Empire: Total War (PC)
Manufacturer: Sega Part number: 85229
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- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Description:
- Command the seas, control the land, forge a new nation, and conquer the globe. Empire: Total War takes the Total War franchise to the eighteenth century Age of Enlightenment - a time of political upheaval, military advancements, and radical thought, captured in stunning detail in Empire: Total War. Empire: Total War introduces a host of revolutionary features, including true 3D ... Read more
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Gamespot editors' review
Empire: Total War (PC) price range: $39.99
- Reviewed by: Kevin VanOrd
- Reviewed on: 03/09/2009
- Released on: 03/03/2009
Like diving into a murky lake from the rocky cliffs looming above, plunging into Empire: Total War is an intimidating prospect but an exhilarating experience. As with previous games in this strategy franchise, there's an overwhelming amount of content to unearth, though now the clock has been spun forward hundreds of years. Technological advances have made bows and arrows weapons obsolete, the British colonies strive for independence, and major empires approach their inevitable collapse. These historical waters are deep, but also a bit turbulent. Empire is the biggest and broadest Total War yet, and like an aging historical parchment, it's brilliantly ambitious in scope but somewhat tattered at the edges. Nevertheless, the game's historical breadth, turn-based tugs-of-war, and enjoyable real-time battles (both on land and at sea) will transfix series fans and newcomers alike.
The grand campaign is the meat of Empire: Total War, and it's there where you're likely to spend the most amount of time. The game stretches across the 18th century and lets you choose from a number of world powers, from Great Britain and Russia to fallen domains such as the Maratha Confederacy and the Ottoman Empire. Once you choose an empire, you can select from a few different campaign types that determine victory conditions and campaign length. Whichever you decide, be prepared: Even a short, 50-year campaign can take a good amount of time to complete, given that each turn requires strategic thinking on multiple fronts. Battles usually determine how regions are won and lost, but diplomatic relations, economic strangleholds, assassinations, and many other subtleties must be tweaked and considered at each turn, and they have noticeable impact as the years progress. If this sounds overwhelming, or if you're an American history buff, you'll want to check out the Road to Independence campaign before jumping into the grand one. This is essentially a long American tutorial that slowly introduces you to the basics and culminates in a grand campaign of its own.
The factors you must consider run the gamut, starting with an important new feature: the technology tree. Three areas of research and multiple subtrees let you improve your military, industry, and philosophy; in turn, your choices may benefit your economy or your success in battle. The benefits may seem minor at first, but as the campaign wears on, their effects are more noticeable, and your choices within these trees must be informed by the strengths and weaknesses of your particular empire. Do you concentrate on industry and use sheer numbers of troops to overwhelm your enemies, or do you focus on naval improvements and reap the ensuing benefits of successful trade-route blockades? As your campaign wears on, your needs may shift, whether because enemy blockades require a stronger navy, because you are spreading quickly across land, or because your economy is unable to sustain your growing army. Technology is also a limited diplomatic option, given that it's a commodity that you can not only trade during negotiations but also steal from foes. Additionally, it's not easy to convince a friendly nation to offer technology. Even when offered multiple technologies or monetary compensation, your closest allies rarely accept a request to share even a single technology, which makes it a limited political tool. In Empire: Total War, knowledge is more easily stolen than shared.
In fact, your more successful political dealings are the underhanded ones. Your agents may differ between nations (for example, gentlemen and rakes for the British, scholars and hashishin for the Ottomans), but the tasks are similar: covertly disrupt the affairs of your enemies and potential enemies. Religious agents such as missionaries will slowly but surely convert the populace, staving off potential rebellion in newly captured regions. On the other hand, the impact of religion is not as deep or impactful as in the Europa Universalis series, in which social and diplomatic events are more fully explored. Regardless, it's great fun to cripple whole economies, especially when your strategies work in tandem with each other. Sending in a naval fleet to seize enemy trade supplies, sending another directly into an enemy's port (and therefore obstructing incoming goods), and dispatching an agent to sabotage commercial ports can have profound effects. In cases like these, an angry, resource-deprived public and cash-strapped armies then ease the way for a quick triumph.
