Makes things easy when you agree with the last post or two. All you have to do is elaborate.

IMO, while there have been a number of technical advances, RTW has taken the TW series a large step closer to Glitztory rather than History and that's a shame. Leaving aside the bugs that can be patched such as unit speed/kill speed, friendly pilum in the nape of your neck, etc. the general theme seems to be creeping closer to "fun for kids of all ages!" mass marketing.

Example-In MTW the English units speak latin (historical). In RTW the Roman (and all other faction's) units speak English...Romans with an American accent for some reason (uh...not historical). Small detail but it seems to reveal a concious decision to dumb the game down. I never felt embarrassed playing MTW (I'm in my 30's) but when you hear things like "Yes Captain? Aye, Aye Captain! 'Ding Ding'" coming from a Roman Brireme or "Run for your lives!", "Head for the hills!" (gimme a break) being shouted by routing Gauls you begin to look around to see if anyone's watching. There was a certain elegance and love of subject in MTW. I hoped that it would be retained and expanded upon in RTW but they seem to have dispensed with it. Too bad.

As to the tactical aspect, I think that MTW has it all over RTW. The close up shots are impressive but how often are you able to zoom in? The view that you usually get is of highly organized ants at a picnic. Sieges are much improved though and will get better when a patch makes the game less buggy.

As to the AI (in BOTH games), I know absolutely nothing about programing but you can't tell me that it's not possible to have the computer STOP building all peasant/all Cav armies, stop invading with one unit, use units sensibly (infantry hold, light Cav flank, heavy Cav break through, etc.) and get rid of generals who should be undergoing intensive therapy or placed on suicide watch.

Positive side!-The campaign map/diplomacy is far superior and will be even more so when patched no doubt. Most of the music (especially for the Romans) is good.

Perfect game?!-IMO-Keep the campain map but make the units shut up (fotunately you can mute this). Go back to and improve the MTW tactical system (not likely), implement the very basic AI improvements as above and don't go AOE/Warcraft on us for God's sake! Play up, not down to the market.

Pretty long huh? Well, it's just that the TW series is the best, most worthwhile and intelligent group of games out there. I think what I'm trying to say in a nutshell is more CA, less Activision.

I will now return to silently perusing other posts in relative obscurity.