Empire: Total War

 PC
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2009
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 3194 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,895 out of 3194
  2. Mixed: 545 out of 3194
  3. Negative: 754 out of 3194
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  1. HelgIvanov
    Oct 6, 2009
    4
    ...posle patcha 1,5 mne stalo yasno chto eta komanda shabashnikov i halturthikov.Ves etot proekt sploshnoy bag.
    Nitchego putnova eta komanda zdelat ne mojet, vmesto gramotnyh programistov nabrali horoshih piarthikov, poetomu sleduthi ih proekt NTW pokupat ne budu tak kak bolee them za 2 goda ne smogli zdelat ETW, a za 6 mesiacev oni sobirautsia zdelat Napolejna.
    RTW the BEST!
  2. MatthewG.
    Oct 6, 2009
    3
    A flash in the pan. Looks nice. But the competition provided by the AI makes me feel like I'm playing my 6 month old nephew in Chess.
  3. AndyW
    Oct 9, 2009
    5
    The game looks fantastic, the campaign map plays out pretty good but the battle ai is absolutely atrocious. It is so bad that i have shelved this game indefinitely. The game is abosolutely no challenge what so ever due the ai reforming its regiments. These soldiers, reform in front of your battle line whilst getting shot to pieces letting you easily win. Not only that reform towards your The game looks fantastic, the campaign map plays out pretty good but the battle ai is absolutely atrocious. It is so bad that i have shelved this game indefinitely. The game is abosolutely no challenge what so ever due the ai reforming its regiments. These soldiers, reform in front of your battle line whilst getting shot to pieces letting you easily win. Not only that reform towards your line so they end up in melee and rout soon after. I would give it a 8 or 9 if the bai was working, unfortunately the game is ruined by this and giving it a good rating just because it has good graphic or good campaign ai is not enough. Total war needs to be the whole package and empire is not that. I think if they do not fix the bai issues, they will be disillusioning half the community and Napoleon sales will plummet.. Also this is the first total war game i have been majorly disappointed with period.… Expand
  4. AnonymousMC
    Mar 11, 2009
    7
    It looks great but chugs a bit even though I can run FPSs at top spec. The experience is just that... an experience. There's no great pleasure to playing. Large scale troop movements are a headache if they involve anything other than walking straight forward. Also watching lines of men shoot at each other lacks the impact of a bloody melee. Compared to the rest in the series its aIt looks great but chugs a bit even though I can run FPSs at top spec. The experience is just that... an experience. There's no great pleasure to playing. Large scale troop movements are a headache if they involve anything other than walking straight forward. Also watching lines of men shoot at each other lacks the impact of a bloody melee. Compared to the rest in the series its a real disappointment. Shogun 2 would be nice next though.… Expand
  5. RolfK.
    Mar 10, 2009
    10
    After you gotten passed the crap application and the way it works called STEAM, (Steam is the worst thing there for game applications, yet they convince developers with fake truths). You get to enjoy a great game. In the beginning the it will be rough to get the going with the game, but this is a learning curve, the more you play it the more you get attuned. A big recommendation is stop After you gotten passed the crap application and the way it works called STEAM, (Steam is the worst thing there for game applications, yet they convince developers with fake truths). You get to enjoy a great game. In the beginning the it will be rough to get the going with the game, but this is a learning curve, the more you play it the more you get attuned. A big recommendation is stop playing easy after you gotten a few provinces and won a few 50-50 odds battles on land and then go towards normal. After you did the same there, but also with fleet battles, with some lesser odds for you go to a higher difficulty. That way you have learned enough for battles and can taste the strength. (The hardest I recommend after defeating a major power on hard due some lesser deaths they get in battles).… Expand
  6. SigurdB
    Mar 11, 2009
    10
