An truly incredible game with unprecedented depth that first kindled my love for strategy games. I still find it worth playing five years on!

One of the greatest Strategy games of all time

I'm starting to get pretty sick of the gaming press' absurd hyper-enthusiasm for any even remotely-interesting game. This is the third game I've spent my hard-earned cash on in the last six months which had a Metascore of 85+ and which, nonetheless, was lackluster-to-bad. Coupled with the fact that games can't be returned (a practice which badly needs to end), it's just unforgivable. Hello, journalistic integrity? Where are you? With regard to this specific game, yeah, it's an OK strategy game. Certainly not the godsend that the gaming press and some of the folks around here seem to think. Gameplay is initially rather convoluted and confusing (no doubt due to a less than stellar user interface), then fun for a few hours, then repetitive and tedious. The graphics are OK -- nothing special. I think that folks may be getting off on the "epicness" of the graphics, on the sheer fact that you'll have thousands of soldiers fighting in a battle. But all those soldiers look alike and move exactly alike. And the terrain they're fighting on, as well as the campaign map, and the cutscenes as well, are all pretty lacklustre. Despite this game's general classification as a RTS, the gameplay emphasis is on the campaign (turn-based) play. I say this because all RTS battles can be skipped...and frequently they will be, since the AI will spend a lot of time attacking your armies even when they're badly outmanned. Naval battles can't be fought in RTS mode at all. And as a turn-based campaign game, R:TW is really lacking in depth. About 8 hours into my campaign game (now at about 12 hours, I seem to be about 1/3 of the way through it), I enabled the "Automanage AI" option and never looked back. So, I'm not fighting my battles on the battlefield, I'm not managing my cities. It seems like all that's left is what would be the most tedious part of another turn-based game like Civ IV -- ferrying my troups around the campaign map. Yuck. It's not all bad. I did have some fun with this game in the few intervening hours between figuring out the rather poorly-documented and unusual-but-not-in-a-good-way UI and getting bored with the repetitive gameplay. But was it worth my $30? Hell no.… Expand

Rome total war has two types of strategy gameplays, turn-based and real time. The other games in series, which came out before Rome, had certainly the same construction as Rome, but the last game is far better with improved graphics, sound and gameplay. The game is not only fun to play because there are instructive things too; examples the names of the different states and leaders, the map of Europe which results in a better knowledge in the geography, some important moments in times and, of course a brain-trainer (you must use the brain to reach success!).… Expand

Although it begins to get a little crazy nearer to the end of a campaign game (The Romans had ninjas? Pigs > Elephants???) Rome: Total War is one of the best strategy games i have ever played. Not just RTS, that means ALL strategy. People complain about the graphics, but on with the graphics set on low i can still see the nose of each individual soldier. Not only is it fun, but I learned more about world history from bits of information they throw at you (245 BC, such and such happened this year) than all of the last 8 years of History class/American revolution propaganda. If you like to play real time strategy, turn based strategy, or even risk, then you owe it to yourself to at least try out Rome: Total War (note: I officially rated it a 10, but it would have been an 8 or 9 if not for those who think they can hate on a game because it has graphics that look like they're from around 2002) (note: Rome: Total war IS from around 2002).… Expand

i came , i saw, i got addicted !! any rts fan will enjoy this game. Wether they be a newcomer or a hardcore veteran. It excedes all excpect for a sequel to medievil total war.(but wat is with the size of the trees??)

What game did you guys play? It wasn't the same one I played. Rome: Total War is a waste of money. Don't fall for the hype.

Another leap ahead in the series. Simply a fantastic game - hope to see more like!!!

It is a good game, not the best. I don't know why everyone is giving it a 10 when it clearly is not a 10. First of all if you get it from steam, you are not able to play it online unless you make some modifications inside some hk directories coding crap. I believe that the managing the towns and getting money are pure chance. The fighting is cool but is basically the same thing over and over, just the uniforms change. I would ask for my money back or part of it since online play is not possible.… Expand

The breakthrough in RTS-gaming being the first that offers: Smooth graphics, solid gameplay and fitting music. By now the price should be around 10 bucks for the gold edition. If you are a fan of RTS games, like managing and conquering an empire, give this game a try. It's well worth your time. Must-have

This review is my opinion, and you might not agree with me. if you do not enjoy this game then too bad for you, because the joy i have gotten out of this game is not something you would want to miss, but i am sure there are other games out there for you. Rome: Total War has the city managing of Civilization and real time battles with thousands of soldiers. if you enjoy slow paced turn based strategy games, but also enjoy fast paced battles where you command thousands of troops like the roman legionaries, greek Hoplites, carthagian war elephants or hordes of barbarian warriors this is the game for you, if not then you shouldn't get this game.… Expand

