How Do You Rate Barbarian Invasion?

[Kor Khan]

I haven't got the expansion yet (although it should be delivered to my house fairly soon), and I saw this poll on TWC. Interested in how opinions might differ at the .org, I decided to post the poll here.

What mark out of ten would you give Barbarian Invasion?

1=One of the worst games/expansions of all time

5=mediocre

8=good, but a few minor faults

9=extremely good, one of the best games/expansions of all time

10=absolutely perfect

Edit: I forgot to say: No voting unless you actually have the expansion and have played it enough to be able to judge it well. Don't just post relying on prejudice, like lots of people at TWC have done (like: "I don't have BI, but I know it's a complete pile of crap and refuse to play it. That's why I'm giving it a 1!")

[Duke John]

2 - Very poor. The fixes to the AI have nothing to do with the expansion, it should have been there in the first place. I didn't find the campaign very interesting and while the features provided something new it's mostly just that; new.
But above all I can't stand the graphics. Games like Imperial Glory or the upcoming Warhammer: Dawn of Chaos show what good artists can do to add to the atmosphere of the game. What the CA artists produced is in my case breaking the game.

[Kekvit Irae]

I voted 8. A good expansion, but I wouldnt exactly call it the best thing since sliced bread.

[Jambo]

Voted 8 -

BI cleans up the game and introduces some interesting new ideas to the TW series. Finally, CA are starting to get close to be able to maintain some interest in their campaign towards to the mid-late game rather than just at the start.

Some niggly new bugs have crept through the testing and one only hopes that these can and will be sorted in a future patch at some point.

[Prodigal]

mediocre I'm afraid, just finished my first game...I honestly don't feel like playing again; hordes are a nice addition, but you can avoid them almost totally as two factions, and as Alemanii I basically knocked 6 bells out of 4 other factions without breaking a sweat. Shame really, I'm looking forward to the RTR mod for it though, feel really let down by the limited playables, specially when there are basically 3 faction theme's in it, Roman, Horde, Samartian

[econ21]

I voted 8, may be I should have been more generous.

It has gone further than I hoped in improving the battles - the balance between cavalry, missiles and infantry is nice now; apparently phalanx AI is better too. Unlike Duke Johh, I include this with my rating of the expansion as in the past, expansions have been valuable mainly as patches (the fact that 1.3 will be available separately is another plus in my view).

As for the actual expansion campaign, I think it is meatier and more interesting than either MI or BI. Hordes are innovative and challenging. Great stuff!

[parcelt]

Voted 7.

I love BI, but since its being sold as an expansion we should distinguish between that what should have been there already or should have been patched (for free), and that what is actually worth paying for again.

In the latter category are, IMHO, only the big new features such as night battles and the horde feature. I think above all the horde feature, because of the new type of campaign it creates through its cascading effects, is what gives BI the right to be called on expansion and not just an elaborate patch.

All other improvements/changes/etc, such as better AI, 'new' map, 'new' units, new vices (overdone I think), etc, should either have been in the original game or been patched, could have been modded (/should have been moddable), or are just not that interesting. Also, some of the new features could have been implemented better (development of your generals sucks now, hordes are irritatingly difficult to kill off, etc).

So, given all that, a 7 is still not a bad score. And given that RTW 1.2 is as it is, BI is definitely some of my best money spent on any game (not just referring to expansions). Of course, on second place after VI.

[frogbeastegg]

I didn't vote, but it is what RTW 1.0 should have been, IMO. Take that as you like.

[PseRamesses]

7. (Good) Since the vanilla is "acceptable" the BI-exp. enhances the game further but still leaves much to be wished for.

[TinCow]

I voted 8. It isn't perfect but it's a huge step forwards.

[The Stranger]

i dont have it *looks sad*

[Crusader4thepeople]

I voted 8, as i thought it has greatly improved the game ( especially the original campaign), the ai is actually worth something and im having great fun. Ok its not as game changing as VI was, which changed a lot more ( new units etc) but it is definetelystill worth more than 14.99

[Kor Khan]

Having received the expansion earlier on today, I think it deserves something around an 8.5. I just gave it an 8.

I must say, the new campaign is a vast improvement over RTW, and I'm currently having a blast playing the Vandals.

[General_Sun]

Good, it doesn't add much in terms of feature, but it adds more of RTW, well I like RTW, more RTW is good. But not great...

[UglyandHasty]

voted 6, acceptable....

[Viking]

8- It is a great expansion, but it got lots of bugs and AI is still too stupid.

[A.Saturnus]

The shortcomings of RTW belong to its own rating...
As an expansion, BI is impressive. It has a whole new campaign map and not just a smaller one as VI. The hordes are an exciting new feature and there have been many improvements others would have saved for RTW´s successor. The only drawbacks are some bad design decisions (hordes not taking from the population resource for example) and weaknesses it inherited from RTW (kill rates still too high).
I gave it an 8.

[Azi Tohak]

8: Great

RTW always looked good, and now the religion and loyalty has just made the game better (reminds me of another of the TW games...). I like the new Hordes. Of course, there are problems, and the AI will never beat me in battle if I have a shot... but hey, it is just a game afterall!

Azi

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

6. My mind tells me it's an 8, but my heart can't get into it.

[screwtype]

...above all I can't stand the graphics.

Wow, what sacrilege given the effort that's gone into this 3D experience!

Unfortunately though, I'm inclined to agree. I've never found the RTW graphics very exciting. They lack something in glitz and dynamism. The soldiers are kind of stiff and shapeless, they remind me more of a bunch of soccer 'ooligans than a splendid body of fighting men. And the terrain looks more cartoonish than real. Even STW was better in that dept IMO.

Yeah, I think they should dismiss their artists and get in some people who really know their stuff. IMO, RTW graphics look oddly antiquated compared to many newer titles.

[Garvanko]

Gave it an 8. Lots of bugs, but RTW had (still has!) lots of bugs.

[DukeofSerbia]

6 - a lot of bugs and unhistoricness (Orthodox and Catholic priests in 4th and 5th century...)

[Stuie]

4 - Lacking.

The mods I've played (and developed) have created a more interesting and immersive game than the official expansion. In retrospect, I should have just waited for the patch and not bothered with the new campaign.

[Rodion Romanovich]

7 or 8, but mostly because of the horde feature and the difficulties of the WRE. After about 20 turns of WRE, I've come to the conclusion that this is how difficult ALL factions, no wait, the easiest ones, should be. It's really great with internal problems stirring up organization and logistics even if the rebels aren't very strong militarily, and they often show up at the most inappropriate of times. I managed to fix loyalty and balance economy before the first hordes arrived, but I've many problems at the Rhine frontline, where I've taken huge losses because I couldn't get my France and Spain area troops there quickly enough to support. After three sweaty battles against the vandals, one of which was a defeat, I've managed to delay them enough to prepare the defenses at the Po river crossing, where I'm in the process of building up my very first army that isn't small or of lousy quality. Hopefully the artillery will turn out effective when the vandals try to cross the river...

Anyway, despite historical inaccuracies the overall gameplay and strategic aspect feels more realistic now, at least if you play any of the more difficult factions, i.e. sarmatians, goths or WRE mostly. But the increased moddability is another positive thing that makes me increase the rating. Overall BI is almost what RTW 1.0 should've been.

[edyzmedieval]

From the previews and reports and reviews and screens, a 9.

Will have it on Monday.
I basicall buy it for modding, and for some fun for the vanilla game.