    The diversity and depth of gameplay in Empire is one of the best i have seen so far. They have managed with perfection to implement things you did not even realise you missed before, but now flows natualy. The civ type gameplay has been improved imencely making it more realistic for players to contrl. On the battlefront not much has changed apart from a new era (and the tech that The diversity and depth of gameplay in Empire is one of the best i have seen so far. They have managed with perfection to implement things you did not even realise you missed before, but now flows natualy. The civ type gameplay has been improved imencely making it more realistic for players to contrl. On the battlefront not much has changed apart from a new era (and the tech that follows). Because it was not needed to change it to much.… Expand
  7. TylerH
    Mar 10, 2009
    9
    I bought this game with a 50/50 chance of knowing that I may or may not have liked it. I installed it and immediately I loved it. The game play was a lot easier to learn than I thought it would be; very simplistic on how to manage your territory, armies, etc, etc. I guess I
  8. AlkarinV
    Mar 10, 2009
    9
    i give it a nine. it is a solid game. love the time period and the games historical accuracy. Its not the perfect game from the gods but it is indeed the best game out and if your a fan of strategy games or the time period this game is a MUST. ive even had some of my friends who don't play strategy games fall in love with this. there are a few bugs/crashes but they aren't that i give it a nine. it is a solid game. love the time period and the games historical accuracy. Its not the perfect game from the gods but it is indeed the best game out and if your a fan of strategy games or the time period this game is a MUST. ive even had some of my friends who don't play strategy games fall in love with this. there are a few bugs/crashes but they aren't that frequent nor serious. If you don't have the game yet get it! it is definitely worth it unless your a spoiled brat who expects everything to be perfect.… Expand
  9. DougO
    Mar 12, 2009
    9
    Despite some issues with the Steam release and some needed polishing, I have have had no major problems with the game (keep in mind I have to run it on min. specs due to the age of my computer). The A.I. has done fairly well, for me, as it has challenged me more than Rome Total War or Medieval II Total War. I think some serious patching is needed and CA and Sega needs to listen to its Despite some issues with the Steam release and some needed polishing, I have have had no major problems with the game (keep in mind I have to run it on min. specs due to the age of my computer). The A.I. has done fairly well, for me, as it has challenged me more than Rome Total War or Medieval II Total War. I think some serious patching is needed and CA and Sega needs to listen to its community of players, but the game is much better than I expected after the fall off in quality from Shogun and the original Medieval Total War.… Expand
  10. JohnnyT
    Mar 12, 2009
    10
    This is one of the best games i have ever played it runs through the period of 1700-1799 as far as i know and has brilliant gameplay features. You can go practically all over the world, and as a new feature Sea Naval battles that just practically pwn. for those who complete games fast there is online too and a second campaign for America. There are very little bugs i have seen so far and This is one of the best games i have ever played it runs through the period of 1700-1799 as far as i know and has brilliant gameplay features. You can go practically all over the world, and as a new feature Sea Naval battles that just practically pwn. for those who complete games fast there is online too and a second campaign for America. There are very little bugs i have seen so far and graphics are brilliant for a real time strategy game. The tactics are easy to follow and in game battle is much more realistic, the multiplayer is fantastic, and slow motion never gets old :D all in all i give this 10/10.… Expand
  11. JoelS.
    Mar 10, 2009
    9
    I feel John R. was too harsh. The game is the best in the total war series so far! Yes, steam is a little annoying, and yes there are a few bugs and unfulfilled promises as far as multiplayer is concerned, but overall the game is incredible! Bugs will, I'm sure, be addressed by CA soon enough. Well worth the money and time!
