Rome: Total War (including Barbarian Invasion and Alexander) - T
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game is a good thinking game, but it does have large-scale, realistic battles. No blood, but convincing sound effects get the point across. Overall, the game is full of historical and educational information, although parents may need to decipher what is real history and what's been added to make gameplay more fun. Parents should also be aware that Rome Total War can be played online; Common Sense does not recommend online play for anyone under 12.
Families who play this game may want to discuss how great warriors and their conquests are used as a plotline for many games, movies, and books. What's so appealing about warriors and wars? Also, is this a good way to learn about history? Are you more likely to remember something you saw in a game (versus reading a history textbook)? Are there any liabilites to learning this way?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jeremy Gieske
ROME: TOTAL WAR and its two expansion packs, BARBARIAN INVASION and ALEXANDER, are all brilliantly designed. The games are complex, but after half an hour or so, players will grow comfortable operating within them. Players will appreciate that they have many strategic options but never feel blogged down in micromanagement. Even the tutorials are fun to play.
The original Rome: Total War is set from 270 BC to 14 AD, roughly following the transformation of the Roman Republic, controlled by the Senate, into the dictatorship of the Roman Empire.
Players play as one of the three (semi-fictitious) main Roman families of the day. Following many campaigns against the other civilizations of the era, players attempt to gain total control of Rome and become the dictator of the Roman Empire.
The games are a mix of real-time and turn-based strategy. Decisions about what to build in capital cities, diplomacy, and what province to attack next take place on a turn-based map. The actual battles take place in real time, with thousands of soldiers on the battlefield at once. Although the games focus on single-player scenario play, multiplayer options allow for quick battles against friends.
This is a game that forces players to think. On the battlefield, it's important that players know how to use different kinds of troops for different situations. For example, the cavalry makes quick work of archers, but archers can rain devastation down on foot soldiers. Elevation, woods, and attacking from different angles can all have a huge impact on the outcome of the battle.
Putting the right person in command is also critical. The games allow only members of the player's "family" to be generals and governors. Each of these hero-type characters has characteristics that make them better at things like diplomacy, management, or running an army.
Both expansion packs, Barbarian Invasion and Alexander, require the original game to play.
Barbarian Invasion is set after the split of the Roman Empire into the Western and Eastern Empires and chronicles the decline of the Western empire.
This is more difficult than the original game, with a much smarter AI. A few of the changes: Players can play as many different civilizations early in the game, and religion and hordes have increased influence. Rather than surrendering when defeated, a civilization that loses its last territory has many of the remaining citizens converted into soldiers; they are given a chance to conquer another area and start a new base.
Alexander doesn't focus on Rome, instead following the conquest of Greek warrior Alexander the Great. This is the shortest installment, but it's by far the most difficult, since players are expected to replicate Alexander's incredible conquests. In 100 turns or less, players need to run 30 provinces and control four specific major cities. Alexander clearly caters mostly to pre-existing fans of the game, as it is a download-only expansion.
Many historical references are woven into the series, although the accuracy of some is up for debate. Even so, players will be amazed by how much they learn about the different types of soldiers, strategies, and historical events of the era. Pop-up notes appear throughout the game, describing historical events of the time.
The large-scale battles are impressive to behold, if somewhat gory. Be prepared for realistic depictions of men (and a few women) being speared, run over by chariots, thrown by elephants or cut down by swords. Screams and other sound effects add to the realism of the battle. However, the battles are bloodless -- no decapitations or severed limbs found here. Players actually spend a lot of time looking at the battle from a distance, since there are so many troops to manage.
In the end, this a fun, educational, and well-executed series of games. Players are sure to eagerly await the next installment.
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ViolenceMajor battles with massive armies. No blood, but realistic battle grunts, groans, etc. Close-up views of battles are possible. |
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Educational ValueSome liberties are taken with historical accuracy (for example, in reality the Roman Senate had much more power than is demonstrated in the game); nonetheless the game is a treasure trove of information about ancient civilizations, armies, battle styles, etc. |
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