Imperial Glory

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 78 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 105
  3. Negative: 11 out of 105
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  1. JamieS.
    May 29, 2005
    9
    A very pretty game. Both better AND worse than Rome total war. The province overview is not quite as good; there's less you can do and it's too abstracted; it jars with the realism of the battle view. However, the battles are BETTER than total war. Whereas total wars' terrain is flat and uninteresting, glory's is just plain beautiful - in fact the best I've seen, A very pretty game. Both better AND worse than Rome total war. The province overview is not quite as good; there's less you can do and it's too abstracted; it jars with the realism of the battle view. However, the battles are BETTER than total war. Whereas total wars' terrain is flat and uninteresting, glory's is just plain beautiful - in fact the best I've seen, it's fun just to look at the trees and windmills etc. Overall, I rate it slightly higher than Total war. Don't miss it. Ignore the naysayers - a lot of them seem to already be total war converts; but I don't see any reason why there should just be ONE good RTS (One to rule them all???) This one's a peach !… Expand
  2. Vladimir
    May 31, 2005
    10
    I love it. The graphics are great. You've got 3 games in one (management, RTS and naval battles) and it makes me feel like a real general of that age. Great work.
  3. romanusinvictus
    Sep 24, 2006
    4
    The game is complete rubbish. It only boasts and nothing else. Its buying is just a waste of money. As compared to ROME TOTAL WAR it's just a novice. ROME TOTAL WAR has a far more fantastic gameplay and is more realistic as well.
  4. Mike
    May 20, 2005
    4
    Was really hoping this was going to be a great game. In the end, it really is just a click- fest bonanza. Ahh well, back to the Total War series, which is honestly done much better than this. Graphics wise the game isn't too bad, but still not close to the quality and detal of CA's Rome Total War.
  5. Grievous
    Jul 17, 2005
    0
    Ano, you talk like you work on Eidos or Pyro. You talk like a member of the development team.
  6. ObamaB
    Apr 8, 2009
    10
    IG is definitely a great game after playing it in my spare time. Very enjoyable and educational all the same. I started playing the demo a while back and got the game. Rome TW was lacking naval battles, which led me to pick IG instead. In my views, ETW aka Empire Total War is a remake of IG only to be a bug ridden game from the install process. I've never came across a game with so IG is definitely a great game after playing it in my spare time. Very enjoyable and educational all the same. I started playing the demo a while back and got the game. Rome TW was lacking naval battles, which led me to pick IG instead. In my views, ETW aka Empire Total War is a remake of IG only to be a bug ridden game from the install process. I've never came across a game with so much bugs as ETW has at launch. IG brings me lots of joy and I'm thrilled to play IG instead of the buggy ETW. Eidos was ahead of CA in many ways.… Expand
  7. Terminator
    Oct 4, 2005
    7
    Its a good game, but its only a copy of Rome Total War,thats better.Take a look in the new Rome Total War mod:Napoleonic Total War.Its beautiful.
  8. Bob
    May 22, 2005
    10
    Wow, this game is amazing. Much better than Rome Total War - but without the big marketing budget they had - so by all accounts, this title will be a huge sleeper hit. Amazing graphics, deep gameplay, seriously deep strategic gameplay system, and absolutely breathtaking realtime combat. The sea battles are far better than Pirates! and very well done. This is a AAA title, and a GOTY candidate!
  9. Garreth
    May 24, 2005
    6
    While the strategic aspect is superior to the Total War series in almost every detail (diplomacy, CIV-like research tree & 'wonders', peaceful routes to victory) the tactical battles are worse in every aspect. You'll find yourself auto-resolving combat simply because the 'tactical' gameplay is too painfully dull, messy and simplistic. My advise to those stuck with While the strategic aspect is superior to the Total War series in almost every detail (diplomacy, CIV-like research tree & 'wonders', peaceful routes to victory) the tactical battles are worse in every aspect. You'll find yourself auto-resolving combat simply because the 'tactical' gameplay is too painfully dull, messy and simplistic. My advise to those stuck with this turkey is to play Imperial Glory like a moderately interesting Risk clone and pretend the woeful combat engine doesn't exist.… Expand