  12. BobO
    Mar 12, 2009
    5
    Empire: Total War. What potential, what enthusiasm I had when I popped in the discs and endured the wait for install. clicking the icon to start brought back memories of Rome: Total War and Medieval Total War, I couldn't wait. Well Ladies and Gentlemen, after 48 hours of play I can confirm that this game is far from user friendly, is missing many of the much promised features, is bug Empire: Total War. What potential, what enthusiasm I had when I popped in the discs and endured the wait for install. clicking the icon to start brought back memories of Rome: Total War and Medieval Total War, I couldn't wait. Well Ladies and Gentlemen, after 48 hours of play I can confirm that this game is far from user friendly, is missing many of the much promised features, is bug ridden which include a multitude of crashes to desktop for no apparent reason and many other quirks. I have to say I am disappointed especially after waiting so long for this game, two years to be precise. All I got was an unfinished product with enough flaws for me to put the game away for a long while until (I hope) gets sorted out with the multiple patches announced. Creative Assembly gave us a base which will require much attention to fix, but it can't be fixed with patches, it needs MODs or Modifications made by the community. I feel it is only a bad show of respect that Creative Assembly has not made any announcement of mod tools or community support. It seems that CA will be following the same road many game developers are now starting to take which is releasing an unfinished game lacking in features only to release an expansion pack months later to fix and add the stuff that should already be present. I believe it is only fair that we the consumer start to receive much more attention and better products from the companies we are buying from. Now the game is (was) fairly playable before the last patch which brought back many more problems than it fixed. The game allows you to play 11 factions, 12 if you beat the Road to Independence. That is not many factions to play as considering the former games CA has released have allowed you to play a multitude of factions with the vanilla game alone. Now with Empire, you can play with 12, but not with any of the other factions present in the game which number around 60+. Another unfortunate design decision or a financial incentive to withhold an official unlock for these factions which leads me to my next disappointment, unit variation and AI. CA PROMISED to fix the AI which controls armies on the battle map and campaign map which persisted in their former releases, but it would seem that this time they have regressed into coding a very pathetic AI. Now I am sorry if this offends you, but the AI has always been a PROMISE by CA to be improved, but they have not done anything substantial with it for many of there last releases. The battle map AI will still not utilize terrain, effectively use its numbers against you or perform simple functions like flanking properly. Same goes with the bug ridden campaign map which lags and crashes constantly keeping you frustrated and on the edge of whether or not your progress is all for nothing. AI will STILL not use there navies to properly invade coastal or island regions making the challenge seem somewhat nonexistent. If you see where I am going with this than you are right, CA promised a lot of NEW features, but delivered a an OLD and broken system to a game whose setting would require a new thought to the genre. If it wasn't for the many amazing Modders out there who spend there valuable time making the game better for us, CA's games would remain broken and half-baked. CA knows this and instead of encouraging Modders, they turn them away by refusing there insight. CA knows that Modders add features to the game which should had been there the whole time, so Modders are technically taking away the ability of CA and SEGA to make and publish expansions. It sounds crazy, but it is practical and makes sense. A company does not want to support its Modders unless they were not going to effect their bottom line. An unfortunate Business practice, but the video game industry is all about business and making big profits, not making noteworthy game anymore. With the score I am giving Empire Total War, I feel I am fair and in the correct. CA PROMISED so much, but delivered the same OLD formula. Goodbye Total War, I am going to miss you.… Expand
  13. AP
    Mar 12, 2009
    9
    Excellent game. THe campaign is enormous, the graphics are excellent, and the gameplay is everything I could have expected. For me, there are some bugs, but not many and those that are there are minor. Almost everything I could have wanted. The almost keeps it from a 10. Some minor things like the entire regiment having to be still for anyone to fire, and some minor bugs keep it from a Excellent game. THe campaign is enormous, the graphics are excellent, and the gameplay is everything I could have expected. For me, there are some bugs, but not many and those that are there are minor. Almost everything I could have wanted. The almost keeps it from a 10. Some minor things like the entire regiment having to be still for anyone to fire, and some minor bugs keep it from a 10. Oh and Steam is the only good drm option out there, and to be honest, the companies need drm. Steam is awesome and I wish all my games were on steam.… Expand
