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Rome: Total War (including Barbarian Invasion and Alexander) (Windows)

common sense media says

Impressive game is for teens and up.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a good thinking game, but it has 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, which Common Sense Media does not recommend for anyone under 12.

Educational value: Some 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.
Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence: Major battles with massive armies. No blood, but realistic battle grunts, groans, etc. Close-up views of battles are possible.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Rome: Total War (including Barbarian Invasion and Alexander)

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how great warriors and their conquests are used as a plot for many games, movies, and books. What's so appealing about warriors and wars? 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 liabilities to learning this way?

What's the story?

What's the story?
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. 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. Both expansion packs, BARBARIAN INVASION and ALEXANDER, require the original game to play and are more difficult. 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; Alexander doesn't focus on Rome, instead following the conquest of Greek warrior Alexander the Great.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Rome: Total War and its two expansion packs are all brilliantly designed. The games are complex, but players will grow comfortable operating within them after half an hour or so. Players will appreciate that they have many strategic options but never feel blogged down in micromanagement. Even the tutorials are fun to play.

The games are a mix of real-time and turn-based strategy. 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.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Windows
Available online
Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Developer: Sega of America
Released on: July 23, 2006
Price: 39.99
ESRB Rating: T for Violence

This review was written by Jeremy Gieske
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10

Most useful reviews by all members

iamJMAN00793
teen, 18 years old
 
Best Strategy Game Ever
Rome: Total War is a excellent strategy game for 12+. There are large scale battles in which thousands of troops die but there is no blood or gore. The game is defiantly thought provoking and requires a good amount of planning. The only language in the game is some times soldiers will say "Unleash H***", but that's as bad as it gets.

 
Amazing Game
Wow, this is a great game. If you like ancient history and such, you will love this game. The battles are tight, and the map and turn play are sweet too. There is a good amount of violence, but nothing really bad. Very educational.

Foghat
parent of 8 and 12 year old
 
OK for some tweens - but not for sensitive children
Great for learning strategic thinking and some history. This game sparked deep interest with my son in Roman History.

Bub Bidderskins
teen, 16 years old
 
Excellent Game
Rome: Total War is one of my favorite games of all time. Whether it be raiding the barbarian Gauls, battling huge war elephants in Carthage, or marching through the gates of Rome itself. A great game. There really are not any issues except the violence, which is really mild.

Poptop
teen, 14 years old
 
its easyto play and their is no blood. you see the battles from a birdseye view and you can controol the whole army. it teaches kids to controll a whole army and it teaches good decision making. Also, you can controll towns so you have to learn how to run the town and its a fun game.

Archanos
teen, 16 years old
 
Only slightly violent.
Strategically the game is fantastic. If you play then there will be several positive influences. You could develop an instinct for geography. ("The Dacians were here, Damascus is here. etc.) You gain a sense of organization because of the numerous factors taken into account. (Did you know total war won an award for these games because they were so realistic.) Finally you will definetelly learn some history. It is more historically accurate than any game I have ever encountered. The battle scenes may be huge, they may result in hundred, maybe thousands of deaths, but graphically the game is fine. All in all the gameplay is fun, the values are fine, and the violence is nothing most can't handle.

starwars reviewer
kid, 13 years old
 
ROMA VITA! ROMA V-... Wait... 13 and up? Zuuuuh?
I bought this game when I was nine. Nine. Need I repeat? Nine! NINE! Honestly... It lost my interest for a while, but, after I began to understand strategy games, I realized that this is probably one of the best of them. Rome Total War combines a brilliant campaign, and excellent 1000 on 1000 soldier battles. The battles are nearly bloodless, the women and men wear totally full body armor, blows on the battle field can barely be seen... And you rate this 13 and up? My, my... Not a very strategic choice *wink wink*. I know! The strategists shall rise in arms! We shall fight for this beautiful game! And on the day of retribution, we shall say, nay, we shall shout, for Jupiter, Zeus, Anubis. Roma Vita. Roma Vita... Roma Vita! ROMA. VITA!!! Thanks for reading, and remember, Ceaser shall find the strategist haters.

Bobb
teen, 18 years old
 
Great game
One of the greatest games ever made, includes high educational value.

ski123
adult
 
wonderful game!
Rome Total War is a must-play for anyone who likes large battles and strategic gameplay. You even learn about the ancient civilizations during the campaign mode which is lots of fun. There is a full campaign mode where you have to take over the world and there are quick battles where you can just do the fights. Very fun game!

warwolfmecha
teen, 15 years old
 
This is a must play for all history obsessed nerds/geeks/gamers
This game was and is A-W-S-O-M-E the singplayer is high interaction sense you have to control texes building militay ETC. and each individual unit is a work of art and about 2 armies of 1000 works of art sent to fight eachother at high intensity, high strategy and high skill battles. The game doesn't even end when you beat the single player for the first time cause when you win you unlock even more factions to paly as and then when your done with single player you can try multiplayer and put your skills to the test. i give this game a 10 out of 10

Templar_Frost
teen, 13 years old
 
Only one problem...
One reason that I gave it a 10 and up is because of the difficulty in this game. I'm 13 so I'm fine with the strategical/tactical stand points of the game, and gotten to the point of being very good at it too, but the difficulty of commanding an army in a battle can be difficult for little kiddies, (there is a difficulty setting though). But you will get good at it after a while. Another factor is the Imperial Campaign. This can be punishingly hard for newbies, because if you sit there and not do anything at all and not take any actions, (like raise taxes, or conquer cities) you will start to lose money, and when you lose money, you cant sustain your army, and so the Gauls, Greeks and Carthaginians will eat you up like a Turkey Sandwich. Also, one major violence issue is not the violence itself, but what it leaves over. The is no despawning mechanism for the corpses, so be prepared to see HUNDREDS of dead bodies to litter the battlefield. This was only made to make the game more realistic, but this might not be suitable for the little kiddies.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age