Medieval Total War II Review
Requirements:
1.5
GHz Processor
512
MB RAM
8
GB Hard disk space
128 MB
Graphics card
Windows 2K/
ME/
XP/
Vista
Release Date: Nov 14, 2006
Presentation/Pacakge: 10/10 Once again, MTWII includes a map that shows each territory and city, along with a manual relating to gameplay. Menu options allow Grand Campgain, Tutorial, Historical Battles, and Custom Battles. Multiplayer, too. They seem to have covered every base.
Graphics: 18 / 20 Not a big step up from Rome: Total War...the Campaign map does have graphical improvements, but the biggest upgrade came with the battle maps and units. Battle Maps dont seem to have 'borders' anymore. It creates a feel of fighting a battle in a particular area of the world. Ships, cities, etc can be seen off in the distance. Armor and units look amazing, and each individual unit fights - not a generic 'movement' like previously done.
Interface: 9/10 Nothing spectacular here, but it is easy to use. Holding mouse over any button reveals what it does. Possible to change formations, both for singular groups or mass groups. Also provides detailed stats and historic information on each unit type. You can also check out your family tree, status with the pope, overall standings, etc through easy-to-find buttons.
Gameplay: 17/20 This game is basically a remake of Rome Total War, only set in the medieval time period. It uses an updated engine and includes a ton of new content and units. It also introduces us the Aztecs - an unplayable faction but one you fight against once you reach the ability to travel to North America. Religion plays an important role in this game: Catholic, Orthodox, Islam. You get missions from your religious leaders, can be excommunicated by the Pope, or have a Crusade/Jihad called against you. Priests walk about converting populations, while inquisitors look for infidels and heretics and witches denounce your faith. Crusading Armies get bonuses to movement and can also recruit Religious Fanatics and other Crusader-specific unit types. Merchants can also move around the map, to tiles that have various goods on them. The further away your merchant moves, the greater the income from the goods he 'harvests'. He can also try and 'destroy' a rival merchant by contesting the tile of goods. Spys and Assasins serve the same function as they did previously.
A cool addition to gameplay is the animation. While there may be 60 individuals in a unit, during combat they move individually. You can zoom in and watch fights between individual units. They exchange blows, usually with some one ending up dead. Swords actually stab through torsos. People armed with spears or pitchforks usually knock their foe to the ground, then lunge at them, finishing them off by stabiing them. When arrows hit a target and wound them, the target stumbles. Its a really cool feature that seems like it will be built upon in the Medieval Total War Kingdoms expansion that is in the works.
Contexual Realism: 8/10 Units, factions, and leaders generally follow historical events, but alliances etc do not. Beyond the startup and intro movie that suggests what to do, you're generally free to do as you will. Certain historical events are triggered on their historical date (discovery of gunpowder, etc) and the Mongol Invasion does occur too. With devasting effect, i might add. But for those more historically minded, you do have the option of playing over a dozen Historical Battles, such as Agincourt and Hastings.
Sound: 8/10 Good music once again, but nothing outstanding. During battles, you can hear men screaming and yelling orders ('Heave' is often heard when near the battering ram). Generals speak with accents based on what nation they are from, and give inspiring and often hillarious speeches before battle.
Replay Value: 9/10 Lots of factions to play, different methods of doing things, outcomes of battles determined by how you attack/defend result in countless outcomes in the game. Not to mention its extremely fun to play, you'll want to try out each faction at least once.
Il Duce Factor: 9/10 Who doesnt like the Middle Ages? Especially with the amazing graphics in MTW II. Nothing like watching bodies fly when a heavy cavalary unit hits the rear of some pesky archers. Or the one-on-one fights to the death. Great replayability factor and time period make this game a must.
Overall Rating: 88/100