  14. PAC
    Mar 12, 2009
    8
    As a loyal fan of the Total War experience, I am both impressed and a little disappointed. Many of the things that should have been ironed out in earlier versions seem to have been over-stepped in favour of the new design, particularly in campaign mode, which seems to have taken a step backwards. Instead of the inviting 3D map with quality graphical icons, it has an almost cartoon As a loyal fan of the Total War experience, I am both impressed and a little disappointed. Many of the things that should have been ironed out in earlier versions seem to have been over-stepped in favour of the new design, particularly in campaign mode, which seems to have taken a step backwards. Instead of the inviting 3D map with quality graphical icons, it has an almost cartoon quality, the sea shines like plastic and figures, originally so elegantly mounted like playing pieces from a chess game, now look thin and sallow. There also seems to have been a move towards Imperial Glory style unit icons, although the economic and development system seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Somehow it just looks... well, basic. Then there are all the really annoying mouse-over tabs that flash before your eyes before you can finish reading them. REALLY annoying. Simple things, like unit description pop-ups can't be dragged out of the line of sight and the help advisor is fixed annoying in the corner so that when you use the nice touch of renaming your units, the advisor gets in the way. It doesn't always close down either. On the battlefield, there is no doubt that this game rules supreme. It offers the best yet in battlefield tactical feel and the graphics where treated right ARE amazing. However, there are still let downs. Collapsing Walls still look like the large chidish building blocks that breakup in Rome TW and you can see through the Ships in naval combat, which can spoil the effect somewhat. The biggest failure however is simply the failure to embrace Total War. Instead of focusing just on the battlefield level, this game has the potential to expand it's following by creating a multiplayer campaign function. Relatively easy to do compared with the graphic challenges of the battles themselves but endlessly rewarding if you consider that fighting other commanders is eminently more challenging than a computer AI. Campaigns are the future of where this format needs to go, and on this level Emprie TW failed.… Expand
  15. AnonymousMC
    Mar 12, 2009
    0
    I have NOT internet connection and I cannot play it! Is that fair? no I don't think so... it may be the best game but it is unplayable for those who don't have internet connection and a good one because it must be downloaded by steam. also what if I don't know how to do it because I am only 14 and I don't know NOTHING about internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I enjoyed Rome: TotalI have NOT internet connection and I cannot play it! Is that fair? no I don't think so... it may be the best game but it is unplayable for those who don't have internet connection and a good one because it must be downloaded by steam. also what if I don't know how to do it because I am only 14 and I don't know NOTHING about internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I enjoyed Rome: Total War but I don't think that I will buy again any of the games which requires internet connection again… Expand
  16. SantiagoElizalde
    Mar 13, 2009
    8
    The game is almost perfect at its conception, game features are almost endless to describe and the graphics are truly breathtaking for the enormous scale of the game. Just like all the TW titles that came before this, this game is a black hole sucking all my free time. I think It should be a perfect 10. However, just like in previous installments of the series, this game is quirky and The game is almost perfect at its conception, game features are almost endless to describe and the graphics are truly breathtaking for the enormous scale of the game. Just like all the TW titles that came before this, this game is a black hole sucking all my free time. I think It should be a perfect 10. However, just like in previous installments of the series, this game is quirky and buggy. I have a very powerfull PC that can run this game at super high settings, then tell me why do I have to put up with all-low settings so the game wont crash on a video? what is happening here? If the game wasnt worth a dime, I wouldnt care about this and dump it in the trash, but its so frustrsting to be completely addicted to a game that wont stop crashing! the AI is also a bit frustrating, we [again] are facing AI opponents that dont know how to invade through sea and that think that militia scares the hell out of human players! w00t? Cmon Creative Assembly, I know you can do better!...for the time being, Ill give it an 8.… Expand
  17. StewartHenderson
    Mar 13, 2009
    0
