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Rome Total War: Alexander - The 2nd Official Rome Total War Expansion (PC CD)
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1/5 |
Waste of money
(July 12, 2008) |
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This game needs a patch downloaded from sega before it will even load. The patch no longer seems to be available as we several hours trying to get it to download. No patch thus no game so total waste of money. |
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4/5 |
Challenging, but lacks diversity
(July 02, 2008) |
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The Creative Assembly marketed this game as the most challenging Total War title to date, and they weren't lying!
The campaign will see you in command of Alexander's Macedonian army. To the north lie the barbarian hordes of eastern Europe, while to the east lies the massive military might of the Persian Empire, as well as the scattered and dangerous Scythian tribesmen. The game gives you a short amount of time to take on all enemies in a single gigantic push through the Middle East to India. This means having to fight gigantic battles from the very first turns, as waves and waves of Persian infantry, archers, chariots and elephants are sent against you.
The economic, building and diplomatic section of the game are left to the side in this title, as it's only military might that will ensure success.
To win you must plunder every city you come across, and recruit mercenaries to boost up your army's strength. This style of warfare might not be to everyone's taste, and it certainly isn't the way Alexander waged war. If anything, having to slaughter everything in your path seems to be like the type of thing that Genghis Khan would do.
Sadly though, the campaign does have its limits. The newly created Indian civilisation does not make an appearance (a huge missed opportunity) and you'll also lose if Alexander is killed in battle. This could get very frustrating if you are close to finishing.
The game also comes with a series of historical battles, following Alexander's career from the Battle of Chaeronea to the Hydaspes. Each battle can be very challenging, and with some you'll find you'll need to play them a few times in order to win. Brian Blessed offers his narration to these chapters, both in the pre-battle video and in the game's cutscenes.
The game's graphics haven't been given much of an overhaul since the original Rome. The Macedonian phalanxes now wear purple tunics instead of white ones, and the Persians have a few additional units, but nothing noteworthy. The only truly original addition to the game are the Indians, but they only appear in one historical battle scenario, and in the custom battle mode.
This game is rather different to the previous Total War titles, and as such they might alienate some players who love to play the game at their own pace, or who enjoy the economic and diplomatic side a bit more.
That said, if you want a fast paced, frenetic and exciting rush against the clock style strategy, Alexander will provide. It's just a shame the game lacks diveristy and any new stand out features.
NOTE: You need Rome: Total War Patch 1.5 to play this game. When I first put in the game CD I was shocked to see that I couldn't install the game without having the patch. This wouldn't have been so bad it they had actually provided the patch with the game, but they haven't, so you will need to download it from the Total War website. A huge disappointment and a lack of consideration from White Label Company on this matter. |
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5/5 |
Awesome
(June 28, 2008) |
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great and challenging campaign.
great units, the custom battles are sooo much fun
Simply a great expansion |
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4/5 |
I NEED THERAPY
(October 29, 2007) |
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Great game and very time consuming. Good expansion to Rome disc but gameplay much the same.
We have a new group of nationalities to choose from, with the usual assortment of cavalry, archers, axe weilding nutters etc.
Good attachment to Rome if you enjoyed it, as i did. |
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2/5 |
definitely the worst Total War so far
(September 09, 2007) |
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when I heard that there was a new expansion I was really excited as the other games were brilliant, but I found this one a gigantic disappointment. You can only be Alexander's troops in the campaign and have the time he had to complete the challenges. In custom battles you can only be four factions which is severely limiting to gameplay. The map does not expand but will minimise which I found frustrating having played the other versions for hours on end.
(oli aged 12) |
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