praise for praises sake

[Yun Dog]

Warlords

I just wanted to post some unsolicited praise for the boys at CA, before all that you read is exploits,bugs, and whining. Im sure I will come to discover whatever problems exist in time.... but for now... Having started my first campaign as the french. ?

I am LOVING this game

this is the game I dreamed of twenty years ago when I first started playing games on my C64

I have stuck with this series since Shogun and for the boys at CA to still be able to kindle my imagination and enjoyment with an extension of this series is amazing

I will even say the game has a beauty to it, I cannot descibe why

I will be playing this game for many days, weeks, months, perhaps years to come

so Thankyou CA



STENGTH AND HONOUR

edit : hey my 100th post spooky

[Sir SillyDuck]

I Concur.

Shogun TW shook my gaming experience at its foundations. There were perhaps one or two games that hit me as much as STW. MTW was just even better, maybe not as revolutionairy as STW was when it came, but a perfect follow up, and had a great atmosphere (music was excellent). RTW maybe was the lesser of the three, can't say why. It was great, and the campaign map was hugely improved, but maybe the era didn't speak to me, or the atmosphere.

I first thought MTW2 wasn't much new. But playing it, it just tops RTW in everything. It is hard to point out what it is, the improvement in gameplay, AI, setting, I really can't say. It just got me throat with a mailed fist. I too will be having a lot of fun with this!

[Forward Observer]

I too haven't been so engrossed in a game since ShogunTW and the first Medieval game--and yes, I have encountered some of the bugs such as the ladder scaling slow down and what seems like passive A.I , but I am still enjoying hell out of the game, and I have no doubt the CA will sort out the major stuff like they always have--plus provide the modders with the tools they need to mold the game into a version that the hardcore types will like.

I've also never really played RTW much, simply because the period doesn't interest me. I cannot compare the two games nor can I speak to any problems it had, but both Shogun and the first medieval had what many people considered game killing bugs at the time they came out.

The hoard for STW and the 56 age bug for MTW. The hoard would never happen if one played an aggressive game like I do, so it didn't bother me in the least, and it's kind of funny what happened after 56 year age bug was discovered.

There were tons of people bragging about the Medieval 1 and had been happily playing the game for probably a couple of weeks having no idea that the bug even existed. Then after someone spotted it, these very same fanboys went totally ballistic about it, threatening to totally boycott CA and all future totalwar games if it wasn't fixed immediately.

Medieval to is also the first game in a long time that I stayed up all night long last night playing "just one more turn". (fortunately I am off work this entire week). I just never seem to get tired of the visuals and effects in the game, and although there are a few issues right now they are not stopping me from having the gaming time of my life.

If that makes me a fanboy then I'm mighty proud to be one.

Cheers

[Zoltan]

Lemme just add my bit to the collective praise. I'm sure we'll get all of it back in on way or another anyway, 'tis a karma thing.

I hadnt been that engrossed in any game that doesnt have "civilization" in it's name since Shogun TW, and I'm finding the game might have replay value than even this (or it will have after a couple of patches).

True, I have occasionally been annoyed by the bugs, but once I sit back and think about it, they havent significantly altered the outcome of any battle so far for me(for good or bad). In my current campaign they only show up noticeably for about 1 battle in 20, and I have to confess I went right through my first short campaign without noticing anything (that was before I picked up the nasty habit of hanging out on these board...

Finally, there's just so many things that have made me go 'waaaa' in thins game that I'm prepared to forgive a few shortcomings. If you can't, you may want to start doing yoga instead of playing. It helps. A lot.

[CaptainSolo]

CA deserve all the praise they get as far as i'm concerned,this is my dream game.I booked two weeks off work to play this and i havent been disapointed.A massive thumbs up from me

[Cesare diBorja]

.........and Ancient Art of War at Sea by Broderbund? Mid to Late '80s. For MacIntosh(I know!?!). I have been waiting since that time for games to rock like this one does, bugs aside. Been thinkin' of gettin' inthe business.

[Freedom Onanist]

Yep, bravo CA, encore, encore!

I am now having to carefully schedule my time on MTW2 as my wife is starting to get jelous. As many others have said here, I haven't been this engrossed in a game in ages (Pirates! on the Amiga?).

