Rome: Total War - PC

As the world of video games grows even more abundant in its RTS offerings, it can be difficult for some games in the genre maintain a level of interest that helps them stand out in the crowd. Creative Assembly's Total War series however, has had no such trouble. And the latest instalment of the seminal strategy game, Rome: Total War, is perhaps the most anticipated yet.

Rome: Total War plays host to four distinguished factions, three of which are playable, and all of which are allies in the beginning. However, each of these factions has a penchant for domination it isn't long before these allies come into conflict, spurring a civil war of epic proportions. As leader of one of these factions, your goal is to consume enemy towns in order to ultimately be declared Imperator of the land.

From the outset, players are granted a sizeable army that affords players the option to invade from the very beginning. Individual troops include legionnaires, hoplites, war elephants and gladiators. However, the only way to boost your numbers is to assault other cities and towns, making invasion your prime objective throughout.

The main campaign is a truly lengthy affair, and the number options available can be daunting to series newcomers. To compensate, Rome introduces an assortment of shorter, more direct campaigns as well as individual battles that can be completed without necessitating dozens of hours of play time.

Built from the ground up with a brand new engine, Rome is noticeably different from its inferior predecessors. Epic conflicts are now far more convincing, boasting detailed 3D models and 10,000-strong armies that present a much more cinematic feel.

Given two years of development, is Rome: Total War the best in the series at the time of its release? We believe so. more