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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 13 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Creative Assembly
Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy
Players: 8
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: September 27, 2005
Summary
Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion commences just after the last Emperor of a unified Rome has died. His successors in Rome and Constantinople are now uneasy allies and rivals for power. The ‘barbarians' are massing along the borders, and in some cases are living inside what used to be Roman territory. Two hundred years have now passed since the main campaign in Rome: Total War. Players can now control vast armies and over 100 new units as they battle across an updated European map that now reflects the historical changes since Rome: Total War. Tear Rome apart by leading hordes of barbarians or stand and defend the Empire as a leader of one of the two former Romes, the Western and Eastern Empires. [Sega]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Rome: Total War
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: GameSpot Impressions Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Pelit (Finland)
Despite the short list of new features, Barbarian Invasion complements Rome: Total War perfectly. [Nov 2005]
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Barbarian Invasion is tweak-packed and jammed with choices, meaning that even expert Generals will be kept busy for ages. A must for fans of Rome Total War. [PC Gamer UK]
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
It is a tremendous value at the cost, and offers hundreds of hours of some of the best strategy gaming available to gamers on any system. [Review of Gold Edition]
Read Full Review >GameZone
I am really looking forward to seeing what the developers of this game have to offer in their next game.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
So while we're disappointed with the misplaced innovation and the lack of advancement, we still can't deny that it's Rome, that it's raised our bloodlust and our hackles in equal measure, and that it refreshes those parts that other strategy games just won't reach. [PC Zone]
Read Full Review >IGN
It offers more factions, more units and a couple of cosmetic touches that will be sure to have you falling in love all over again... What is less easy to look past is the relatively homogenous nature of the barbarian factions.
Read Full Review >PC Format
Barbarian Invasion doesn't devalue the achievements of its precursor. This isn't a great triumph or a fall, just a gentle decline. [Nov 2005, p.95]
Gamer's Hell
The ten new factions along with hundreds of new available units will help give this title new life, and even though the changes in gameplay won’t make any new fans out of the series, Barbarian Invasion delivers almost everything that fans could’ve asked for.
Read Full Review >PC Gamer
A fantastic addition to an already fantastic strategy game. [Dec 2005, p.94]
ActionTrip
The AI still exhibits some faults during real-time combat. On the 'normal' level of difficulty, they were too easily tricked by my more mobile units into falling into ambushes and subsequently being surrounded. They would often unnecessarily try to cross the river even though that would significantly diminish their maneuverability and effectively take them out of the battle.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
For those of us who crave battles with thousands of bloodthirsty warriors on each side, the Total War series is still your best bet for total carnage.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Barbarian Invasion adds a lot of new features and improvements to Rome: Total War, and the result is a much more challenging and satisfying strategy game.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
As magnificent an example of the add-on pack as Rome is, it doesn't redefine the game completely in order to make it an absolute essential buy for anyone who was interested in the mother-game. It's an imaginative more-of-the-same, but still – at its core – a more of the same.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
Barbarian Invasion isn't a must-have, but it definitely doesn't disappoint. It may not reinvent the original game, but it's certainly worth picking up for any Rome: Total War fan looking for some satisfying new challenges.
Read Full Review >Computer Games Magazine
There is certainly enough new here to recommend it to even casual fans. [Jan 2006, p.60]
GamerFeed
The single player campaign is so challenging and engrossing that it's easy to forget about the game's shortcomings.
Read Full Review >Games Radar (in-house)
But attempting the single-player campaign mode as the Roman Empire, especially the West, will present the greatest challenge to experienced players.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Though this particular invasion doesn't really change the scope of the battle, it certainly adds some berserk energy to your armchair strategizing. Trust in Crom.
Read Full Review >1UP
Adds a bit of new life to an already great game even if there isn't enough new to make the expansion pack truly exceptional.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
A poor expansion, with not much in the way of expanding on the previous. In fact it's possibly made the game a damn sight less playable, although hopefully my love for Total War will return with time.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Josh M. gave it a9:
Not much change is put into the expansion for gameplay yet it still proves a worthwhile expansion to the Rome series. I allows u to experience the harships of the western and eastern empires as they struggle to keep power and allows u to experience the military might it takes to push back the barbarians at the borders. All in all its a pretty good expansion to Rome: Total War.
Jonas H. gave it a10:
Great game, loads of fun. It's incredibly amusing playing as your nationality's roots and beat down The Romans. Or pwn them as Carthage with Amoured Elephants. Probably the best strategy game I've ever played.
Cormac gave it a9:
Although not a huge change it is challenging and different enough to whet the appetite.
Stuart R. gave it a10:
i have played the original and i have to admit that in rome total war the title speaks for itself just as i am sure the sequel will do also......Let war commence AGAIN!!!!!!