This is one of the greatest games I have played. It is over hyped, and it is dated. The graphics which were once amazing are now outdated the concepts that the game heralded to are outdated. At the time this game was easily a 10. If you cant get over the graphics not being modern of the animations then i would not rate this game as highly. However as someone who loves strategy and history I absolutely can. The greatness Rome has over the other total war games is the sheer diversity of units, and regions that bring a such a meaningful change to game play. Fighting the Gauls will feel completely different to fighting Egyptians ect. There is incredible depth and you can choose to skip everything, you can skip managing your cities fighting your battles. You can deny yourself what makes this a great game as other reviewers have. Though you would only be doing yourself a disservice. A typical campaign epic campaign can run well over 20 hours before you are even halfway through. I would easily recommend this to anyone who enjoys history or for that mater grand strategy games.… Expand

This game is the best RTS and TBS in my opinion and is the reason why I'm a total war fan to this day. It has amazing real time battles,awesome graphics for it's time and just so much content that you can literary be hooked to this game for a year.Also it has some awesome soundtracks to.I recommend this game to any gamer especially for RTS and TBS fans.

The words 'epic' and 'legendary' only start to describe Rome Total War. The game is trully the greatest i have played and the shining best in the revolutionary Total War series. Rome Total War comes with online battles, custom battles, campaigns and historical battles. Rome total war covers such a grand scale of history. There are tons of factions to play as such as the Romans (that consist of the Julii, Scipii and the Brutii and the Senate) Gauls, Britons, Parthians, Macedonians, Egyptians, Scythians, Thracians, Dacians, Germans and so forth . RTW has never failed to bore me and i have been playing it for at least 4 or 5 years now. The game is excellent for strategists, those who love ancient history and who adore turn based campaigns. The soundtrack for RTW is also brilliant. 10/10 without any doubt.… Expand

Rome:TW is one of those irritating games that does everything well and nothing excellent. The strength of this game is in the variety of game play you can do. If you want, you can set everything to auto and do nothing but move ships with their armies around and have an entire game take ten hours. On the other hand, you can get really deep into this game and have 100+ hour games. It's up to you how deep you want to go. The problem is that the deeper you get into the game the more you understand just how bad the UI really is. The interface for Diplomacy is buried under five mouse clicks. Ugh. On the other hand, if you set it to auto then you realize just how bad the AI is. I once lost a battle where the computer's 50 troops wiped out my 800 troops. Ugh. Then there is the whole modding community. RTR is an excellent mod. But in my opinion it creates as many problems as it solves. It might be more realistic but I don't think it's all that much fun. In the final analysis it's the sheer variety and flexibility that make this game raise above other strategy games. But it's not perfect. It's certainly worth the $10 you will pay today.… Expand

This is how today's Total War games should be: Simplified. Rome Total War is certainly one of the games that i spent most my time playing with. I was the Julii, Brutii,Scipii, Selucid Empire and more. Its strategy map music is heavenly so is the credits music.Good ol' days... I hope that Creative Assembly sees what really makes fans love this game because i'm not contend with the new direction they are taking with Empire, Napolean and Shogun 2 Total War. They contain so much details. I find them very confusing, so many flashy buttons everywhere... Just give me Rome Total War's interface and features and update graphics CA, that's all i'm asking.… Expand

This game is an easy 1110 and the only reason is that I rated Shogun 2 first with a 10 but I still like this game better. Solution: do the impossible and give Rome an 11. I said that I LOVED Shogun 2 to death! but I LOVE ROME MORE!!!! While Shogun 2 is the absolute refinement of the series the era of the rise of Rome and then the expansion in which it is the fall of Rome is just...better. It may be a slight case of nostalgia because it was the first in the series I played and truly fell in love with but I owe it a lot. I found my passion for history because of this game. It means a lot to me and while its not perfect in its build it is beyond perfect in my eyes for how a strategy game should be. I don't know if someone today can pick up this game and appreciate it like I do, but believe it is truly a gem as is its barbarian invasions expansion.… Expand

This is by far the best game in the whole series and i have enjoyed this game the most, I only hope that they release a Rome 2 total war with improved graphics etc.