Nevertheless, this is Total War, and though assassinations and sabotage lighten your wartime load, there are no diplomatic, religious, or technological victories. Might is right, and as such, your armies and navies drive the quick spread of your domain--and if you want to meet the campaign's success requirements, you'll want to be aggressive, right from the start. The artificial intelligence doesn't always take sensible steps; smaller countries may declare war, only to be quickly steamrolled, whereas major foes can seem almost oblivious to your spread across their regions. However, campaign AI is good enough to keep you occupied across multiple theaters, and minor nations and rebels can often keep your hands full, leaving room for major foes to invade. You will review every fleet and army at every turn, and now that army recruitment, resource production, and other aspects of play are spread across multiple locales within a region, mobility (and therefore, roads) is an important strategic asset.
Unlike with most turn-based historical games, battles can be played out in real time, and though the autoresolve option may look tempting, you should, at least on land, manage any battle in which you have a reasonable chance of winning. The most obvious reason is that they're enjoyable to command and enjoyable to watch. Thousands of units clash in a dizzying mass of artillery and bullets, camels and swordsmen, and as in prior Total War games, it's more about position, formation, and geography than about unit micromanagement. Garrisoning musketeers, and taking heat off of cavalry by keeping enemy gunmen occupied with melee infantry, are just a few of many possibilities to consider. Once armies clash, these prebattle decisions generally have far more impact than any midskirmish choice, and it's as enjoyable as ever to zoom in close to your troops and watch them engage. The landscapes are on the bland side, but soldier animations and the general amount of model detail make for a wonderful visual treat.
User reviews
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Not what I paid for
by Seththesnake on March 28, 2009
Pros: The graphics, and the concept.
Cons: The fact that it's a halfassed unfinished product doesn't help much. Steam certainly doesn't help There is no manual. No customer service. Can't play single player offline.
False advertising.Summary: This is a joke. I cannot even talk to a representative about getting a refund. I specifically remember reading At total war that you could play this game without an ...
Summary: This is a joke. I cannot even talk to a representative about getting a refund. I specifically remember reading At total war that you could play this game without an internet connection. That is a flat out lie. There is no Manual available. The game works about 70% of the time. Bugs bugs bugs. I want a refund but Steam is hard to contact. Also the special forces edition is exactly they same as the regular except they rename a few units is all, and I haven't seen any yet after three days of playing.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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will never buy another Total war
by eturyu on December 1, 2009
Pros: Better over all game....
Cons: graphics issues, crash issues, STEAM STEAM STEAM STEAM STEAM STEAM STEAM...oh and STEAM....
Summary: i dont play for alittle come back to A 2HR DOWNLOAD i just shut down steam. I herby boycott untill steam is lost. No customer service or Contact Us option. ...
Summary: i dont play for alittle come back to A 2HR DOWNLOAD i just shut down steam. I herby boycott untill steam is lost. No customer service or Contact Us option. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LOG ONTO STEAM TO PLAY AN OFFLINE SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGN MODE....I SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PATCH UNLESS I WANNA PLAY ONLINE... I used to love this franchise , since shogun i used to demand my friends buy the new Total wars so we could play online....i have not in good faith been able to recomend Total war to anyone
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Worst TW game ever....
by Leatherneck918 on October 15, 2009
Pros: Great Graphics and Naval Battles.
Cons: Dont watch Avertisments on product, most things seen in them are not in the game. Game has more bugs, flaws, and just dumb AI.
Summary: This game ETW is the worst TW game so far. Its lacking so much content then other TW games that have came before. This game can not even be called ...
Summary: This game ETW is the worst TW game so far. Its lacking so much content then other TW games that have came before. This game can not even be called a stratigy game, do to the stupid AI. The only way the AI will win is if you set the game to VH/VH and you just sleep through the game. This game is great if you are the type of person who does not like to lose. You can win easily aginst the AI even if out numbered 5 to 1. So it takes a lot mistakes on the player to lose a game. I would say wait in tell the game is like $9.99 or less before buying. Plus this game uses steam and for a lot of users, it is all so causing problems to just load the game up. Buy at own risk and dont be upset if you find it is one of those games that keep you intrested in it for a few weeks. Not much replay value in it. All factions have pretty much have the same type of soldiers in them, with a few eceptions.
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don't buy this. not worth the trouble
by totalwarfail on July 13, 2009
Pros: fun grand campaign, cannons are strangely fun to watch
Cons: everything else, this game actually crashed my computer. It flashed the blue screen of death. my specs checked out too, way over the recomended marks. I can't believe this. This game will freeze, crash, resest, and do everything it can to bug you.
Summary: AVOID AVOID AVOID
I wish I had seen this forum before I bought this unfinished piece of #@&%Summary: AVOID AVOID AVOID
I wish I had seen this forum before I bought this unfinished piece of #@&% -
Has potential, but for $50 there is no patches
by RKlotzie on June 23, 2009
Pros: Potential and lots of it. More complex than Rome total war.