    So much potential. It should have been a great game. Especially when you consider that it is based on an existing engine that has been around for years now. It is simply too buggy and the AI is rubbish. It seems to me that many games not made by Valve get corrupted in some way when ported over to delivery by Steam. I think Steam is partially to blame for this game being so buggy. Creative So much potential. It should have been a great game. Especially when you consider that it is based on an existing engine that has been around for years now. It is simply too buggy and the AI is rubbish. It seems to me that many games not made by Valve get corrupted in some way when ported over to delivery by Steam. I think Steam is partially to blame for this game being so buggy. Creative Assembly are mostly to blame, however, for not sufficiently testing it and releasing it in this state. Also forcing people like myself, who bought the boxed version from a box, to use steam is wrong. I stopped buying from Steam a couple of years ago because the steam versions were buggy. Lo and behold I buy another game and am forced to use Steam and guess what? It's extremely buggy.… Expand
  18. SaitX
    Mar 13, 2009
    5
    Empire: Total War was one of the titles i have been waiting to get for some time. I got the game few days ago from steam and started playing it. The game offers better graphics and gameplay then before. However there is lots of errors due to steam . I got crit errors like 10 times in 48 hours. Pros: -Graphics are great -Movie like battles (as always) -Sea battes (worth trying) Cons: Empire: Total War was one of the titles i have been waiting to get for some time. I got the game few days ago from steam and started playing it. The game offers better graphics and gameplay then before. However there is lots of errors due to steam . I got crit errors like 10 times in 48 hours. Pros: -Graphics are great -Movie like battles (as always) -Sea battes (worth trying) Cons: -Steam sucks . Lots of errors crits eventhough they released an update few days after release. I hear pirated version is more stable :S -Diplomatic relations.( once they say no you never get to make them say yes) -Towns and fortresses are bugged, your forces may get stuck in a wall or a building. -Game ends in 200 turns and you wonder if you did everything possible.… Expand
  19. Alex
    Mar 13, 2009
    10
    A simply incredible game! The best I have played in a long long time. If you love strategy games and/or TW games you will love this one! The campaign map is more complex than all of the other games combined, and turns can now take hours to complete. With the addition of new theaters of war and trading theaters every move has to be made so carefully! There are also the addition of naval A simply incredible game! The best I have played in a long long time. If you love strategy games and/or TW games you will love this one! The campaign map is more complex than all of the other games combined, and turns can now take hours to complete. With the addition of new theaters of war and trading theaters every move has to be made so carefully! There are also the addition of naval battles now - they look great and play really well. The land battles are out of this world (both in strategy and visuals). The AI is also much improved on previous games, although there could still be some improvements. Further, with the addition of Steam you can quickly join multiplayer battles...the game is also automatically updated! Worth every penny (especially for the replay value - every nation has a completely different strategy on the campaign map).… Expand
  20. DonnieDarko
    Mar 14, 2009
    4
    Well, I'm a big fan of the Total War series, I just see so much potential in this series. Sadly, that potential was to a great extent lost in this game. First of all it feels unfinished and unpolished. Seems like it was rushed out the door with a lot of bugs and performance issues. It doesn't even look all that great but it sure hogs a lot of performance. Other than that Well, I'm a big fan of the Total War series, I just see so much potential in this series. Sadly, that potential was to a great extent lost in this game. First of all it feels unfinished and unpolished. Seems like it was rushed out the door with a lot of bugs and performance issues. It doesn't even look all that great but it sure hogs a lot of performance. Other than that it's a rather bland experience. Sea battles look great but handle terribly bad, there's simply too much micro-management. The AI is horrible and acts just like what it is, an AI. When are developers going to start realizing that they're supposed to simulate human behaviour. They can start by limiting the AI-s ability to control all units at once. There's not a lot of diversity in the units and they act pretty much the same. So to sum things up I'd say... a dissapointment... and.... gets boring quickly.… Expand
  21. Riordan
    Mar 14, 2009
    10
    Brilliant game, got the total war feel while bringing it to the 17 hundreds! Brilliant units, and beautiful graphics. Naval battles while being widely appreciated by most were not high on the list for me but they are very good none the less. The only thing i wished for was the 'British Grenediers' song being played as the redcoats marched into battle! But alas it was not meant to be!
