Which is your favorite TW game

[hoetje]

yea, the roman era is my favourite period too,but voted for m2tw,since it's just more fun than rtw^^

[Ars Moriendi]

This poll's results are heavily biased. M2TW is apparently coming out ahead, but that is simply because :

1. The Citadel is strictly M2TW discussion. There's a lot of diehard STW/MTW fans who'll never even see this since they stay mostly in the respective sections of the .org

2. Many more gamers have played M2TW than STW or MTW. This would lead them to vote for M2TW, but that doesn't give any information on their opinion about the relative quality compared to previous TW games, since they never played them.

First issue might be solved by moving this poll in a neutral area (as previously suggested by Noir).
The second issue - I don't know if the poll implementation allows it, but assigning a score for each game you played and a default min/max average for those you didn't will probably offer a more accurate picture of what the members of the .org think about the TW series.

BTW, I voted for M2TW. About the others :

1. I never played STW/MI.

2. I didn't like RTW (lots of reasons, but the most painful was the battles : most were over in ~1 minute, and almost always getting 10-1 or better, it became very boring, very soon).

3. MTW : oh, well, if this poll were posted 1 month ago MTW would've been my choice- it was my first TW game and by God, I was addicted. But I recently started a nostalgia campaign in MTW, and the rose taint quickly washed off my glasses. There were lots of things better in MTW, and I still miss them, but the progress to M2TW is huge. The battles are painful to look at, and it's not just the graphics, it's the unnatural way they moved across the field and the hit and death animations and... lots of other things. The AI isn't much better, just slightly - the biggest difference was the various elements of the battle that really mattered like fatigue, terrain, vegetation, climate etc. - those gave a deeper tactical feeling which I miss, but this is fully compensated by various other things like more realistic physics and missile ballistics, the sieges and so on. The strategy map : the MTW was indeed more competent on the simpler, Risk style map, but I wouldn't go back to that. I like the freedom of movement and the opportunities for ambush and holding passes and bridges in M2.

Hmm, I'd better stop now, this post is already too long, and I could probably go on about this forever.

[DisruptorX]

Isn't that weird? The much maligned RTW and MTW II score the best scores? Ahead of those Glorious Examples Of Gameplay STW and MTW. I can't vote (postcount appears to be too low) but I'd vote for RTW, mainly because that period is my favourite, otherwise, I guess MTWII would get my vote.

Rome was trash in my opinion, but MTW II is brilliant. So I'd vote for it over the original game. I guess people forget that MTW 1 had pretty bad campaign AI as well. The AI never besieged you, and would always retreat from battles unless it was nearly a 1:1 ratio of troops on both sides.

I can't understand why people would enjoy playing Rome, though, true. Unless your idea of a fun game is being violated by armies consisting entirely of overpowered cavalry and chariots.

So, anyway, yeah. MTW 2, my favourite game in the series.

[Lacessit]

I can't understand why people would enjoy playing Rome, though

Haha, well, I just love the period, the tactics, the traits, the sounds, the senate, the opposition (wich you can make pretty ok by turtling a bit) ELEPHANTS, the whole shabam really.

Although I concede that MIITW is probably the better game (I'm having a blast playing it) RTW just inches it as my favourite.

[Didz]

I voted STW/MI though MTW/VI is a close second.

Ignoring the obvious early quality of 'eyecandy' these games set the standards for innovation that CA have failed to match in the more recent titles. The finish quality of these titles was excellent with both music and cut scenes capable of being enjoyed outside gameplay. The Mongol and Viking battle music is awesome and one is not hampered by the slow animated campaign movement that distracts play in the more up to date versions.

Personally, I think CA began to lose the plot with RTW and its really just a matter of seeing how far they allow themselves to slide down the slippery slope. The more recent games are still playable, just, but its getting very close to the wire for me.

