The new 3D battle map, all new graphical content . The fact that the terrain on the campaign map shows up in the battle map, though some extra road design and AI flags wouldn't hurt. The campaign map in all its glory and content, though armies take more turns to get from settlement to settlement than before, clashes are more realistic. The historical feel, though I liked that in STW and MTW too. The diversity of armies, how they suceeded in giving a distinct feel to each of the 8 playable factions. Music and sound are also wonderful, especially during battle which I also heard during Time Commanders. Love those tunes. The new character traits system, though some traits were never triggered and others too often or illogical.

On the surface a beautiful game, rich in content, which lacks tweaking and thus destroyed its own lastability. Few people I know still play it, while many have bought it. Whereas almost everybody I know who has MTW still plays it (the ones who don't typically play RTW).

I would be satisfied with MTW2 if they would just increase its lastability (campaign and battlemap AI, multiplayer balance).