[Beefeater]

Completetely agree. We're maybe 2 generations of TW away from the dream game, but this is closer than anything else I've installed to date.

Which is not to say we shouldn't keep pushing for it to get even better, naturally!

[Darkmoor_Dragon]

I'm a grumpy git who is notoriously short on awarding marks wherever there are any flaws major or minor, and was always very tight awarding good marks when i reviewed games for a living.

There is, however, one singularly outstanding element to the game that is visible right now even through the murk of other issues:

I'm 150+ turns into a 450 turn game on vh/vh and have 26 provinces.

In any other TW game too date, controlling that many provinces would mean that by now I would be secure in knowing that I will comfortably win the game and that it is simply a matter of doing the slog to get there. Money will be poring in, max'd units, generals and agents everywhere.

In M2, other than some relatively secure "homeland" cities almost every other province remains vulnerable and needs garrrisons of a decent level, money remains very tight, no army is "gold star everything" (not even close), I'm constantly having to fight off big enemies and you can *never* win a battle, even when you do excellently, without loosing some troops at least....


in other words I'm *still on my toes* looking to play every turn carefully.

That's never happened before in a TW game...by this stage it has always been "all over bar the drinking".

And that's good.

And, if one thinks about it, the ultimate achievement for the strategic side of the game.

[maestro]

I think that if unit cohesion worked and the passive Ai bug didn't exist then this game would be nigh-on perfect.

But even in its current state, I love it to bits!


Bring on the patch so battles are fair. They're unfair for the AI cause they get destroyed by my missiles and they're unfair for me cause my units go walkabouts!

But all in all..... awesome game

[grinningman]

.........and Ancient Art of War at Sea by Broderbund? Mid to Late '80s. For MacIntosh(I know!?!). I have been waiting since that time for games to rock like this one does, bugs aside. Been thinkin' of gettin' inthe business.

I loved the Ancient Art of War to bits. I never really got into War at Sea, I found the tactical battles much more difficult (I was about 12 at the time of course ).

[HughTower]

My first post, my first ever strategy game, and I can barely find the words for this owing to sleep deprivation ensuing from having to combine my two jobs - an ad exec by day, and faction overlord by night.

Awesome game, totally engrossing, and I just need to find the wherewithal to upgrade my graphics and RAM to enjoy it at its fullest.

[Dave1984]

All I can say is that I bet my parents wished this game came out ten years ago when I was 12 years old and well into playing Warhammer fantasy battle!

Would have saved them a bomb!

[Fookison]

CA deserve all the praise they get as far as i'm concerned,this is my dream game.I booked two weeks off work to play this and i havent been disapointed.A massive thumbs up from me

Wow Solo!!! I thought that me and my pal Rommel281 were the only ones that booked off time from work to get into this version. What can be sweeter???

[Glacierise]

Yeah, let's offset some of the whining! The game is totally awesome!

[de la fere]

I agree. Since I really liked to play all of the TW-Games since STW, M2TW is again a real improvement to the last one. I am looking forward the patches aswell as the further improvement trought oncoming mods.

[NightStar]

Aside from few issues that I am sure will be ironed out in the next patch I am totally loving this game, much harder than RTW. The A.I much smarter, battles tougher and much harder to blitz

Why am I writing this....I gotta play some more

[FesterShinetop]

Hear hear!!!

Job well done CA!

[Yun Dog]

If that makes me a fanboy then I'm mighty proud to be one.

Cheers

Couldnt have said it better

[Quickening]

Great topic!

Im another who just can't get enough of this game. It has been years since Ive had a game that I just can't wait to get back to when Im away from it. Everything in te game conspires to create that "one more turn" thing that others have mentioned. A definate classic in my eyes!

Even when the battles take a while as the two armies exchange missile fire, I can still happily sit there and watch the beauty of it all. Same with sieges as my catapults wreck the enemy walls! I love it.

[sassbarman]

I recently had one of the best field battles I've ever experienced in the series so far, and as you can see from my join date I've been playing for awhile, and it was against of all things rebels. That says alot.

great work ca

[afrit]

There is, however, one singularly outstanding element to the game that is visible right now even through the murk of other issues:

I'm 150+ turns into a 450 turn game on vh/vh and have 26 provinces.

Totally agree. It seems that MTW2 does not suffer as badly from the "inevitable win syndrome" of the other games in the series.