Don't listen to all the idiots giving this game a 6 or 7 or lower, since they obviously lack any real understanding of gaming as a medium or as a game of the mind. Rome Total War is probably the greatest of the total war games in my professional opinion, although my favorite would have to be Empire. Rome offers what many other games fail to do, give you unparralelled strategy game play of the ancient Roman/Greek age. It's one thing to command armies on the campaign map, strategically positioning them to ambush your enemy or block routes, using diplomats, spies and assassins to your advantage, deceiving your allies or enemies, managing cities and towns, but it's another thing completely in the battle map. In the battle map it's a no-holds-barred kinda match, anything goes, it gives you totally complete freedom to setup your units as you wish, in formation how you wish and use them however you want. If you ever wondered what it would feel like to siege a Roman city as an invading Carthaginian army, feel free to do so in campaign or in a custom battle, you can use siege towers, battering rams, ladders, siege weapons like catapults, trebuchets and more to batter through your opponents defences. There is nothing quite like Rome Total War in terms of content and mere polish.… Expand

An excellent game. Despite coming out half a decade ago, the massive MODding community and continued online support keeps this game fresh. A must-have for history buffs or RTS fans alike. That said, don't go into this expecting a fluffy Warcraft or Age of Empires-like experience. This game requires quite a bit of micro-management and real-world tactical acumen. If you possess the ability and desire in these aspects, you'll love it. Otherwise, you'll probably find it tedious!… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Trully masterpiece, best game of all total war games, and even BEST STRATEGY GAME EVER MADE!!! You cant miss this game, even now i still play this game, i won 5 times campaing, 3 times totally, and have many good mods. I spend about 1000+ hours with this game, this game never be old!! I hope that CA will soo release rome 2 total war.… Expand

The most epic and incredible strategy game, still being played and will survive for decades! With epic mods such as Europa Barbarorum (the most original total conversion for any game out there) and Lord of the Rings : Total War this game really deserves a 10.

Simply put -- the best game I've ever played.

Spectacular, simply put. A terrific game that I would highly recommend.

This game is an instant classic. There is nothing not worth loving. Respect!

I have handed in my resignation at work, broken up with my girlfriend, bought 50 cases of Power Sauce, paid the rent and bills for 4 months and put up boards over my windows and doors.... ...I'm really worried about myself.... I LOVE ROME: TOTAL WAR!!! Is there a rehab for Total War addicts? Now.....is that

If Shogun was "Dune2", this Game is "C&C Generals". The Real-Time Combat is so far away from stylized toy-like "average RTS", with it's superb and easy-to-use interface. You can literally command thousands of single soldiers, and see the single swords and how they fight man-to-man. In the same scenario the buildings and city-walls and everything are in the right scale (except the trees). What I'm talking about, just swatch some screens. And it all fits in, wonderful combination of the tb-strategic map and the real-time combats. You have Generals with Skills that affect the RTS-battles, OMG this is just the best Strategy-game out - ever !!!… Expand

Many hours worth of gaming. Great combo of RTS and Turn-Based Strategy. And Jeff-D, it's logical, that if you play as the same nation over and over again and you don't fight your battles on the map: The game gets boring, cause it's what makes the Total War series so awesome!

I can't believe this crap scored so high I feel totally suckered into buying this lame junk. Okay I understand this is old school warfare but it doesn't have to be so freaking dry in the entertainment department. All the action is in the misleading video for the game and not actually when you are playing. Also my biggest gripe is this game having the nerve to be so not pick up and play but still there is no in game tutorial. What game since the end of the 90's fail to either have an in game tutorial or a manual I mean come on!… Expand

As a big fan of the Total War series, owning both Shogun and Medieval, with expansion discs, this game was one of the most awaited games this year for me, as for many of you too. I have to say, R:TW lives to my expectations and more. The graphics and gameplay engine is unbelievable in this type of game, when thousands of models march to the battlefield and clash with each other. I smile eveytime when my succesfull cavalry or elephant charge breaks my enemys lines, like a hot knife on butter. And the new 3d-strategy map is great too. There is nothing to complain about in this game, 'cause we as players can feel the love Creative Assembly has put to it. Old Total War-series players feel like coming to home with this title. … Expand

I usually don't comment on games, because I think most online reviewers do a fine job. I just needed to speak up a bit to offset the (zero) that was given to this title. Rome Total War is by far the best and deepest strategy game ever made. The only reason I'm not saying it's the most unique is because the Total War series has been out for about 5 years now. With RTW, the makers have obviously taken the time to make a game for not only themselves, but the fans of strategy and History. I rarely shell out 50$ for a game. I can honestly say that I do not regret my purchase one bit. I am guessing that the 0 given was based on the demo and not the full title- The only thing I can say could use some adjustment is the AI given to the 'Generals': they tend to charge headlong into the fray and get themselves killed-leaving their men to get mopped up by the opposing force- This, I do believe will be addressed. Yet over-all this game is fun and challenging. RTW can easliy vie for the Game of the Year title!… Expand

If you look down at the 0 rater, he says some idiotic things about the graphics. He's completely wrong about the animation and visual quality. The animation is absolutely gorgeous, that dope just has some compatibility issue or is too dumb to troubleshoot. Wonderful game.

