Recent reviews by The Dollster

This review is mostly for those who know and love the Total War Series.
I have played quite a few over the past years, and I was very excited about the new Rome installment...
...And it was a letdown. Mind you, it's not a bad game in the slightest, but it just doesn't add anything when you compare it to Medieval II or Shogun II. It's like I bought the same game with a new map and different unit names. Otherwise, it's just about identical.
So if that's what you're looking for, a copy of Shogun II, themed to ancient Mare Nostrum, then consider this review void. But if you're looking for an enhanced or next-gen Realtime/Turn Based Strategy game, this isn't it.
The AI hasn't been improved whatsoever, running around in circles occasionally, or just refusing to take the initiative and flank you. Furthermore, the Grand Campaign is hard to navigate, as allies and "client states" are terrible to work with, and completely untrustworthy. In effect, the diplomacy screen has become almost obsolete. You'll only ever be disappointed by the help your comrades provide you with, as they prefer hiding out in their holds to protect their own cities from rebellions.
And with good reason, since Rome II introduced a ridiculous system for Public Order, making it nigh impossible to keep your empire from falling apart when you reach a certain number of provinces, even in times of peace.

In short: Don't buy this, unless you are either looking for a Roman TW: Shogun II, or you haven't played any Total War Games yet, and would very much like to try one out. After all, it IS the newest and perhaps best installment, even though it did not care to flaunt it too much.