  10. [Anonymous]
    May 20, 2005
    10
    Graphics surpase RTW 10000 times!! Great gameplay as well!
  11. Ano
    Jul 10, 2005
    10
    It's clear that the ratings from the different game sites and magazines (the mass) differ a lot. It's also clear that the user ratings are much higher than the mass gives. In the reviews the game is way too much compared with RTW. Many times is being said that this game isn't as good as RTW (graphically and gameplay) so it automatically gets a low grade. First of all, the It's clear that the ratings from the different game sites and magazines (the mass) differ a lot. It's also clear that the user ratings are much higher than the mass gives. In the reviews the game is way too much compared with RTW. Many times is being said that this game isn't as good as RTW (graphically and gameplay) so it automatically gets a low grade. First of all, the graphics are much much better than RTW. Lay two screenshots of both games next to eachother, and you have the proof. Secondly, the gameplay the game has has much more potentional than the mass says. At first it might be a bit boring, but later in the game, when you have access to more things to develop and build, you will understand the true power of this game. Also, the mass says the battles are too slow, while the community more complains that they are too fast and wishes this to be fixed in a patch (I myself don't really care.) So it's better to trust the 9+ the users have given. And of course, this game has playable naval battles, which RTW doesn't have. I would give this game 3 points more than RTW, but unfortunatelly you don't go higher than a 10... If you plan to buy the game, but first want to try the demo, take note that Pyro could have done a much better job on the demo, because it's a tenth as good as the full game!!… Expand
  12. LouisP.
    Sep 13, 2005
    8
    A good game to replace cossaks, kinda da same thing if u no what I mean. apart from da graphics and stuff, this games like rome total war, kinda.
  13. xrima100
    Sep 5, 2005
    3
    Try to avoid it. This game is far below average. I really cannot find anything good on it. I regret buying it.
  14. StephenD
    Jan 24, 2009
    3
    Utter rubbish, battles appalling, unresponsive commands, promised a huge amount and failed to deliver in every level sadly. The swathe of 10s suggest the people writing it read this comment. If patched and functional this would have been an 8, as it is a waste of your money.
  15. BobR.
    May 19, 2005
    5
    Pretty graphics fail to cover up a rather disappointing game play. Might be fun for RTS click fest fans but grogs are gonna hate it.
  16. DavidD.
    May 22, 2005
    7
    A potentially cracking game let down by poor RT battle gameplay, turns very quickly into a clickfest with no time to enjoy or watch whats going on as a whole during the battles.
  17. JonathanOWEN
    May 22, 2005
    10
    Beautiul graphics and even better gameplay. The best game I have played for a long time
  18. DaveF.
    May 23, 2005
    7
    A good attempt to mimic the Total War series and take the concept into the world of Napoleonic firearms and cannons. Whats good about it ? The whole game has a real polished look to it and oozes class. Diplomacy plays a real part and alliances now are more meaningfull than in the TW games where alliances meant little. Sea Battles, a double edged sword this one, its great to see sea A good attempt to mimic the Total War series and take the concept into the world of Napoleonic firearms and cannons. Whats good about it ? The whole game has a real polished look to it and oozes class. Diplomacy plays a real part and alliances now are more meaningfull than in the TW games where alliances meant little. Sea Battles, a double edged sword this one, its great to see sea battles arrive in a game of this type, but read on for issues. So Whats not good ? Well the stragey map feels like a dumbed down version. There seems to be far less you can do in your provinces, which unlike TW are now just one square on the map. The location of units isnt relative to their postition and the detail is pretty sparse. AI - Sadly lacking in a lot of cases. I saw my heavily defended province attacked by a force a quarter of the size, and the build of the enemy army (4 cannon units and 1 infantry) was laughable as my army decimated them. Interface - feels very clunky and often irritable trying to move units, sometimes you have to hold a unit above a province adjacent to where you want to drop it. Battles - Battles look impressive on the eye. AI is again questionable, I attacked a small army who instead of