To Buy or NOT to Buy?

[Amun Nefer]

I have heard some rather awful things about this game re: activation and security. Should I get this title or stick with Rome and Medieval II (which I can't find right now :/)?

[Ethelred Unread]

Which things have you got an issue with?

Steam?

[Rick]

Although I haven't bought it I do have some observations regarding it. I have also read the negative reviews on ETW, but I've also heard from people I trust who have the game, who really like it. There are very few computer wargames out there covering this era and many officionados of this era have bought it for that reason, applying whatever patches and mods that somehow correct its problems.

Now, the upcoming NTW is suppose to solve many of the negative problems of ETW. We'll see.

That being said, I intend to buy ETW eventually, but my financial situation at the moment precludes this. So I'll be waiting for ETW to go on sale once NTW is released. At least I hope it will go on sale.

[Fisherking]

I don't know what those problems could be...

I never had an issue with activation or security. Most of the serious in game issues are solved. Most recent problems have come from patches going over mods, so far as I know...

[Amun Nefer]

You can see all of them listed here: http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Total-W...rBy=addOneStar

Well it appears that you need an open internet connection while playing and a few other things. I like to cut off my net when I play games. (some h4x0r5 are vewy mad at me atm :p)

Btw, Special Edition of NTW only 40 bucks. :D

I use Steam and it doesn't really bother me at all, but I'm not sure I want something that apparently won't let me reinstall the game on another comp if I decide to get rid of my three-year old M2010. :/

[Peasant Phill]

You don't need open internet connection to play the game. I always shut diwn my internet before playing ETW and the game plays just fine.

And I'm quite sure you can install ETW on other computers. I thought that was one of the advantages of steam, that you could access your games on any computer you like (as long as you have the time to download and install them).

What are the other complaints?

[Amun Nefer]

A lot of these other dudes (and dudettes, women do play video games now :p) are saying otherwise. I bought it but returned it because I decided that 20 bucks extra for Special Forces wasn't worth it and never got the regular one. I can't verify these claims myself.

Well some people are complaining about install times, but I mean big game = long install time, duh.

Here's some of the more descriptive negative reviews: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2UJYQ5...wasThisHelpful

Here's one with a lengthy bunch of comments: http://www.amazon.com/review/RDDUDB9...wasThisHelpful

The thing is that if well over 50% of reviews on something are one star on Amazon, it makes me wonder about purchasing the product. :/

[rob_au]

Having purchased E:TW on Steam, I can honestly say if you believe half the 'Amazon' Reviews then you reallllllly need to get your head read... Was the game buggy when it came out? Yes.

Did the game crash a lot : YEs

Does it now? No.

Was this any diffrent to most Total War Releases: No.

People seem to expect 'bug free' games these days and it doesn't happen.. they also seem to think that amazon = a good place to get reviews.. which it's not, most people who are on amazon are just there to abuse things and half of them you wonder if they even HAVE the game.

You want a fair review of the game and it's plus's and minus's go and look at Metacritic where you will note that from Professional Critics it has a score of 90 and from users it has a score of 6.7.

Least there you tend to get 'real' reviews.

And if your really worried about the price? Just wait for it to be on 'sale' like it was over christmas and new years.