This is a really great game that has issues but what game does not on release? Most of the issues will be fixed in patches. This is probably the best game I have ever played all time. I can't wait for the expansion. It is fun trying to beat it just on medium diffuculty with all the different factions. (have only beat 50 plus regions and beat the roman arimes with Cathage thus far) This is the first game I have played in a long time that holds my interest for hours on end. This game isn't for someone of low intell. or has a very short attention span. There is always one who will rate a game ZERO just so they can be different. Don't listen to them! … Expand

Played the Demo...Buying it for sure!!! best and most realistic RTS game ever...just wish it ran faster on my computer.

0 for the same problem mentioned above; unplayble since mousespeed doesnt work, 40 bugs for an unplayable game, and they dont even care to improve this in a 60 mb (!) patch.

One of the best games ever. I would have given it a 9 or 10, but the Activision & Creative Assembly deal of only having 2 patches brings the rating down a tad bit. Overall, awesome game. Gameplay, great campaign and battle mode. In the Campaign, you get to conquer and build your cities, set up trade and alliances with other factions, hire mercenaries, create forts, watch towers. In the battle mode, you command thousands of soldiers and it becomes a very tactical game. Graphics: The scene of watching thousands of your men march across a dusty field. Cavalry charging, etc. Need I say more? Playability: You have dozens of factions to play. The game has a long and short campaign. Takes a while. The starting factions are the romans, then you can play other factions like the barbarians and the Greeks, eastern factions and north african factions. Each of these regional factions have their own style of units and way of fighting. Multiplayer: Very fun especially with a friend. You can team up against another group of players. Sound: One of the best music I've heard in a game. Ambience, battle sounds, the marching, etc. You feel like you're really in the thick of the battle.… Expand

The best game ever.

Extraordinary strategy game ever so far! After 2 years, still reinstall back this game even after formating my pc so many time... Yes! this game is top of all strategy game!.... I could said thank you RTW u did a wonderful game for us.

My rate for this game is a 10 plus! A freelancing game which you are capable of going anywhere on the map. Fun, adventerous and addictive. I have this game for so long now and I still play it due to its graphics the plot of the game and because its a strategic game. But, I wish they could of did something about improving the battles in sea.

Rome: Total Realism FTW! Yeah, this game is very good. The graphics are decent and are downgraded just enough for the larger battles to be playable. As this was my first TW game, I was blown away by finally being permitted to wage wars and fight battles on a massive scale. I do wish it would be easier to manage your forces without having to pause every 30 seconds, but that didn't matter that much to me, because this game has potential. Specifically, I reference the great work various modders put into one of the greatest mods I have ever seen: Rome: Total Realism. It's a lot like it sounds: dedicated to historical accuracy and, as a side effect, more diversity of gameplay. What I disliked most about the original game is that you can only play one of three identical Roman empires that never existed in the way that the game presents them. Historical accuracy aside, I became very bored, very quickly with the basic campaign. There just wasn't enough variety. I wanted to play Carthage. I wanted to play the Gauls. Total Realism cracked this game wide open for me. No, I never tried the expansion, because I never needed to. When you take each empire and kingdom in this game and you pay each one personal, custom attention and you set them in motion with this game's engine and its concepts and its scope, you get an amazing experience and a strategy game that rubs shoulders with Civ 4. (What's funny is that the two go well together. One gives you depth in conquest and the other gives you depth in nation management, especially civically.) Yeah, this and Medieval 2 TW both need just a little modding/upgrading to realize their true glory, and, when they do, they're awesome. RTW alone is an 8/10. RTW with Total Realism is a 10/10.… Expand

Amazing! Nearly flawless! The depth of this game is amazing, tedious negotiations, rebellious citizens, and many many people to conquer. The battles are reallistic (if not, then turn up the difficulty) and very controllable with a simple to use interface. The makers did an excellent job of fusing the campain map and the battle fields to the point that in the first week I had this, I believe I logged over FORTY hours on one campain. You truly face highs and lows of your millitary strengh and strategising. When I first started playing this game I wished to make peace with the surrounding nations and build my armies up, but several backstabbings later I felt no mercy for those who broke their allegances to me as my troops trampled them underneath their feet. This is honestly the first game I actually lost myself in. With constant audible explanations of anceint terms, strategies, and history, it is definately worth 20, 30, 40, even 50 dollars. Plus the historical battles make it even more worth while!… Expand

Demnads patience och comp. power, gives back a really complete strat. game.

