The Total War series, developed by Creative Assembly, has become one of the most iconic franchises in the world of strategy games. Blending real-time tactical battles with turn-based strategic campaigns, the series offers players the opportunity to lead armies, manage empires, and command the fate of entire civilizations. From the ancient era to the medieval and even the Napoleonic and futuristic ages, Total War spans a vast array of historical periods. In this review, we’ll explore the core elements of the Total War series, examining both its strengths and weaknesses, as well as what makes it one of the most beloved strategy game franchises.
1. Game Overview: What is Total War?
At its core, Total War is a combination of two distinct gameplay elements: the turn-based campaign and the real-time tactical battles.
- Campaign Map (Turn-Based Strategy): Players control an empire, managing cities, armies, diplomacy, technology, and resources in a turn-based fashion. The map allows players to expand their territory, conquer enemy lands, form alliances, trade resources, and engage in political maneuvering. The turn-based aspect provides a high-level strategic view, where every move counts and long-term planning is essential.
- Real-Time Tactical Battles: When armies clash on the field, the game transitions to real-time combat. Players directly control their units on a battlefield, using terrain, tactics, and unit abilities to gain an advantage. The battles are dynamic, with various formations, flanking, morale, and unit-specific attributes affecting the outcome.
The beauty of Total War lies in the way these two gameplay systems work in tandem. Players must manage their empire’s economy and politics on the campaign map while also engaging in complex, fast-paced battles when conflict arises.
2. The Core Gameplay Experience
Campaign Management
In the turn-based campaign mode, the player takes control of a faction, which can range from a small tribal group to a massive empire, depending on the installment. The key gameplay pillars in the campaign include:
- Empire Building: Players construct buildings, recruit armies, and manage cities. Strategic placement of settlements is crucial, with different regions offering distinct resources and challenges. Expanding too quickly can stretch your resources thin, while too much defensiveness might result in missed opportunities.
- Diplomacy: The diplomacy system is deep and nuanced, with the ability to form alliances, trade agreements, and even spy on or sabotage rivals. Total War also introduces complex political systems, where leaders have agendas, and factions may change their allegiances over time. Navigating diplomacy can be as essential to success as military might.
- Technology and Research: Each game in the series includes a tech tree or research system that provides various benefits, from military upgrades to economic improvements. Some entries in the series introduce culture or ideology-based progressions that add additional layers of strategy to the campaign.
- Strategic Movement: Moving armies across the campaign map is a strategic puzzle. Terrain, weather, and distance all play a role in how quickly you can respond to threats or opportunities. Total War often forces players to consider their army’s supply lines and the logistics of long-distance campaigns.
Real-Time Tactical Battles
The real-time combat is where Total War really shines. Battles are large-scale and often feature hundreds or even thousands of units. Key mechanics include:
- Unit Types and Formations: The game features a wide variety of units, each with specific strengths and weaknesses. Infantry, cavalry, archers, siege weapons, and special units (like war elephants or dragons) all play a role in battle. Players must understand the strengths of different unit types, using formations, flanking, and morale to their advantage.
- Morale and Fatigue: Morale is an essential aspect of combat. Units that are losing will begin to waver and eventually break, leading to a chain reaction that can turn the tide of battle. Fatigue also plays a role, with tired units performing poorly, so managing the energy of your forces is crucial during prolonged engagements.
- Tactical Depth: Total War battles are never straightforward. The terrain (forests, hills, rivers) significantly impacts unit movement and line of sight. Flanking, controlling high ground, and making use of environmental features can lead to tactical superiority. Advanced techniques such as double envelopment or using artillery to create chaos behind enemy lines are vital for success.
- Siege Warfare: Many battles in Total War involve sieging enemy castles or cities. Players must manage siege equipment, such as trebuchets, ladders, and siege towers, while defending or attacking fortified locations. Sieges add a layer of depth and challenge, requiring patience and preparation.