I hope this is not because I'm on my first campaign...

[Doug-Thompson]

... I'm 150+ turns into a 450 turn game on vh/vh and have 26 provinces.

In any other TW game too date, controlling that many provinces would mean that by now I would be secure in knowing that I will comfortably win the game and that it is simply a matter of doing the slog to get there. Money will be poring in, max'd units, generals and agents everywhere.

In M2, other than some relatively secure "homeland" cities almost every other province remains vulnerable and needs garrrisons of a decent level, money remains very tight, no army is "gold star everything" (not even close), I'm constantly having to fight off big enemies and you can *never* win a battle, even when you do excellently, without loosing some troops at least....


in other words I'm *still on my toes* looking to play every turn carefully.

That's never happened before in a TW game...by this stage it has always been "all over bar the drinking".

And that's good.

And, if one thinks about it, the ultimate achievement for the strategic side of the game.

That's a perceptive point. I've walked away from many a MTW1 or RTW game because the long, inevitable march to the end was, well, boring.

[Yun Dog]

I definately agree with the continuous challenge point thats been raised

playing as the French I - mistakenly - thought I was in a 'confortable' position - even with all the other catholics declaring war on me

but you cant have big garrisons in all your cities - the danish took antwerp in the north with a viking rush - and despite my efforts - there was little i could do to prevent it

Im having to budget my armies and decide on which fronts I will build me and attack - which leaves few men to defend when the english decide to betray you and attack paris

most of the damage happened when I allowed myself to get out of favour with the pope - so I have to budget a pay off for the vatican

the only problem is having to come to work each day and waiting for that 'one more turn'

[Yun Dog]

I just spent most of the weekend just gone playing M2TW - and I have had some great game moments.

The AI has made some surprising moves - which if you allow yourself to become complacent will soon wake you up.

1) the HRE were seiging a number of my castles and cities as the French - most it attacks within a few years - there was one castle on our border - it didnt attack like i was expecting and not watching - half expecting the battle screen to come up - it had starved me out
Yunus-0, AI-1

2) Another battle for Antwerp agianst the Germans - they did their usual frontal peppering with crossbowmen - I decided to run them down and watch the action close up - the dismounted nobles wading in with those huge axes - it was bloody

little did I notice the several units of feudal foot knights which had come round the back

the AI sucker punched me!! - I couldnt get the square back in time - Antwerp falls

4) the Danish and the Portugese both made peace with me - for those that believe the AI only wars

5) I lost faith with the church and heretics began appearing all over my lands - I put out a call for priest I knew the inquistion would not be far away

6) I had launched a crusade against Antioch - My crusader army sat on the outskirts of the city - the AI (Mongols) being cav heavy - decides to ride out and face me in the field

It was beautiful to watch - the desert sands, the blood red sky, the music, the HORDE of cavaly - their banners shimmering in the winds - the Horde danced around us first this way - then the other continually probing for weaknest - small skirmishes - teasing me out - losing my shape

all the time their horse archers wheeling and circling cutting us pieces where we stood - and then withdraw

they head no intention of a full battle they just wanted to halve our number with few of their own loses - they would be back

maybe it was the drugs

but I thought it was MAGNIFICENT

[Barry Fitzgerald]

Praise where it is due to CA...and yes pats on the back all round (slightly gritted teeth with some in game problems)...on the whole it does deliver.

But it doesnt set me alight...MTW and RTW wise..compared to them, yes in many ways better...maybe the advances are not as earth shattering as we expected...

But I do hope CA get bold and try something a bit more tasty...and this is what I fancy ( I am sure many won't!)

Let's have a smaller scale, but more detail...aka american civil war would rock my boat..smaller map, but more on it...size wise you could make it big still.

Real time campaign map with no delay to zoom in anywhere..incl real time battles (heheh let me dream on this one)

Proper defence abilities..entrenchments, traps etc..player choice.

Real supply lines...

Much more depth needed, at least the option to take control of many areas..option to let AI do it also.

Now dont get me wrong dont want mega super micromanagement..but something realistic (no fantasy units please)..more diplomatic options to please campaign map players.

So in general lets do something new...something like the above..as currently MTW2 is very good, but it is getting a bit long in the tooth..time for a fresh angle me thinks. lol