The game is definitely over-hyped. I am a big fan of the MTW/Viking invasion games, and despite the slicker graphics, RTW is not enough of an improvement to warrant the price. Also, the music is a let-down. MTW very effectively used its soundtrack to portray the Medieval period. RTW tried, but its soundtrack is a little too glossy (Hollywood) for my taste.

A MASTERPIECE!!! This colossal game takes strategy into a new level, spectacular battles, excellent graphics and wonderfull AI. I am a bit annoyed with the guy that gave 0, he probably hasn't even played the game so he is just make things up. What an idiot.

Cool game...Exactly what Charles said...and you can have 10,000 people on the field!!!!!!!

Well, I look a bit like a war elephant... so when playing I raise my arm to my nose and go "Huuuaaahhhh" and then shake my belly. The game is so incredible it makes me want to do things like that.... The graphics, the gameplay, the strategy.... I keep a bust of Caesar on my desk while playing and french kiss it after every victory - the game is amazing.

This is a very good game.

All the hype about this?

Yes, a good game. But the total war has a history allready. Not much added to my opinion.

I wet myself... literally. Then I stripped off all of my clothes and danced around naked. Then, I made my wife, Amanda, pretend to be my conquered Greek Sex Slave and showed her my Roman War Elephant. Enough Said - go get this game!

What an idiot this guy giving Rome a 0. Clearly a moron of the higest order. This game owns... clear and simple. The reviews are spot on. This is the best RTS ever made. A must have for any PC gamer.

I have been waiting for this game for years now, hoping that it wouldn't dissapoint like so many other games I have waited for that didn't live up to expectations. This is one that has delivered. R.N. doesn't know what he is talking about. The graphics in this game are superb, as are the animations. I think he fails to realize that this isn't your average RTS. You don't have 20-100 models in your army, like in a game such as Dawn of War or Warcraft. Instead, you have 100 soldiers in each Unit, and you have many many units in your army. So while other RTS's might be more detailed, because there are less models, R:TW can't have quite that much detail. But it is no slouch. In fact, it beats a lot of RTS's in terms of detail. And we haven't even gotten to gameplay. R:TW is half Turn Based Strategy, half Real Time Strategy. I'm sure you can read about both in all the reviews, but they are both excellent and work toegether wonderfully. The new 3d Strategy map is excellently done. The interactions between units in the RTS portion are great. Cavalry charge and knock models over, axemen barbarians yell and charge forward doing leaping attacks. Straight up, this is in my top 5 best game of all time. Any fans of the series will like, and newcomers don't be put off by its depth. Once you dig in you won't regret it. Oh, and R.N... you can turn off the "character guides." There is a big option where you can set level of advice "low, medium, high, NONE", but apparently you need more than a 2nd grade class room level of education to figure that out...… Expand

Well, I play this game on my knees with a crown of ivory around my head and a white bedsheet - I yell, "I am Caesar, I came, I saw, I kicked patootie" and then laugh madly. It's just that good. An amazing game. Plus, I like the feel of the bedsheet.

This is a good game. I play it for hours.

So realistic,so fun, so great, so interesting.This is the best strategy i have ever played.

Enthralling, infuriating, beautiful to watch and addictive to play.

Rome total war is without a doubt the best PC game ever released. It has completely revived my faith in the PC genere. The graphics are top of the range with only Half life two to compare to it, but the real brilliance of this game is the Campaign map where the player is in complete control with no fixed objective and totaly immersed in uncountable options on how to run his Empire. Apart from this the realism is unbelieveable. Battles are fought in unique maps all over Europe reflecting the terrain in the Map overview. If you have a good PC there is no reason why not to get this game.… Expand

The mouse pad. What is up with that? The game is superb in virtually every aspect but the most basic function. Overall, it is a great improvement over M Total War. It has provided hours of fun entertainment, but they've got to fix that bug.

One of the best games i have everplayed.

This is really the best strategy game ever.

Without a doubt the best game I have ever played.

