Rome Rising

     Some games are immortal. It doesn't matter how old they are, how much age the graphics bear out - they are still fun the moment they are picked up again. The first is Ocarina of Time the second is Medieval 2: Total War by the Creative Assembly.
     Two months ago Total War: Rome 2 was announced. Forget the name change, the producers are just trying to create a Call of Duty like consistency for easy brand recognition, after all they are following up one of their most successful games to date. The important part is that the sequel has finally been announced - just look at the above screenshot to raise your heartrate. In fact, the announcement of this game is what inspired me to start this blog. Y'see the writing has been on the wall for the last year as they.
     It was the naval battles introduced in Empire: Total War  and refined in Total War: Shogun 2  that gave it away. A decided improvement over the auto calculated triumphs (or more often failures in my case) of the original sea conflicts. Giant lumbering triremes cresting the waves to slam into each other broadside amid the sound of creaking oars and crashing waves. It's an easy image to sell. And it's one that has been specifically built into the new game, which no longer divides sea and land battles - so amphibious assaults happen in real time. Combine this with the additional RPG and story based elements in Shogun 2 and we have a real potential winner here.
    Some ink is already being spread on the lack of diversity represented in screens and press releases, a problem which led to the creation of the Europa Barbarorum  mod for the first Rome: Total War. But I am willing to trust the company here - they have earned it after all. The mod itself ran into problems after all - you can actually be too accurate and exacting at the expense of fun. Because at the end of the day this is a game simulating warfare which depends upon your interest and entertainment to fuel purchases. As wonderful as 30 clone factions re-textured for combat is, you lose the depth and detail behind the the world itself. You don't see its moments of wonder and innovations that are tied to the growth of specific empires. I have always been a fan of fewer more detailed factions over a plethora of clones.
     I eagerly await the upcoming release, and look forward to see the next logical step in the series afterwards - Total War: Medieval 3.