staying in a fortified position on high gound decided to charge my army that outnumbered them 6 to 1. Slaughter city. Sea Battles- The battles whilst a great idea arent well implemented. If you have 5 shis you have to kep changing from one to the other or they wont fire, in a packed battle the enemy has 5 ships firing at once whilst you clamber between each one firing one shot at a time. Ships often stray off of the "game area" and disappear. Surely the ocean is big enough ? Sea battles are a key selling point of this game and whilst I was looking forward to them they prove to be disappointing, dull and in the end an irritation. Overall this is a good lookng game which is certainly worth a look, but if you are used to the TW series you may well find it lacking in detail.… Expand
  19. AdamM.
    May 25, 2005
    10
    Badass game, can't pull away from thye computer.
  20. Andres
    May 28, 2005
    8
    The battles (sea and land) can be greatly improved with a patch. The rest of the game is excellent. I only hope I am rating the game as is and not what it could be.
  21. SWleader
    May 31, 2005
    10
    Great game, visuals of the terrain are better then total war. The management of your empire is far better then total war. If you like the total war series, you will love this. Overall a better game.
  22. Chimp
    May 30, 2005
    10
    What jamie S. said is true if you are interested in simplicity and graphics. this game actually has a more detailed and better province overview, but the battles are pathetically unrealistic and buggy. the terrain might look nicer, but for most strategy gamers, especially total war fans who have been playing since shogun, a good battle system is better than some nice graphics.
  23. RobP.
    Sep 22, 2005
    8
    I have most RTS. I have won them all. I just bought this game and started to play it. I can say this about it the commands they yell are dead accurate which adds to the game. So far pretty good.
  24. MikeW.
    Aug 13, 2007
    10
    I like Total War but i wouldn't want to compare this game to it, Imperial Glory is very different. Its mutli-level gaming at its best and to be honest the guys at Total War should really have a look and take some of the ideas from this to improve their own great line of games!
  25. DanielC.
    Dec 17, 2005
    10
    I thought this game was completely amazing. The graphics were incredible, the land battles were supreme, and I believe that Rome Total War is a load of crap compared to this. The game has great land and naval battles, and you truly cannot get bored of it. I would advise anyone in the world to buy this game. You wont regret it!
  26. CraigS.
    Dec 23, 2005
    10
    The game was abosultely amazing. The abttles left me gobsmacked, and I enjoyed it so much more than Rome Total War. I think that game should be burnt, and that the naval battles of Imperial Glory take over the rubbish of Rome.
  27. SteveW.
    Dec 23, 2005
    10
    Absolutely gobsmacking. Buy it as soon as you can!
  28. Giskard
    May 22, 2005
    9
    Not as good as the total war series for battle tactics but 1000 better for strategy. Oh and its very pretty too for you all graphics fans :)
  29. AntPalmeri
    May 22, 2005
    10
    Superb presentation and very fulfilling gameplay. I have been on this work of art all day since buying it this morning. A stunningly realised game. IMHO superior to Rome Total war.
  30. TasteeC.
    Mar 18, 2006
    10
    Yes nice game wowy omg neat'o awsome i love it i love playing it.
  31. RobC.
    Nov 27, 2005
    8
    I just finished Rome Total War and am getting to know Imperial Glory. Both are great games although there are a few Imperial Glory bugs I'm hoping will be patched soon. Unit selection in Rome Total War is a little more diverse making the land battles a more enjoyable and I find the ranged unit fighting and fortress storming more realistic than Imperial Glory. Imperial Glory does I just finished Rome Total War and am getting to know Imperial Glory. Both are great games although there are a few Imperial Glory bugs I'm hoping will be patched soon. Unit selection in Rome Total War is a little more diverse making the land battles a more enjoyable and I find the ranged unit fighting and fortress storming more realistic than Imperial Glory. Imperial Glory does allow units to take and hold buildings on the battlefield and the graphics are a little crisper. Imperial Glory has really good interactive sea battles where as Rome Total War does not. Diplomacy plays a greater role in Imperial Glory. I think strategic war game fans will enjoy both games.… Expand
  32. Remmu
    Dec 7, 2015
    9
    Campaign: 10/10

