Game News The first Total War: Rome 2 reviews are rolling in

[Trash]

Tags: The Creative Assembly; Total War: Rome II

And they seem a mixed bunch. Eurogamer gave Rome 2 a 7/10 with comments like 'Total War: Rome 2's is a game dotted with little weaknesses. I wanted to begin this review by telling you of my attempt to spread a Roman and then an Egyptian empire around the Mediterranean like butter around a bagel, smooth, sweet and satisfying. But my experience has been more like spreading marmalade, as I try my best to work around the lumps. It's given me some unusual things to reflect upon'. Rock Paper Shotgun, Joystiq, CVG and The Guardian also have mixed things to say. Well, tomorrow we'll see for ourselves. Have a launch trailer in the mean time.



And for those who want to take a look at the AI acting in a highly scripted battle. Here's the 'Historical Battle of Raphia' on 'legendary' difficulty.

And yes, you did just see the 'legendary' difficulty AI follow a single unit of camel archers with its entire army.

 

[Trash]

But it's not quite a beautiful vision of the past. While the sea shines in the sunlight and a thousand men charging into battle is quite the spectacle, there's a pallid, muted, almost pastel flavour to the game's palette. At times it can make scenery look flat and colours unpleasantly faded. That said, during one fight in snow-drenched Denmark, my battlefield assumed a grim, grey aspect that called to mind the desaturated battles of Saving Private Ryan. It might be an acquired taste, but I could get used to it.

This however I do like. Plus with youtube videos now really rolling in I can say that I am digging the artstyle and the use of colour. Carthage is looking dusty and hot, the lands near the Rhine are grey and cold. Shogun 2 had a lot of artistic merit. Perhaps Rome 2 will have it as well.

Apart from that the launch does seem troubled. Bugs, missing textures and a crappy AI are the usual suspects with CA once again claiming these willl be fixed with a 'day 0' patch. We'll see. Am amazed that several reviewers called the AI more stoic and not as easy to kite as before after seeing that retarded historical battle. Hm.

 

[Rahdulan]

Total War game working perfectly out of the box would be an anomaly anyway. Empire's months long process of patching still haunts me.

 

[Trash]

The game really is looking splendid. Music is at times amazingly good. What I also dig is that the speeches are still in, though a bit hidden. Start a battle and get near the general's unit and you'll hear him. And how. CA really nailed arrogant xenophobia to a tee here.





But that AI...

 

[Cursed Platypus]

I love this guy's videos.

 

[AMG]

wow 7/10? not goty 2020 and a wonderful cinematic experience? shipment of doritos from CA to reviewing hacks got lost or something
Anyways here is a short instruction on how to pirate rome total war 2:
1. Open MS paint
2. Draw a map of europe
3. If you are playing rome then paint it red, if playing carthage paint it white
Bonus intructions on how to hax seleucid DLC
4. Paint it grey

 

[Kem0sabe]

If the scope is similar to empire, the thing i dread the most is the unbearable wait each time i click the end-turn button. Too many factions, armies and agents moving around.

Also... that A.I

 

[Trash]

It's a bit faster than Shogun 2 but indeed does have a gazillion factions. Personally I like that though.

 

[spectre]

wow 7/10? not goty 2020 and a wonderful cinematic experience? shipment of doritos from CA to reviewing hacks got lost or something
Anyways here is a short instruction on how to pirate rome total war 2:
1. Open MS paint
2. Draw a map of europe
3. If you are playing rome then paint it red, if playing carthage paint it white
Bonus intructions on how to hax seleucid DLC
4. Paint it grey

You sure you're not confusing it with Europa Universalis?

 

[commie]

What kind of retard gets a TW game day 1? At the very least wait for a GOTY with the expansion and all the DLC and maybe a patch that makes it just mostly retarded rather than totally fucked up.

Oh and don't worry about the 7/10. Eurogamer does forget itself from time to time. IGN and co will make up the shortfall and RTW2 will be the game of the millennium until next week.

 

[Kem0sabe]

From what i could see from the player feeds, it takes at least a minute and a half for the first turn to process, 69 factions Oo

Also load times seem to be very long...

Seems like this is a pass for me, not interested in "windowed mode internet browsing while waiting games"

 

[Spectacle]

They should add a mini game to play while the AI turns are processed, like chariot racing or something.

 

[Cursed Platypus]

They should add a mini game to play while the AI turns are processed, like chariot racing or something.

 

[MicoSelva]

yes, you did just see the 'legendary' difficulty AI follow a single unit of camel archers with its entire army.

 

[Sensuki]

Consolitis strikes again, this is a will never buy for me