  22. JimP.
    Mar 14, 2009
    9
    Empire: Total War is a mixture of the familiar and a little something new for Total War fans. The game has similar elements to the Total War series: the map, the movement, unit creation, battle system, etc. The developers also added in some extras: a more complex economic system, a tech tree, and more imperial micromanaging. It is highly recommended that you begin by playing the tutorial Empire: Total War is a mixture of the familiar and a little something new for Total War fans. The game has similar elements to the Total War series: the map, the movement, unit creation, battle system, etc. The developers also added in some extras: a more complex economic system, a tech tree, and more imperial micromanaging. It is highly recommended that you begin by playing the tutorial campaign, "The Road to Independence" before diving into the main game. It teaches you quite a bit about how the game handles. Although, if you don't mind going through a few play-throughs and completely messing things up, then dive right into the Grand Campaign. The turn-based Grand Campaign gives you a large litany of nations to choose from in the beginning, ranging from several "Major Nations" in Europe to the Maratha Confederacy in India. I've looked up some FAQs about unlocking other nations to play, and apparently the ones available at the start are all there are to play. I was slightly disappointed at this since I saw some very interesting groups I wanted to try out (the Mughal Empire, the Persians, the Native American nations...). The world map now contains 3 distinct areas: Europe, India, and the Americas with several minor areas you can use for overseas trading (and piracy). The map now has resources you can trade, from furs, to cotton, to tobacco, to sugar, and lumber. There is also industry that you can build up that generates income for maintaining a massive empire. However, you have to balance the industrialization of your empire with the happiness of two classes of citizens, the nobility and the lower classes (both the middle and the lower classes). You have to maintain ministers for various offices in your government and they impact how efficient your government is. If your people become too unhappy with how you're running things, they may overthrow your current government for a new one. More emphasis is put on management than in the previous titles. The real-time battles still share the same frustrating AI glitches as previous titles. If a regiment of troops are getting in position to fire and one guy is straggling behind, the entire regiment thinks it's a great idea to wait for the guy to catch up before they fire at the enemy. This usually results in a volley or two getting shot into your own ranks, depleting both numbers and morale. Sometimes when you ask a regiment to fire at an incoming set of troops, they stand there doing nothing, as if somehow your command to "shoot" got lost in translation somewhere. But thankfully, the opponent's AI gets stuck at the same time too. But now artillery, cavalry, and infantry all play their own special roles and with the use of more options when in combat, more variety exists for combat than before. Ordering and watching a bayonet charge is lots of fun and never gets old. The graphics certainly have improved, although since I have to run it in low resolution, some of the troops on the battlefield render fairly slowly and oftentimes look like something out of the 1980s for a few seconds before coming into their 3D glory. Overall, I like Empire more than Medieval or Rome in most respects. Although I miss the console to give myself extra money when I'm playing a harder civilization, if you are a good manager of money and military you can easily stay within your means, make an empire, and have quite a lot of fun doing it.… Expand
  23. RuudC
    Mar 14, 2009
    10
    I really like this game as a real totalwar fan. It's the best game ever played! Like everytime before I can't choose what nation because I all like them to much, especcialy in empire totalwar because whit all factions you need another stratagy. some require a lot of trade and some big powers. The only thing I hate is that people give bad ratings because of the bugs.. if they had I really like this game as a real totalwar fan. It's the best game ever played! Like everytime before I can't choose what nation because I all like them to much, especcialy in empire totalwar because whit all factions you need another stratagy. some require a lot of trade and some big powers. The only thing I hate is that people give bad ratings because of the bugs.. if they had readed the forums and blogs a little better they would know it contained those on the beginning of the game. but they will all update it!!… Expand
  24. PhilB
    Mar 14, 2009
    8