[Orb]

Original MTW, by a mile. M2 is a massive improvement from RTW, and I love it so far, but it doesn't seem to have the immediate epic grip of MTW.

[DisruptorX]

Haha, well, I just love the period, the tactics, the traits, the sounds, the senate, the opposition (wich you can make pretty ok by turtling a bit) ELEPHANTS, the whole shabam really.

Although I concede that MIITW is probably the better game (I'm having a blast playing it) RTW just inches it as my favourite.

The one thing I did enjoy was the seiges, but those are in MTW 2 as well.

Making up new tactics to beat the obnoxious AI was fun, though executing them got tiresome after a while.

My tactic was the phalanx turtle. A complete semi circle of phalanxes around my general, then my armenian cataphracts would shoot the enemy to death.

MP was fun, if, and only if, you were playing against friends (no urban cohort rushes) and made fairly accurate armies. I did have some good times with MP.

[Betito]

It's VI for me. Granted: i never played STW so i wouldn't know about it, but MTW's BATTLE AI was more sensible than M2's. And let's not talk about mutliplayer: it's a big gap, i tell you

Plus, i loved those berserkers, joms vikings, a REAL JHI, and the music!

[KARTLOS]

I say RTW because of EB.

agreed

[Fraekae]

If I have to chose from the original games and expansions, I prefer MTW. Yes, there were many problems and the graphics weren't that great but the battles were without a doubt the toughest and most challenging in the series. I also enjoyed STW immensely. The campaign map was much more interesting to play in RTW, but the battles were a joke.

I actually haven't played M2TW yet because I got totally hooked on Europa Barbarorum. This RTW mod which focuses on realism is an incredible improvement on the original, it's like a totally different game. The unit balance is much better and the battles feel much more realistic thanks to this (fatigue really matters and cavalry doesn't really stand a chance against better phalanxes or spearmen if these are used correctly, just as a few examples). There are also tons of other improvements. I also tried out Rome Total Realism, which was way better than the original but didn't stand a chance against EB IMO. I got BI after playing EB for a while but quit after only about 20 turns going back to EB because I couldn't stand the battles in BI. After that I don't even want to get M2TW before there is some mod that improves unit balance and makes battles more realistic, more like MTW. (Which is actually what I am trying to find on this forum, any hints are appreciated!)

I would really like to see EBs equivalent for M2TW during the latters timeframe, as I really like e.g. to play the crusades on both sides, but have not heard of any such mod yet. I also look forward to EB2, which is EB ported to M2TW (i.e. the same timeframe as EB and RTW), as this will add more factions and should also provide better AI (hopefully). Sadly, it probably won't be released for at least a couple of years as the EB team is still working on EB1.

[Zasz1234]

RTW Definitely. The period is awesome and the leap from MTW to Rome was amazing. My jaw dropped at all the new mechanics which M2 really just aembellished a little bit (It's not really thaaat different). Plus there is much greater diversity in RTW. All the Western factions have the same units until the very end really and in RTW even though the Greek factions had similar units each was different enough to make you want to play them all. I would vote for MTW but the battle maps were just too big, and after going to RTW I could just never go back, it looked too good and the battles were faster paced and more intense.

[Fookison]

M2TW has improvements in the graphic end of things, but the original game was superior for me. I concur with those that indicated the awesome impact RTW had when we first played it. I still find myself going back to it for a good Brutii game now and then......

[Marius Dynamite]

From the original games, BI had the best campaign by far as the Western Roman Empire. Including Mods, it's RTW with RTRPE. I don't like M2:TW but I'm hoping its mods will make it a good game, especially Broken Crescent.

[Shao]

Medieval Total War: Viking Invasion AND with 'XL' mod installed :-)

[Slug For A Butt]

I'm going to shout "R2TW" really loudly and hope that Sega are listening!
I really hope the next game engine goes back to this time period, for me it is still the most diverse period they have covered... Phalanx vs Chariot vs Pila vs HA vs Elephant vs Katank vs Slinger vs HeadHurler backed by Screeching Women... wonderful variety.
Now that I have eventually got the M2TW game that I paid for I will play it to death... then go back to RTW (I still play RTW about 30% of the time now).