There is and never will be a better game than this. alot of people complain about game play but ive never played with better. just look at the graphics(the best graphics in pc history.

It's a 9.5. The game is almost perfect.

OMG this is deff. 1 of the best games ever. i love to fight huge battles and its still fun even if u lose them. if anyone gave this game lower than a 9 is really dumb because this game is just amazing.

Don't believe all those negative comments! There is no "hype". This is genuinely one of the best games with a mix of strategy and action ever to be created. I have played computer games since 1981 and must say that this is one of the most immersive games. The music is excellent. Download a demo and try it for yourself. Yes, not every game will appeal to everyone. But do not prejudge it based on a handful of negative reviews.… Expand

Wow,wow,wow! This game is definately worth the money. There is nothing more fun that pitching a massive Roman army agains a hoard of Gauls. Watch th blood (and men) fly. The graphics did almost kill my computer but it was well worth waiting for the lag to pass befor the climax of your battle. I recommend a pretty good computer or you may have to switch off your flaming arrows.

STILL HOOKED AFTER 2 YEARS I pre-ordered Empire total war on steam, then realized i got Rome total war Gold edition with it. I thought this is a welcome surprise. And i can just say.AWESOME. The graphics arnt spectacular but its an old game, plus it got all the more exited bout Empire.

Alex G is a legend. thank you for good tip. now i am a leet noob. R:TW looks nice but not as nice as HL2 or Doom3. it is a lot like the old game Civilization. do not ask why my username is spank monkey. i not tell. ;-)

I love this game.

While Rome: Total War is one of the most visually impressive strategy games I've played, the AI is rather atrocious; and frankly, that's where it counts when it comes to strategy. For instance, once I was playing as the Greeks, and suddenly the Macedonians laid siege to my city with their entire standing army. Taking the offensive, despite being outnumbered by about 400 men, I managed to destroy their forces with one archer unit and the built-in defenses of the city's stone wall by sending my general out of the city gates to lure them forward, and then pulling him back in. Wash, rinse, repeat, and you repel virtually any siege; since the AI has no concept of self-preservation, it won't even bother to move troops under fire in many instances. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the AI for your troops is no better, so things balance out. Perhaps it's unfair to expect Rome: Total War to set the bar higher for RTS AI; but it's disappointing nonetheless, that in spite of such graphical and aural splendor, even simple tasks like pathfinding have improved little since the days of Ms. Pacman. As for the game's plaudits, the other reviewers have pointed most of those out already, and Rome is everything it should and could be aesthetically; all that remains now is for the developers is to make a game that actually requires a shred of strategem and we'd all be set for life. … Expand

The best game ever.

I was a huge fan of shogun and medieval, but this game is simply out of this world, and redefines strategy. For the first time in any strategy game, the way units fight looks PERFECT. Elaphants charge through units and literally THROW them with their tusks, and the units go flying. its not like medieval or shogun where they all stood there and had a general attack animation while the game calculated stats and units suddenly fell over and died. The best part is, it runs at 70+ FPS on my computer, which for some reason was running slow with MEDIEVAL TW! I mean, perfect! i can play call of duty and UT and stuff, but this game never slowed down for one second on very high settings and everything, and it zoomed across the map without a hiccup. I only have enough money for one game this fall, and instead of half life 2, this is gonna be it.… Expand

I Have been a fan of of the total War Series since the beginning. I have also played the "other" strategy games that are out there. Age of Empires, Command and Conquer, etc., etc.. But compared to even the first total war, Shogun Total war, they shouldn't even be able to compete. But the most amazing thing, Is that Each one has gotten better. I have just picked up Rome, and it's gameplay is just outstanding, It's AI is scary at moments, being to take your troop movements assess the battlefield, send in the first wave, see you repositioning your troops to reinforce the line, withdraw it's troops to try what it has determined to be a weaker point in the line, and re-engage in the battle. This games gameplay is just beyond what I had ever imagined. I have been waiting on this game to be released since I heard about it last fall, was dissappointed when it didn't come out in January, dissappointed again when it didn't come out in June, but found the wait well worth it when I played just played it for the first time on Thursday, and when it kicked my ass on the first battle, I knew they had one hell of a great game on their hands and fully expect it to exceed not only their expectations, but their hopes for the popularity of this game.… Expand

Maybe not for strategy beginners, but stunning tactics & graphics! buy it and try it!