    Anyone who has given this game 10 has not played it or just marked for aesthetically. I have played all the TW series and this is both the most exciting and dissapointing at the same time. Some of the land battles i have had are great with the varying terrain and buildings the tactics required have improved. Also the sea battles are tense long affairs that require skill and tactics. (If Anyone who has given this game 10 has not played it or just marked for aesthetically. I have played all the TW series and this is both the most exciting and dissapointing at the same time. Some of the land battles i have had are great with the varying terrain and buildings the tactics required have improved. Also the sea battles are tense long affairs that require skill and tactics. (If you get into a mess too often then your not playing them right) Quite often using superior maneuvering and angles to defeat bigger fleets.The research tree is also a welcome addition; as are developments outside the main towns and cities (adds more flexibility and tactical problems). I also love the trade part and again this adds more tactics and gameplay. The not so good is poor AI particularly the lack of aggression (except the cherokees who have drivenoff 2 invasions by me the British) Is the AI broke for the major nations? Land invasions are not coded in/broke? Pathfinding needs some work but is not that bad (seen a lot worse). I also think the diplomacy system needs tweaking. With a few patches the game can be up there with some of the best, I have enjoyed playing it. Phil… Expand
  25. JohnK
    Mar 16, 2009
    1
    Game isn't finished, too many memory leaks, fatal crashes in an extended campaign games, stupid Campaign AI, anyone know how to delete a saved game yet? odd events-ex- you have to research the steam engine in order to build a 1st rate SOL, which would be ok if you could mod it; but with steam, that is out. If you like beautiful figures and neat looking ships with great special Game isn't finished, too many memory leaks, fatal crashes in an extended campaign games, stupid Campaign AI, anyone know how to delete a saved game yet? odd events-ex- you have to research the steam engine in order to build a 1st rate SOL, which would be ok if you could mod it; but with steam, that is out. If you like beautiful figures and neat looking ships with great special effects , this is the game for you; if you actually want to play a strategy game with tactical battles,find something else to buy.… Expand
  26. ManuelR
    Mar 17, 2009
    7
    First of all sorry for my english no0t good. I am a TW fan since thier first release (Shogun), Empire TW is an unpolished game, the most important to fix AI lack of aggressivity. YOU CANT GIVE 10 to a game with so many bugs and fixes. Still i really enjoyed all the new features and enjoyed to play it a lot so thats tells me that if Creative Assembly runs some play testing takes notes on First of all sorry for my english no0t good. I am a TW fan since thier first release (Shogun), Empire TW is an unpolished game, the most important to fix AI lack of aggressivity. YOU CANT GIVE 10 to a game with so many bugs and fixes. Still i really enjoyed all the new features and enjoyed to play it a lot so thats tells me that if Creative Assembly runs some play testing takes notes on their fans reviews and makes some good patches will be the best TW game ever. Only thing i misse that cannot be fixed with any patch is no improvement in graphics. Positive aspects : Better trade Strategy, gunpowder gives a fresh air to the battles, Technology is interesting and refreshing 3 scenarious makes it a huge new game, and a multiplayer 1v1 campaing will be awesome there is no AI today that can replace the challenge of a human contender. So I will give the Game a 7 waiting for patches that will raise that to an 9.8… Expand
  27. DominickM
    Mar 17, 2009
    6
    The Steam requirement is a no-brainer in terms of DRM and beats the alternatives. Those complaining might as well give up, not going to change. The game itself is disappointingly unfinished. The combat AI is better than previous TW games, but the campaign AI is as broken and boring as ever. The AI is incapable of transporting troops via ships. And plays far too passively. Every campaign The Steam requirement is a no-brainer in terms of DRM and beats the alternatives. Those complaining might as well give up, not going to change. The game itself is disappointingly unfinished. The combat AI is better than previous TW games, but the campaign AI is as broken and boring as ever. The AI is incapable of transporting troops via ships. And plays far too passively. Every campaign played (on very hard difficulty) is an inevitable march to victory. This makes it extremely boring. The lack of single player historical battles and multiplayer maps further emphasizes the fact that they released this game a good 6 months before they really should have. On the bright side, the foundation isn't terrible, and they seem more committed to patching than previous TW games (thanks to Steam making patch delivery simple). I'd bet after 5-6 patches and a few mods this becomes the best of the TW series. But for now, I can't play it.… Expand
  28. AnthonyE
    Mar 18, 2009
    9