Cons: Crashes and nowhere to find patches. Steam is horrible. Nothing like Rome total war and it's game play. It was simple and did not crash.
Summary: They made a product which does not work due to lousy programming. Clearly a do not buy until they create a product which works. They should immediately have a recall ...
Summary: They made a product which does not work due to lousy programming. Clearly a do not buy until they create a product which works. They should immediately have a recall for all of their consumers.
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Same old Total War, only improved.
by Total_War_Master on May 2, 2009
Pros: Empire brings a whole new type of world to the table with it's latest installment. Now, it is the 18th century, and we are entering the world of muskets, the fall of nations, and the birth of new ones. Its fantastic to play and also very very fun.
Cons: The AI doesn't always think straight(such as suicidal wars and such) but if you consider the fact that they probably would not have made much of a difference anyway, you stop caring. Also, I must say that exploring the 'New World' takes a long time.
Summary: Overall, Empire: Total War is a fantastic game, with some minor problems. The introduction of sea battles brings more to the table. Although the idea of adjusting your ships due ...
Summary: Overall, Empire: Total War is a fantastic game, with some minor problems. The introduction of sea battles brings more to the table. Although the idea of adjusting your ships due to wind, water height ect. may not be appealing to all, there is always that Auto Resolve button that actually works this time. No matter what nation you choose you will be sucked into war eventually. I always thought this was kind of a downside for total war, not because the battles aren't fun, but because some days you really don't feel like fighting out several battles and also managing your empire. Trust me there was lots of times I would forget what I was doing when I got back to the managing part. But the name of the game is total war, so I guess war is expected. The graphics of the game are extraordinary, watching riflemen scramble to reload their muskets is a fun sight. I even noticed some very realistic things like a group of peasents realazing that a daunting group of calvarly are charging and for a split second you can see the fear on their face before they break and run. If you haven't heard Total War features a lot of things to consider like morale of troops, fatigue levels, generals command level, terrain, location of army to nearest city ratio, and enemy and troop numbers and quality. Although this can be really annoying at times(I sent about 1500 low level troops against 400 fearsome ones my enemy had and they broke and ran right as the battle started) Also, one thing that total war does have is replayablity. Every time I choose a new faction something unique always happens. For example one game I played as England Russia got destroyed by a small power. Another game I played as the America, France got decked by England. Something new is always happening offering new ways to play the game. Also many events like the rebellion of America pose new oppurtunities for nations. I ended up supporting the Americans as France and sent them tons of ships and men so they ended up winning insuring my enemy England lost a lot of income and troops. I just got a new gaming HP laptop(love it!) and I decided to get total war as my game of play and after about a month i still pop in this game every other day or so and get a blast playing it. Only beat about 2 nations so far so I got a LONG way to go and total war buffs like myself wouldnt have it any other way!
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Basically broken-
by kwofi on March 19, 2009
Pros: BIG, broad, deep and potentially amazing...
Cons: Buggy, unstable, unpolished, unfinished. Basically a beta.
Summary: Expanded Cons and Pros
I'm going cons first because after a few hours they really start to detract from the overall experience. While I have no doubt CA will ...Summary: Expanded Cons and Pros
I'm going cons first because after a few hours they really start to detract from the overall experience. While I have no doubt CA will eventually iron out a lot of the issuesm the state of this game out of the box is a stinging disappointment.
Cons:
Most unfinished, unpolished, unstable TW release CA has ever subjected its customers to. Its broken, untested and you are the beta tester. bugged, bugged, bugged.
1. For many the game crashed to desktop constantly -ETW's forums bear this out-.
2. save files get corrupted constantly
3. AI is as bad or worse than previous TW games.
-AI troops make very odd decisions
-Campaign AI is terribly passive
4. pathing is as bad or worse than previous TW games
5. sieges are particularly riddled with bugs, makes the whole scenario/situation unplayable
6. custom battle options are unnecessarily restrictive...
7. in battle cover doesn't really work
8. occupyable buildings compound the bad ai and pathing issues
9. naval battles formations and pathing is also bad. Ships require a lot of micro management making big battles a real chore.
10. Trade routes and specially created trade zones are also bugged.
Pros:
When it works the game is fantastically broad, and deep. I've bought all the total war game and a couple of the expansions, and this game is by far the most ambitious...