I want my money back!! This game is definitely over-hyped. The art work is and the animation is putrid. The graphics are done by the same people who illustrated my grandmother’s bible school text books in the 1960’s or 70’s. The pictures are faded and lack definite shadows. I was looking for the contrast buttons or the sharpness buttons, but there are none. The animation is stiff and is inconsistent with the game purpose. The character’s move like in the old “Speed Racer” or “Scooby Doo” cartoons (and this is being generous). Make sure you have taken a good dosage of Dramamine pills before you start playing this game. When trying to read information off of an index card sized panel, the background will move. The background will pan forwards and backwards, slow and fast, left and right, while all one wants to do is to read their end battle score and stats. It was like looking at dust on a car window while it is moving up a twisting bumpy hill. There are character guides in the game that preach to you like a 2nd grade class room teacher…and they won’t shut-up. It is difficult to say who this game is designed for. I think it is for grandparents to buy for their grand kids. Sooo sad. It is rated T for teen…yet there is nothing exciting or new about it. AI? Why put AI in a body of an old dead man when you can put AI in the body of a beautiful woman? What would you rather spend time with? There are so many games out there. Why invest in a game that looks and makes you feel like crap? Is it not the object of a game to be fun and enjoyable? I am sure the main reason for anyone giving this game a high mark is simply to make up for the $50 they just blown away. Personally, I rather toss this game in the trash and consider it a donation for better time spent. … Expand

there are 2 tipes of critics, the tipe that score it like it deserves and the ones that try to make the overall score as they want it and score only 0 or 10 ,i m of the first kind, and if i were of the second kind i would give it a "10". the game is realistic, has great graphics and is very fun online, but i have to admit that the AI is pretty damn stupid and has stupid bugs. another annoying thing about it is that the units dont always do exactly what u want them tp, but i guess it's a part of making the game realistic. for conclusion, the game itself gets boring within a week or two, but if u play online u can go on for monthes and not get tired of it, therefor i definitely recommend this game. oh and btw, if u have problems with the mouse sensitivity, change it in control panel=>mouse… Expand

Graphics might be good, but the game is boring! everything is sooo slow. Not worth installing.. also, mouse speed cannot be adjusted, so you have to pick up the mouse 5 times for it to move from one side of the screen to the other - very frustrating.

I'm getting no sleep and get a thrill from chansing down routed foot soldiers!! Great great game!!!!

The best game ever.

Oh man i cant believe the detail this game goes into. like if u attack a city u will see all the buildings they built. it is really unbleavable.

Wow! i been a huge total war fan since the start. i love how not only this game is fun but the historical value you get when you play it. the battles are realistic and massive :). the hours you spend on 1 campaign will keep you very busy. my only complaint is trade is underrated in the game in my opinion a definite buy for all strategy fans.

Anyone who gives this title a 6 or less is a morovian. Either you have no taste or sh...y machine that cant handle the game.

Perfection. The best strategy game ive ever played. Much better than dawn of war or any of the other very good strategy games that have come out this year. Really good replay value too, with different tech trees for factions and excellent multiplay.

Listen to the people who are giving this game a 10, its true, the trolls dont know what they are talking about, because this game is REALLY AWESOME You play as rome, move out to defeat other factions and eventually vy for power against other power hungry romans, to rule the known world.

Ahh.. Rome Total War... When modern PC gamers hear the word 'strategy' they will instantly think of the Total War series (Rome in particular) and StarCraft. Although Shogun: Total War was the first game of the series, I really like having Rome as the 'defining' point of the series of genre. Rome: Total War allows you to play as a mighty Roman general on his conquest of dominance and power. Seeing thousands of soldiers clash into each other is just epic and at the same time careful tactics and strategies must be used to win. One of the problems I had with this game is the 'aggro' some of you 'allies' have. I remember becoming the powerhouse of the Roman Empire but all of the sudden every single general begins to oppose me as they realize I am a threat. This game be VERY annoying at times. Although I can see a couple complaints with a few people who dislike the slow pacing of the game. Overall I give this game a 8/10. +Defined the 'Total War' strategy. +Awesome spectacules -Slow pace -Ally Aggro… Expand