    I was unsure about the units having guns before I played the game but now I've found the battle are easier for me to control than the messy blood bath it used to be. I'm actually manning every battle now instead of auto-resolving and its on a difficulty above which I was playing before. This doesn't make an easy game however, just more user friendly. I'll need a lot I was unsure about the units having guns before I played the game but now I've found the battle are easier for me to control than the messy blood bath it used to be. I'm actually manning every battle now instead of auto-resolving and its on a difficulty above which I was playing before. This doesn't make an easy game however, just more user friendly. I'll need a lot more practice with the naval battles however, before I can pull them off without using a force twice the size of my opponents.… Expand
  29. PaulS
    Mar 19, 2009
    9
    I think by now everyone understands the headaches that steam has caused, get over it. I'll take dealing with steam over dealing with Securom any day of the week. I've run Empire on three different computers now, one barely meeting minimum spec, one in the middle and a higher end machine and it ran just fine on all three, if you're having lag or CTD issues try updating your I think by now everyone understands the headaches that steam has caused, get over it. I'll take dealing with steam over dealing with Securom any day of the week. I've run Empire on three different computers now, one barely meeting minimum spec, one in the middle and a higher end machine and it ran just fine on all three, if you're having lag or CTD issues try updating your drivers, it makes a world of difference. On the whole it is running better for me than Medieval II ever did. The game it's self is gorgeous and the changes to the campaign map and diplomacy are a godsend; yes it's annoying when a nation keeps asking for a province back but it's less annoying than the old ally on turn 1 and attack on turn 2. The new tech tree adds a layer of depth that previous iterations lacked without bogging down game play while adding to the campaign strategy: "oOo that province has a university." The down time between turns is about as long as in Medieval II which is a shock given the sheer number of factions, though this can get bogged down late game as factions are eliminated but the overall speed is better than I had hoped. The game does have it's faults. Path finding is infuriating, especially when defending in fort sieges. Interestingly enough I've only ever had the problem of an under aggressive AI once while playing as Great Britain on VH/VH otherwise in my Prussian and Austrian campaigns the AI has never hesitated to take under manned or otherwise vulnerable cities while raiding with impunity. My biggest problem with the game was the utter lack of variation between factions. I understand that mechanically speaking Line Infantry is Line Infantry but come on they could have atleast used a handful of different models. I'm willing to look the other way when it comes to a lack of mechanical variation but they could have at least done more than recolor the same model over and over again. On the whole it's a beautiful, fun. addictive, and stable game so long as you've kept your drivers up to date and aren't running 50 applications in the background. Looking forward to the up coming multiplayer campaign.… Expand
  30. SteveW.
    Mar 21, 2009
    6
    The game is really awesome. There a significant improvements over MTW2. However, the game is super buggy, and it has crashed on me several times during game play which is really annoying. I'm not sure if this has to do with steam or medieval total war, but it sucks.
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PC Game of 2009
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
6
#6 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 62 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 62
  3. Negative: 0 out of 62
  1. PC Gamer UK
    94
    Astonishing...Immense... A strategy masterwork. [Mar 2009, p.54]
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  2. Eurogamer
    90
    In some ways, it's the closest we've come to the enormous social novel from the period after that which Empire chronicles: it's a Tolstoy-esque War and Peace of a game. Its problems may be the inevitable problems of trying something with such sheer scope. As such, if you want the breathtaking vision of the game, you have to accept the flaws in the details - for now, at least.
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  3. InsideGamer.nl
    93
    This is the best Total War game thanks to all the little tweaks. Sometimes little differences make a good game great. The battles ask of you that you think more about your actions and managing your empire never was easier. The sea battles are fun to watch, but are a little hard to control. Nevertheless, Empire: Total War is a game that can make you forget about the time.
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