1. the era is awesome
2. battle graphics are spectacular
3. the naval battles look simply amazing
4. the interface is simplified, providing more options with more subtle campaign effects with fewer clicks once you really get into it. Vastly improved IMHO
5. The game is beyond HUGE! A lot of potential gameplay packed into one release -
Great game, but needs patches
by rotaugen454 on March 12, 2009
Pros: Great battles-as in all Total War games
Naval warfare is a blast
Graphics (on HIGH end machines)
Tech trees-Civilization with live battles!Cons: BSOD and other crashes, along with bugs
Need a high end machine to get great graphics
Need to be online at Steam to initially install game (not a huge deal)
Lack of complete manual is a BIG negative, as you have to figure a lot out for yourself.Summary: I am a huge fan of all Total War games. This one is the best of the series, or at least will be after bugs are fixed in a patch. ...
Summary: I am a huge fan of all Total War games. This one is the best of the series, or at least will be after bugs are fixed in a patch. Having to set up online with Steam was NOT a big deal, regardless of what some think. I love the graphics (have a high end machine), the sounds, and the overall pace of the action. The naval battles became MUCH easier once I figured out how to fight in formation instead of micromanaging each ship. The Gentleman agents are useful in tech research, but the Rakes are much less useful, as they usually seem to get caught and cost your nation a bit of reputation. The campaign map with multiple sites to develop in EACH region means less armies just holed up in cities all the time. The tech development and international relations are two welcome additions to the game. Overall, there are some bug problems, and very little is explained in the manual.After this game gets a patch or two, and people online start making faqs covering strategy and the numbers behind each part of the game (my friends and I are putting our observations together already) it will probably move up to a 5 star rating for me. If the past games are any indication, don't waste your money on a Brady Games guide (whenever it comes out), as the faqs and guides made by gamers online are MUCH more useful.
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Excellent game, horrible release method
by JRC1967 on March 5, 2009
Pros: Creative Assembly has constantly striven to release improved products. This effort represents their best work to date. It is extremely detailed, beautifully colored, massive in scope, and devious in strategy.
Cons: Unfortunately, Creative Assembly sold themselves to SEGA, who chose to use Steam. You must install Steam, a P2P connection, to play the game. Also, Creative Assembly began with a day one patch. The game can be slow to get into. The tutorial is poor.
Summary: It is ridiculous that you must install additional 3rd person software prior to installing/using the program. P2P connections, like Steam, are easily penetrated; which is an exceptional way of ...
Summary: It is ridiculous that you must install additional 3rd person software prior to installing/using the program. P2P connections, like Steam, are easily penetrated; which is an exceptional way of letting other people read your mail (see any article regarding P2P connections and, say, the president's current helicopter). In addition, if the Empire program crashes for any reason (as it has several times), you will have to log back in to steam to fix it, even if you activated the offline mode. Want to close out a few memory eating programs? You may have to restart steam and connect online to re-set the program. Want to update the program? Log into Steam. Because I had the demo for Empire installed, I had to completely remove all of Steam and start over to get it to take the install correctly. SEGA doesn't really care, and for this exact reason, they have made feedback a nightmare. It's clear that PC games are way down their on their concern list. It's still worth it to go through the motions to let them know you don't appreciate their crap, however. As for Creative Assembly: a day one patch is a huge no-no in my book, because it says that you are very well aware that you released a buggy product. It also says that you knew what the bug was, indicating that it could have been fixed prior to release. I had to wait while steam looked for the patch, and then informed me that it would be some time before I could view my game. A game should work OUT OF THE BOX! Once you get the game loaded (which takes an excessively long time) you will discover a beautifully rendered world with a decent interface familiar to most Total War fans. As I said before, this is their best game to date in appearance and depth of strategy. That said, the manual that comes in the box is a joke, the in-game help is complicated, and the game can be very, very slow at times, with the turn button being clicked over and over to make progress, even if you are expanding as rapidly as possible. It may be difficult for first time Total War players or those unfamiliar with the mix of turn and real time used in Empires to get into the game. That is, if they have the patience to make it past the Steam gauntlet. Excellent game, but it loses 2 stars because of SEGA's publishing foolishness.
