My gaming these days is largely split into 2 broad categories: Bethesda-style RPGs on the one hand, and games in the Total War series on the other.
They're so different from one another that it gives me a nice break when I come back around to these games. And I tend to play games for a looong time. Of Bethesda games, I still play Morrowind regularly (as well as Skyrim, of course), with side-trips to FO3 and FNV (haven't bought FO4).
And in the Total War series, I still return to Medieval (the original as well as Medieval 2) and Rome (the original).
Anyone out there playing old(er)-school TW games?
I remember that one! Although my first borderline-obsession computer game was Age of Empires 2.
But yes, Total War is strategy. Their games are split into 2 parts: a turn-based campaign map (of medieval Europe or Japan or whatever, where you build up your infrastructure and train and maneuver armies), and the real-time battle map (where you actually fight those battles with those troops you trained). It's an excellent model IMO.
Probably THE strategy game I have spent the most time playing must be Medieval 2 Total War. I still play it from time to time, with various different factions.
The dual strategic elements of empire-wide strategy and battle tactics is what keeps drawing me in, as does the highly inspiring setting (the medieval period).
I do wish the diplomacy system had been made to actually work, though
I own Rome Total War 1/2, Medieval Total War 2 (without dlc) and Napoleon Total War, I have not played them in a while due to life and those games making me lose whole days to them without noticing. There is something so enjoyable about making your own vast empire that makes them so fun, that and brutally killing thousands of people to build said empire. War, war never changes.
My first Total War game was the original Rome, and I played it quite a lot until a few years ago, when I lost my copy and got a better computer (to play the newer ones)
I ended up skipping Medieval 2, Empire and Napoleon, so my first "new" Total War game was Shogun 2, and what a blast that was. I fell in love with the series, so I bought Napoleon and Rome 2, and had a blast with those too (I only ended up playing Rome 2 after a few patches, so I missed the horrible launch it had).
I also tried getting into Medieval 2, but the game kept crashing after a few turns and I just didn't have the time/patience to try to fix it. That was when my O.S was Windows 7, I haven't tested it with Windows 10 yet.
After that, I bought Attila on release day (I wanted those vikings for free. They were disappointing in the end...) and, although I haven't played it as much as Rome 2, I really enjoyed its new mechanics - except the exaggerated fertility drop and the absurd amount of campaign razing - but those two concerns were fixed in one of my all time favourite campaigns: Age of Charlemagne.
Perhaps it's the early medieval setting and my personal fascination for that time period, but it is a great mix of classic Total War feeling, Attila new mechanics without anything being over the top like in the main campaign and the amount of care you can see that was put in this DLC, unlike many of Rome 2 and Attila's other paid additions, which I thankfully avoided thanks to the feedback provided in the Total War forums.
If you couldn't tell, I really love Total War. In fact, it was one of the main, if not the biggest reason I had to move to computer gaming. And I don't regret a thing.
I love the time period of AoC too, but I haven't bought any TW games since Shogun 2. Initial reviews of Rome 2 turned me off to it. My main concerns are the "blobby" battles that seem to be over far too quickly, and lack of unit cohesion. Has AoC changed things in that regard?
LOVE the series! Started with the original Rome and spent WAY TOO MUCH time in it. For some odd reason (and I expect to be crucified for saying this) I didn't like Medieval 2 all that much, maybe for the time-frame, and wasn't interested in Empire or Napoleon either. Played a bit of Shogun 2 before getting my teeth into Rome 2, and while I loved the vanilla game, it was the DeI mod that hooked me in for good, they have SO many great features built in it feels a totally different game. Also, I saw (to my delight), many referencing AoE2, which was the game that got me into gaming in the first place =)
Attila (and by extension AoC) definitely improved on the blobby battles present in Rome 2, but unfortunately it is still there. It is especially visible in some siege battles, while on field battles its intensity is reduced. Unit cohesion has been improved, but it was done in a somewhat "lazy" way (by reducing 1x1 animation occurrence).
Before the first or second patch, the morale of the soldiers was breaking too soon for my taste, but they fixed it, and now battles take longer (plus soldiers rally a lot more than they did in Rome 2).
Personally, I think Attila (read: AoC) is worth it. In the end, it's still the same experience I've had with past Total War games: you have a blast in the first turns, but once you get to late game, it gets too easy. but by then you're probably itching to start a campaign with another faction.
But those are just my impressions, you should watch a few youtube videos before deciding to buy it or not. Total War also gets Steam deals pretty often, so you can keep an eye on those.