Until the patch is released, I am playing MTW!

**Colovion** · 01-26-2005, 20:13

RTW ruins MTW for me.

There are some things that I just love about RTW which when I try to play MTW I sorely miss; this goes both ways. RTW has shown me facets which could be possible, but steals away Total War's soul. After playing numerous campaigns with vanilla, partial mods and full mods I realized that the game actually has less depth than MTW did. Most of that depth-loss comes from the way that the arcade-theme makes for a game that doesn't feel authentic. Sure, many things about RTW are better - but there's so many things that could have been better and since they had it almost right with MTW then it seemed like a no brainer.

As many people have said before:

If MTW had RTW's engine, I would love it.

**parrrrk** · 01-27-2005, 02:14

Originally Posted by Colovion

RTW ruins MTW for me.

Most of that depth-loss comes from the way that the arcade-theme makes for a game that doesn't feel authentic.

Colovion, I'm curious what are you talking about. Because I've never played MTW before, so I'm just curious what is so arcade-themed in RTW that makes this game unauthentic.

**Khorak** · 01-27-2005, 03:15

I vastly prefer the strategic level of Rome: Total War, it's a truly massive and excellent leap. But I prefer the Medieval battles. Damn it's infuriating.

**Colovion** · 01-28-2005, 10:41

Originally Posted by parrrrk

Colovion, I'm curious what are you talking about. Because I've never played MTW before, so I'm just curious what is so arcade-themed in RTW that makes this game unauthentic.

To name a few of the most obvious:

Green arrows

Meatgrinder killing

Screeching Women, Head hurlers...

I'll stop there

**nokhor** · 01-28-2005, 15:41

i think a big part of the reason for the disagreement among patrons is what they compare RTW to.

if you've never played the older totalwar games and compare RTW to other current strategy games, chances are you'll think its one of the best strategy games you've ever played, because there's nothing comparable. and if you were to go back later and try some of the earlier totalwar games, it's probably be difficult to get into, because you'd be transition from 3-d to sprites and less options on the strategic map side of the game. so it might seem like a lot of whining by the vets when we complain.

but if you started on the earlier games and have progressed to RTW, there is a serious deterioation in gameplay, atmosphere or whatever you want to call it and it is very noticeable. of all the totalwar geezers on the board, i think there is only one who argues that RTW is the best if the series. most are of the opinion that it could be the best, if it's fixed, and some believe CA has jumped the shark on this one and its beyond repair. so i think it matters what you compare RTW to when you evaluate it.

**lars573** · 01-28-2005, 17:01

Originally Posted by nokhor

i think a big part of the reason for the disagreement among patrons is what they compare RTW to.

if you've never played the older totalwar games and compare RTW to other current strategy games, chances are you'll think its one of the best strategy games you've ever played, because there's nothing comparable. and if you were to go back later and try some of the earlier totalwar games, it's probably be difficult to get into, because you'd be transition from 3-d to sprites and less options on the strategic map side of the game. so it might seem like a lot of whining by the vets when we complain.

but if you started on the earlier games and have progressed to RTW, there is a serious deterioation in gameplay, atmosphere or whatever you want to call it and it is very noticeable. of all the totalwar geezers on the board, i think there is only one who argues that RTW is the best if the series. most are of the opinion that it could be the best, if it's fixed, and some believe CA has jumped the shark on this one and its beyond repair. so i think it matters what you compare RTW to when you evaluate it.

I'm one of those geezers who think RTW is the best of the 3. I played shogun for the first time when a friend loned it too me back in 2001. I loved it, when I heard about MTW some months later I really wanted it. I got it a month after it came out, I though it was better than STW in every way imaginable. I think the same about RTW when compared to MTW. The simple reason being the simplified game play has increased my enjoyment of RTW. Why well in MTW auto-calcing made for less casualties than fighting the battle myself. Now in RTW I can fight battles and not lose 2/3 of my armies like I did in MTW.

**Butcher** · 01-28-2005, 17:09

True, but there is also a tendenancy to overlook some of MTW's faults, including it's less than sparkling AI (which, incidentally, only really got any good AFTER two patches and an expansion pack!).
But I agree about some elements of game design (especially the atmosphere, you don't really feel like the Romans) being superior in MTW.

**mambaman** · 01-28-2005, 17:33

yup sorry guys but i'm with the vets that have been playing since the start of STW and feel that RTW is the best of the 3 by some stretch-not perfect by any means but certainly much more immersive.

Strangely it took me a while...for 1st month or so i really couldnt get into RTW and then something clicked-i now absolutely love it-when you look at the graphics, the campaign part and the total game experience there really is (for me) no comparison

It may be that the large number of bugs is a show stopper for many but they really can (in the main) be worked around...

And when i'm stuck-i come on here and canvass you good people for your opinions