Well, it's now July, and I am once again looking back on my review. It has been four months and several patches, and yet a whole host of issues have come forcefully to my attention. I have had a never ending string of CTDs (crash to desktop). I am not alone in this: most users have experienced this issue. In addition, I have looked at the amount of RAM that Steam uses during game play, and it's ridiculous. I will never again purchase any game that requires Steam to run. The game itself has to many units that look like twins; after MTW, it's a huge letdown. Then there are the units, like cannons that keep shouting out that they are "Highlanders!" . Native Americans fight in straight lines and with cavalry formations. Or that the water flows into the gun ports of the ships to such an extent that the ships would SINK, unless the ports were kept closed. Then the boring progression of turns and mouse clicks. Do yourself a favor: if you resisted buying this at the start, don't give in now!
Updated on Jul 5, 2009 -
Don't take it from me, Download the Demo.
by YankeeBastid on February 23, 2009
Pros: The Demo offers Naval and Land Battle. The Naval battle stands out as one of the most advanced attempts at creating a realistic scenario. You just have to see it. The Land battles offered levels of detail not previously found.
Cons: Dont compare this to COD, EVE, Halo etc. This is the game for those of us who would collect Pot metal armies and build a battle ground. It is complex in that you have to think (hmm, is that really a bad thing Try the demo, you'll see what I mean
Summary: The Demo offers Naval and Land Battle. The Naval battle stands out as one of the most advanced attempts at creating a realistic scenario. You just have to see it. ...
Summary: The Demo offers Naval and Land Battle. The Naval battle stands out as one of the most advanced attempts at creating a realistic scenario. You just have to see it. The Land battles offered levels of detail not previously found. Terrain plays a much more significant role in the outcome. Cannon fire, Grenades, Melee, and standoff gunfire. Just what I have been looking for in Period Warfare games. Don't try to compare this to COD, Warcraft, EVE, Crysis, etc. This is the a game for thinkers. Chess Players. Armchair Generals. You can zoom to the level of the individual soldiers, fly onto the deck or a Ship of the Line. Listen to the batteries of guns fire and watch as Ships and Buildings and Troops are torn apart. One of my ships caught fire, then the powder magazine went. What a sight!!! The sinkings are so realistic it is unbelievable. Again, this is not a first person shooter, say like Crysis. It is a THINKING persons game. How you postion your troops. Set up a trap, Fake a charge, Flanking maneuvers - ALL this and much much more. I only have the demo so did not see how the Towns are developed, nor how technology is advance, but I can wait to get my own verson on March 3rd (order onliine and get a one day advance.)
I have been playing games since Atari days. D-day was one heck of a simulation in the 70's and having worked with the War Games dept at Fort Leavenworth, it came doggone close to using the same programming features that were available at the time.
But THIS! Words cannot describe. I have never, NO NEVER, played a game as captivating as this one, and I have been hooked before on other games that kept me occupied for months, years even. I see this one as my LAST one. No need to buy anything else. This is the answer to my hopes in terms of entertainment. So you may be thinking does this guy have a life? Well yes I do. I have worked with computers since I was 18. Flight simulators while in the Air Force, 8 bit ferrite core computers and have lived the Technology revolution. But I have always enjoyed computer gaming and I think I am in possession of the demo of ALL demo's. The Capo de tuti Capo of computer games.
On March 4th, 2009 a new era of gaming begins. As in old Rome, when the gates were opened in the Colosseum, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sega
- Part number: 85229
- Description: Command the seas, control the land, forge a new nation, and conquer the globe. Empire: Total War takes the Total War franchise to the eighteenth century Age of Enlightenment - a time of political upheaval, military advancements, and radical thought, captured in stunning detail in Empire: Total War. Empire: Total War introduces a host of revolutionary features, including true 3D naval combat. For the first time in the Total War series, you will be able to intuitively command single ships or vast fleets upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board, taking control of your men as they fight hand-to-hand on the decks of these wooden behemoths. In addition, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series' signature 3D battles and turn-based campaign map. Real-time battles will pose challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map - for many, the heart of Total War - introduces a variety of upgraded elements, including systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents; a refined and streamlined UI; improved Advisors; and a vastly extended scope, taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and, for the first time, the untapped potential of the United States of America.
Product Basic Spec
- Platform PC
- ESRB rating Teen - Blood, Language, Violence, Alcohol reference, Tobacco reference
- Genre Strategy
- Elements Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time
- Context Historical
- Operating system Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2
Minimum
- RAM 1 GB
Game
- Developer Creative Assembly
- ESRB Teen
- ESRB descriptors Blood, Language, Violence, Alcohol reference, Tobacco reference
- Release date 2009-03-03
Manufacturer info
- Sega
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sega products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.sega.com/
- Address:
P. O. Box 8097, Redwood City, CA 94063
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