AI and Difficulty
The AI in Total War games is generally competent but can feel inconsistent at times. On the campaign map, the AI handles diplomacy and empire management with reasonable efficiency. However, in battles, the AI may struggle with more advanced tactics like flanking and unit management, often opting for brute-force engagements. This can be frustrating for players who desire more challenging and dynamic enemy strategies.
Fortunately, Total War games often allow players to adjust the difficulty, tailoring the experience to their skill level. On higher difficulties, the AI gets more bonuses, making the game more challenging, but the challenge can feel artificial as the AI may be given unfair advantages in resource management or combat.
3. Graphics and Audio
One of the standout features of the Total War series is its attention to detail in both graphics and audio.
- Visuals: Each Total War game in recent years has offered impressive visuals, especially during tactical battles. The sheer scale of battles, with hundreds of units clashing on a grand scale, is breathtaking. The use of terrain, environmental effects, and historical accuracy in unit designs adds a layer of immersion. Cities, armies, and landscapes are all lovingly crafted to reflect the era the game is set in.
- Sound Design: The audio is equally impressive, with epic orchestral soundtracks that complement the scale of the game. The sound effects during battle, from the clash of swords to the roar of war elephants, add to the immersion. Leaders and generals speak with accents appropriate to their culture, while battle cries and commands create a palpable atmosphere on the battlefield.
4. Campaigns, Factions, and Historical Accuracy
The Total War series has explored a wide variety of historical periods, each with its own unique factions, units, and challenges. Whether it’s the Roman Empire in Total War: Rome II, the Samurai of Total War: Shogun 2, or the Napoleonic Wars in Total War: Napoleon, the games capture the essence of their respective eras. However, the series occasionally takes creative liberties, especially when it comes to the specific abilities of units or the portrayal of historical events.
Factions in Total War are varied and offer different playstyles. Each faction has its own strengths, weaknesses, and unique units, providing players with distinct approaches to conquering the world. The game’s emphasis on historical accuracy extends to the buildings, units, and even the political systems within each faction.
That said, some purists may feel that certain games in the series take liberties with history for the sake of gameplay. For example, in Total War: Three Kingdoms, the introduction of legendary generals with superhuman abilities adds a layer of fantasy to what was a real historical period.
5. Expansions and DLC
The Total War series is known for its extensive post-release support, often offering a variety of expansions and downloadable content (DLC). These expansions introduce new factions, units, campaigns, and even entirely new mechanics. For example, the Fall of the Samurai expansion for Shogun 2 introduced gunpowder warfare and naval combat, while Warhammer editions of Total War introduced a fantasy setting with magic, monsters, and mythical units.
While expansions can enrich the gameplay, some players argue that the series has fallen into the “DLC trap,” where key content is released as paid add-ons rather than being included in the base game. This can be frustrating for players who feel like they’re being asked to purchase essential content after the initial purchase.
6. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Deep strategy with both turn-based campaign and real-time battles.
- Massive scale of battles, with thousands of units in combat.
- Historical depth and diverse factions, each with unique abilities.
- High replayability, with different approaches to victory and varied campaigns.
- Stunning graphics and immersive sound design.
Cons:
- AI inconsistencies can make battles feel less challenging.
- The DLC model can feel exploitative, with key content often locked behind paywalls.
- Time-consuming—the games are large, and a single campaign can take many hours.
- Balance issues between factions, sometimes creating frustration for players.
Conclusion: A Strategy Gamer’s Dream
The Total War series is, without a doubt, one of the best strategy game franchises of all time. With its blend of grand strategy and real-time tactical combat, it provides a comprehensive experience that rewards both tactical acumen and long-term planning. The historical accuracy, engaging campaigns, and epic battles are what keep players coming back for more. While the AI could use some improvement and the DLC model may put off some players, the overall experience of leading an empire to glory (or ruin) is nothing short of spectacular.
If you’re a strategy enthusiast and haven’t yet played a Total War game, now is the time to dive in—whether you’re conquering the Roman world, mastering feudal Japan, or leading