EDIT: I am quite surprised that RTW (+ exp) is taking the lions share of the votes in a M2TW forum. Obviously some of that is down to the mods that evolved, but I am still surprised and pleased.

[Swoosh So]

Multiplayer: Shgoun totalwar by FAR!

Singleplayer: They all suck vanilla but with the long road mod i believe mtw2 is the best so far.

My favourate era would have to be the roman era by far but the game engine in rome totalwar is so poor and i cant even bring myself to play the well designed mods on it so i hope the next totalwar game is rome2.

[Slug For A Butt]

Swoosh, they don't "all suck" single player vanilla. That's down to personal preference.
Personally, I find online to be fun but in a very different way to single player. It depends what mood I am in.
Gotta say, I love this superiority complex that online playes sometimes eem to have.

[hoetje]

I'm going to shout "R2TW" really loudly and hope that Sega are listening!
I really hope the next game engine goes back to this time period, for me it is still the most diverse period they have covered... Phalanx vs Chariot vs Pila vs HA vs Elephant vs Katank vs Slinger vs HeadHurler backed by Screeching Women... wonderful variety.
Now that I have eventually got the M2TW game that I paid for I will play it to death... then go back to RTW (I still play RTW about 30% of the time now).

EDIT: I am quite surprised that RTW (+ exp) is taking the lions share of the votes in a M2TW forum. Obviously some of that is down to the mods that evolved, but I am still surprised and pleased.

Absolutely,the next total war game should be r2tw :)

[Lord Godfrey]

MTW - VI. It fixed most of the bugs in the original MTW. I also enjoyed being able to give out titles to my most loyal generals. I felt more control over the management of my royal court.

[Discoman]

I'm really not sure, I never got to play Shogun or Medieval. RTW was a fun game and all but the Romans were a little too powerful and I'd get annoyed when playing as the Barbs or other factions. Medieval 2 is too easy in comparison as I have already beaten the game more then 5+ times and I even beat the game on VH/VH. If they do make "Rome TW2" I hope it will be a little bit more balanced so that Romans won't win as easily and they won't be 4 seperate factions. If anything I would like to try "Shogun 2TW" which would have most of Asia and would have good potential.

[hoetje]

I don't think that an s2tw will reach a huge market. So, CA would probably want the battlefield to be in Europe,as it is still more popular for the commoner,and thus more florins for CA ^^

[Askthepizzaguy]

I personally would LOVE a game where I could play on a campaign map covering all of Asia and perhaps Europe.

I'd love to play as the Mongols or one of the many Chinese factions, or Japan or India... But with a M2TW style game.

The history of Asia is just as dynamic, interesting, and bloody as Europe. I've never played Shogun, but I think a M2TW style game in Asia would be kick-ash.

Especially if you included Europe, to make the map massive and spanning all of Eurasia, so that you could actually mimic the Mongol conquests.

Medieval 3: Mongol Hordes?

[ForgotMyOldNick]

"View Poll Results: Which is your favorite TW game (Please read first post for clarity this time)"

Uhm I think I voted but not sure...

I voted for RTW.

Barbarian invasion was nice, but... they could have done more with it I reckon.

Actually reinstalling RTW as at the moment! Got a new graphics card to play it with and all!

I'd like to say something about the game though; the 'Modders' really made RTW for me; it was more fun with serious units and I'd like to thank Lusted specifically for such great mods. RTW all the way!

MTWII is very cool graphically but there seems to be game play issues too much for my vote. Why make the overall strategy more complex if it eventuates to too few logical situations? And if they had 7 years to make the game, (err, I read it somewhere), how could it have an iota of a bug? Surely the 5 games previously revealed enough?

