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4.5 stars
"Yet another great game from the Total War series"
Pros: A game played over a huge scale, with many different factions allowing for many different approaches to the conflict.
Great combat gameplay, with excellent realism and graphics.
Fantastic detail at every level of the gameCons: Requires a very good computer to really function to its optimum level, as combat in particular is very demanding on the graphics card.
Summary: This game allows one to totally immerse oneself in a world of never-ending conflict as each seeks to become the hegemonic power in the known world. The sign of a good game is when one has to really drag oneself away from the screen; the sign of a great game is when one completely forgets all other considerations. Medieval War definitely belongs to the latter category.
Occasionally there can be glitches in the AI, chiefly when one is defending settlements.
Diplomacy is frustrating.
The campaign map is beautifully presented and offers one a wealth of choices, as one has to juggle resources, troops and enemies very carefully if one wishes to succeed in winning. To win even a "short campaign" will take many hours, even several days of playing. To the designer's credit, one rarely has to fulfill tasks or wage battles that seem repetitive.
However, savvy players with experience of the game can quite easily exploit flaws in the AI. The three secrets of winning are cavalry, cavalry and cavalry: as long as one concentrates on producing these units in quantity and quality, there is no AI force to match it in the long run. Crucially, only cavalry can really ensure that an opposing army is wiped out, as infantry cannot really capture routing troops. Added to the fact that calvary can cover distances quicker than other units on the campaign map and one can see just how far ahead of other units they are.
With back-up from a few infantry units (to capture settlements) and later on gunpowder units (for long range bombardment), one can win on even the hardest difficulty settings. Also, it is very easy to defeat even superior forces who attempt to take your settlements by force as the AI allows too many of its troops to be killed needlessly before it can control the walls.
Diplomacy and Economy also play large roles in the game, but the former can be frustrating as the AI is generally unbelievably stubborn, and prefers to fight on against huge odds rather than accept a settlement. It is also next to impossible to maintain a good diplomatic reputation whilst playing, as declaring war usually takes ones reputation down and one has to be at war to win the game. The only really satisfying part of diplomacy in the game is the interaction between oneslf and the pope, as one cannot afford to ignore him (you do not want to be excommunicated, trust me) and it is possible with careful strategy to work around him. There is nothing more satisfying than to see your cardinal elected as pope, and it will provide you with a great advantage, if exploited carefully.
Economy is less subtle, and is acheived through the correct building of structures in accordance with one's plans: ie one should concentrate on building up ones docks if one is English, whereas market trade is more important is one is playing the Holy Roman Empire.
One will also receive missions by either the Pope, the Council of Nobles or another Faction Heir. These offer intriguing strategic options and give the game yet another level of subtlety. Finally, there are agents who range from diplomats and priests to assassins and spys. The careful use of these agents is essential to your success (particularly the spy, who, when used in combination with a cavalry army can be absolutely devastating when one wishes to swiftly capture settlements).
Medieval 2: Total War is a truely great game that will ensure that anyone who plays it will be immersed in a fascinating universe of perpetual struggle for supremacy. Only the slight imperfections in the AI prevent it from being considered as one of the greatest PC games of all time. Highly recommended, it must be considered as required playing for any serious strategy gamer on PC.
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