Although I replayed Medieval Total War many times the only one that withstand time is Rome Total War. I haven't played Medieval II although I have it but it just won't start. Rome is never boring and it is perfectly replay-able because of the three possible factions you can play with from the beginning. Fact is thus that you encounter three total different foes or allies which make a great difference in playing style and approach. I had much problems to withstand the Gauls with the Julii since their units are much larger than the roman ones. Thing is to use the terrain to your advantage, a very important thing in Rome, for example defend at a bridge if you're outnumbered. A bad thing is putting units on a huge scale because units cost much more to raise but your income isn't changing. Another bad thing is that the AI is able to defend/attack with 2 or 3 whole armies and you my friend can only defend with one army, eventually reinforced with another but your maximum of units can't be more than the one army fighting. This can form a stalemate in certain areas, I had it with the Brutii against the Britons, and is maybe an advantage well thought of which makes you can't overrun the enemy. The whole game is well developed, almost no bugs and in my opinion one of the best games where it comes to empathy. A classic one and certainly a must have!! It's totally not outdated.… Expand

The is the best game to be called strategy gaming. The best game in the series (this comes from someone who has played all of them). Most bad reviews are from people who get it from steam and have trouble with learning the game. Some remarks about the game not living up to it's hype. It was one of the first games of it's type and for when it came out, and the graphics compared with the number of soldiers on the field of battle were unheard of for PC. Best game play imaginable, easy to learn as i was only a kid (12) when i mastered the mechanics with ease. I have yet to see something comparable. I would still recommend people to play this game, it is well worth its money in the many hours you will enjoy playing it.… Expand

My most played game ever, and I have played thousands upon thousands of hours of PC games, 10/10, without a doubt. My one and only complaint about this game is the diplomacy AI. It could be improved - allies will attack when it is of no advantage to them, after a century of you paying them, trading with them, and assisting them.

It's easy to pick up and play, but the actual in-game combat is very basic and boring. There's barely any strategy in it and the combat really seems rushed and a 'side feature'. You can even resolve battles automatically, and have no option to fight when it's naval warfare. Overall, the game is pretty accessible but there's nothing exciting about it if you ask me. If you want a real turn-based STRATEGY game, try Chess.…… Expand

The battle and recruitament system is so good, the interpretion of the Romain imperial time during the before christ years is completly awesome, all is too cool in the game.

Absolutely phenomenal. The best game I have ever played, hands down. I still play now, even though it is like 7 years old. Each game is different, each battle is different - and that is what makes this game so timeless. A must have PC game.

This game is quite frankly the best strategy game I have ever played, if not, the best game I have ever played period. The game just doesn't get old for me. It just doesn't. I have played many games in my life, but this one is special. The amount of vast diversity between the units and factions is just too great, the amount of strategy required for this game is immense, the music is just awesome, gameplay is very easy to understand and the fighting on the battlefield is too overwhelmingly epic, even if this game came out in 2004. Speaking of 2004, people STILL play this game to date since its release. I have started playing this game in 2010, and I regret buying all the games in the past (including CoD) when all I had to do, WAS GET THIS GAME. Yes, people still play this game online and you can easily find people to play with, but I think we need a tad bit more people to join us. I say, go google and download steam, buy it for $10 (completely worth it) and enjoy most epic game of your life. Sure the graphics, they are outdated, and people say "buy Shogun 2" just because it is newer. But I have bought Shogun 2, I only invested 130 hours into it, and I'm bored with it already. Rome on the other hand, has made me invest almost 400 hours into it and still going strong. And I am not even a big Real Time Strategy gamer, but this one turned me into one. This game is so good, I am almost scared for a Rome 2 Total War because of what Creative Assembly has done to their series after Rome. Their Total War games were good, but missed the special ...something that Rome had. And I fear that they will change Rome 2 too much, like Shogun 2. But overall, this game is outstanding, and I highly recommend it to ANY gamer.… Expand

Truly spectacular game. You can control thousands of troops in a battle against thousands of troops. The campaign is also going to keep you playing for a long time. You can conquer and destroy other empires while empowering yours. It's really amazing. I just hope they can make the controls for the troops better and we can control the navies and fight the naval battles.

The Excellent play! I from it in delight! Advise all. Simply stunning strategy in 3D. Even in 2011, after so much years after its output, with pleasure play!

If I had to play one game for the rest of my life, this would be it. This game has more re-playability than any other and is amazing at everything it does.

As close to strategic masterpiece as it goes. Fantasic feeling and gameplay. Though there are som mayor bugs ruining some of the experience. And the bribing system isn't perfect. But a must have for the real strategy fan.

Rome: Total War is just a master piece. For 2004 its graphics were legendary, the game play NEVER gets old (bought it when it first came out and I still play it) and the campaign is just truly epic. If you like a good RTS game, you need this because it doesn't get much better then this.

A great game, along with Shogun 2 the best of the Total War series. What's unique about this game compared with the rest of the series is that it is actually quite balanced.