    Real-time battles are nothing out of the ordinary, but the campaign mode is very addicting. Don't let the lack of nations scare you, there are dozens of ways to beat the campaign.
  33. FGM
    Dec 30, 2017
    5
    I write this quick review in in 2017.

    Imperial Glory was a decent game, when it came out in 2005. Unfortunately (2009) Empire & (2010) Napoleon Total War outshine it in every aspect. Battles are small short and tedious, mostly because of awkward UI and control choices. Biggest downturn for me was lack of free camera movement. Sure you can move it left, right, up and down, but the    I write this quick review in in 2017.

    Imperial Glory was a decent game, when it came out in 2005.
    Unfortunately (2009) Empire & (2010) Napoleon Total War outshine it in every aspect.
    Battles are small short and tedious, mostly because of awkward UI and control choices.

    Biggest downturn for me was lack of free camera movement. Sure you can move it left, right, up and down, but the height it reaches is really low. So I found myself looking for hilltops etc. just to elevate my camera higher and overview the battle from a better angle that way (not to be funny Napoleon used a balloon to command and overview battles - apparently lack of it, was one of factors leading to his loss at Waterloo). To top that up you can't change the cameras fixed angle so your're stuck with whatever it's set to by the devs, it's a huge pain.

    Another problem is lack of default line formation when selecting and moving multiple regiments. They'll just move in whatever mess they are in, when you click them to move. So because of this you end up with a lot of tedious battle micromanagement, where sometimes unit's won't acknowledge orders and you'll have to order them multiple times to make them follow your command, or they'll stop executing the order midway as well from time to time.

    Battlefields themselves can be much more interesting than the ones you encounter today in Total War titles (love these small hills). Unfortunately simple and aged graphics, as well as lack of fortifications, or some form of decent cover, take away most of the charm.

    Surprisingly I was able to run the game on Windows 10 without issues on nVidia card.

    Fiddling with "config.sb" file allows you to play in 1920x1080 but with 4:3 ratio so edges are black.
    4
    Change these lines in config.sb in game folder if you want to play windowed or high resolution.
    [
    .FULLSCREEN TRUE (or FALSE your choice..... don't copy that)
    .SX 1920
    .SY 1080
    ]    … Expand
  34. Klewer
    Nov 15, 2012
    7
    Highly enjoyable game set in a period never really get full attention. The turn based part of the game lacks for features but the game really thrives when you get to the battlefield and control your army.
  35. dan001
    Jun 7, 2014
    10
    The perfect real time strategy. It really puts you in a leadership position. You can can manage everything, (economy, commerce, combat, conquest, diplomacy, reaserch, ideologies, production, and intelligence. An excellent geo political challenge.
  36. Alkavanyatur
    Apr 14, 2020
    9
    This game came earlier than imperial and Napoleon Total War.
    Was a great reference on his time. Also implemented navar battles very well and other ideas than for sure Total War used for later developments.

    -Using of different kinds of"officials" to move troops,
    -Researches of technology, etc.
  37. FRIST_008
    Jun 14, 2021
    8
    Хорошая стратегия своего времени, которая решила выйти против большой Total War

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
94
#94 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. Total Video Games
    90
    The implementation of controllable sea battles and the interactive environments certainly develops the gameplay of the combat RTS sub-genre and it’s sure to be a feature that a certain developer called Creative Assembly will be looking out for.
    Read full review
  2. Games Radar
    72
    The encouraging thing about IG's niggles is that they're patchable. In a few months players should be positioning troops with confidence and dispensing orders on a far more regular basis. Without these improvements, however, IG will remain annoying and silly. [PC Gamer UK]
    Read full review
  3. PC Gameworld
    89
    The next best thing to attending a real world military college.
    Read full review
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