead of the Monarchy as well.

[Marten]

Gamestar (Print issue 04 / 2009 - no online review):

Empire: Total War - 90%, Platin-Award for gameplay, atmosphere and motivation - btw: Dawn of War2 got 80% ... ?

Graphics 10 / 10:
+ very detailed units + very good animations + spectacular effects + lovingly designed campaign map

Sound (9/10):
+ great 6.1-Sound + suitable music + unit reports in different languages - no speeches from generals

Balance (8/10):
+ very entertaining Tutorial-Campaign (meant is RtI) + so far most accessible TW-game + good unit balance - ..but not optimal

Atmosphere (9/10):
+ spacious and believable picture of the century + historical events - Nonexistence of Nations like China or Switzerland???

Appliance (7/10):
+ better menu + elaborated tool tips - sometimes tenacious camera in battles - long loading times

Content (10/10):
+ in the long run very motivating gameplay + trade theatres + versatile fractions and units

AI (7/10):
+ very good in diplomatic section of the game + good on battle map - .. sometimes confused - on campaign map sometimes passive - wayfinding

Campaign (10/10):
+ lots of strategic possibilities + Research + Change of government + System with buildings outside of cities very entertaining and motivating

[Greyblades]

With that in mind, if the US is the 12th playable faction, does that mean they will start from 1700 like everyone else? If so will the game bend history and just make the US a nation from the start or will it be under the protection of England untill you trigger some event to cause independence. I'd love the latter, I don't mind paying some form of taxes to England if it means being under their protection and have the added benifits of trade with them. Or when I feel threatend from France or Spain, I could send a diplomat and ask the King or Parliment for troops in addition to the militias I could raise on the contient.

From a modding point of few, perhaps it's possible to start with Republican France instead of the Monarchy as well.

This raises a new question I hadnt thought of: will there be peaceful declarations of independance? Something like: after 50 years of helping the british they let the thirteen colonies break away as reward... or something, honestly I havent realy thought this through. Mayby raising funds and buying independance?

[Sir Beane]

This raises a new question I hadnt thought of: will there be peaceful declarations of independance? Something like: after 50 years of helping the british they let the thirteen colonies break away as reward... or something, honestly I havent realy thought this through. Mayby raising funds and buying independance?

Probably not. It's only recently that countries have become independant through peaceful means. Back in the 18th century letting go of colonies would have been seen as a sign of weakness and would probably have resulted in you losing many other colonies to rebellion.

Buying independance is slightly more likely, but still probably will not be in. Especially because only emergent factions could do this, and none of them are playable. (Except possibly the US).

[Darklife]

Gamestar (Print issue 04 / 2009 - no online review):


- no speeches from generals

Am I the only one upset by this?

[Sir Beane]

Am I the only one upset by this?

Not at all, I am aswell . I wonder if this is something mods can fix? Probably not in this case.

[Ibrahim]

Sound (9/10):
+ great 6.1-Sound + suitable music + unit reports in different languages - no speeches from generals

generals in the 18th century did not normally give speaches..for example, in the british army in the 1740's, the various regimental colonels (or lt.colonels) would deliver a "cheerfull" speech, then march forward to battle.With this in mind, I doubt you want to waste an hour of ou life hearing all the various cheerful speeches of british colonels, no?

[Darklife]

Screw historical accuracy, the speeches really personalized the game and made the generals seem like genuine human beings instead of mindless automatons sent out to slaughter.

[A Very Super Market]

Eh, some of them sounded weird, and I usually skipped them. Unless my general was a looney, then I always listened to his speeches.

[Ibrahim]

Screw historical accuracy, the speeches really personalized the game and made the generals seem like genuine human beings instead of mindless automatons sent out to slaughter.

age of reason-even the lowly soldier was a machine to the armies of europe (just look at the manual of arms of 1757 for the UK-you have some really stiff postures.)

EDIT: here:

http://www.1stroyals.org/drill.htm

its to show basic steps of handling the musket, but there are also sections in the origional for loading the musket-every step in mechanical detail.

[Polemists]

no speeches from generals

Sorry I'm with the others. Ever since RTW I have loved the speeches, screw history, DOWN WITH HISTORY UP WITH PLAYABILITY :P

Yes, I normally stopped listening to them later on because they got repetitive and yes the looney or drunk ones were the only non repetive and yes they were good. Still, I agree it made it seem more personal when you could hear your general's voice.

I know it was probably a risk reward thing for CA. Cost of voice actor's didn't justify a feature everyone stops using after turn 10, but still, I shall miss it.

[knoddy]

the M2TW speeches were the best tho, loons and general fights against bitter enemies (england vs scotts/france) were always good ones, gotta love the abuse some of your generals could hurl out.

"Let the pink elephants lead the first charge"

"were doing them a favor by killing them so they dont have to go back to their wives"

were i believe 2 of my favorite speeches. :)

[quadalpha]

Wow, I really missed out by skipping them!

[bloodshed]

Ign Preview about the Campaign.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/956/956728p1.html

[Marten]

Ign Preview about the Campaign.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/956/956728p1.html

Very good find! Virtual rep+ ... No new facts for me - but nice new screens!