[hoetje]

I personally would LOVE a game where I could play on a campaign map covering all of Asia and perhaps Europe.

I'd love to play as the Mongols or one of the many Chinese factions, or Japan or India... But with a M2TW style game.

The history of Asia is just as dynamic, interesting, and bloody as Europe. I've never played Shogun, but I think a M2TW style game in Asia would be kick-ash.

Especially if you included Europe, to make the map massive and spanning all of Eurasia, so that you could actually mimic the Mongol conquests.

Medieval 3: Mongol Hordes?

OK,I could live with that,but then only if Europe is included too.Not that I have anything against asian factions,but as you said,it would be so interesting to unite Europe and Asia under one banner.After all, the difference between both is huge, and the idea of playing as the golden horde is attractive too

[Askthepizzaguy]

I think having all those factions, all that space, plus a better AI, plus tweaks to avoid cheating (I'm talking to you, pizzaguy...) would lead to I don't know...

Battle of the superpowers!

Golden Horde versus the Caliphate versus the English Empire! How about, I don't know....

VARYING DEGREES OF AI COMPETENCE IN EACH GAME SO THAT ONE AI BEATS ANOTHER, BUT NOT IN ANY PREDICTABLE WAY, SO YOU CAN FIGHT EMPIRES AS BIG OR LARGER THAN YOURS, EVEN IF YOU ARE A BLITZER!

That would kick ash!
I am drooling just thinking about it.

CA please hear my plea! Take the existing m2tw engine, overhaul it, keep the same level of graphics, improve and shake up the AI, give us a sprawling map than can accomodate multiple super empires, and make the turns equal 2 per year. Spring and winter.

Oh I wouldn't ever need a girlfriend if you did this, CA. I'd never leave my room.

Give the game even more replay value... make the AI unpredictable with varying levels of strength...

Medieval Three: Mongol hordes. You're sitting on a goldmine with a maxed out merchant, CA....

[hoetje]

now don't become overexcited pizzaguy... You're acting as if CA is already developing medieval 3 : mongol hordes ^^

[Shahed]

Fav: S:TW.
Best (overall game): M2:TW.

[hoetje]

Then what was so great about s:tw? Which factions were playable and how was the campaign map ?

[Shahed]

The atmosphere, balance, setting. ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
Japan. Shimazu, Mori, Takeda, Oda, Imagawa, Hojo, Uesugi, Ronin. Check: www.totalwar.com

I keep changing favs though. I think would be STW, most immersive. However M2 is the overall best game, most detail etc, but it's pure fiction which can be a major annoyance.

The only sad part of all TW games is that there's no Delhaize in any of them.

[Didz]

Each faction had its own unique bonus' for example Takeda had superior cavalry, whilst Imagawa had better spies. Different provinces had bonuses too so that certain provinces automatically produced high honour Monks, or peasants spearmen.

Movement was faster and less fiddly being more akin to chess or risk.

The music and video cut scenes were awesome.

The Rock, Paper, Scissors concept for units in battle actually worked and morale,fatique and the weather really did affect your troops rather than being a pointless waste of code.

[I remember in one MP game actually managing to use a dense fog to move my army right around behind my opponents and then charge into his rear routing his entire army in seconds. Now fog is just a slight mist which has no effect whatsoever.]

Spies, Assassin and Giesha's actually had a role to play in the game rather than being pointless extra's that could be ignored.

Each faction had its own unique problems to overcome due to the location of its provinces on the campaign map, and some were definately more difficult than others so that you could choose the degree of challenge you wanted to face.

Basically, STW did what it said on the packet without any fuss, the Mongol Invasion Expansion merely added to this by offering another unique challenge and some of the most amazing music I've heard in a game. The Mongol charge music used by its horse archers is better than most film scores.

RTW came along and CA seemed to get fixated with making the game pretty instead of playable and in my opinion the whole thing has just started sliding since then.