Medieval: Total War - Collection
- June 25, 2015
- CREATIVE ASSEMBLY
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Medieval: Total War™ - Collection" is a strategy game that lets you build and expand your empire across four centuries, from 1087 to 1453. Choose from 14 playable factions and engage in battles on land and sea, diplomacy, and agent intrigue to secure your reign. The game includes the critically-acclaimed Medieval: Total War and its official expansion pack, Viking Invasion, offering a rich and immersive medieval warfare experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A classic strategy game that still holds up well, offering deep gameplay and engaging mechanics.
- The game provides a nostalgic experience for long-time fans of the Total War series, with memorable battles and a rich campaign.
- Despite its age, the game is enjoyable and can be played on modern systems with some adjustments to settings.
- The game frequently crashes, especially during large battles or after a certain number of turns, making it frustrating and often unplayable.
- Many players report compatibility issues with modern operating systems, leading to crashes and other technical problems.
- The graphics and user interface feel outdated compared to newer titles, which may deter some players from fully enjoying the experience.
- graphics120 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its over 20-year age, with many players noting that while the visuals may not meet modern standards, they still possess a certain nostalgic charm. Despite the dated graphics, particularly in real-time battles, players appreciate the game's strategic depth and immersive gameplay, often stating that the graphics take a backseat to the overall experience. Some users highlight that the campaign map graphics are more appealing, but the real-time battle visuals can be jarring, making it essential for players to adjust their expectations accordingly.
“The graphics are top notch.”
“For me, this is the best synthesis between the old era of gameplay and new; in the past, limited rendering of graphics meant the gameplay had to be top notch, the graphics are just what you need for essentially an amazing board game brought to life.”
“Some of the game's graphical elements, particularly the campaign map and event pictures, look quite good even today, and do a fine job of immersing players in the medieval world.”
“The game is over 20 years old now, so the graphics are not up to modern standards, and the controls and camera are very different from more modern Total War games.”
“The game is unfortunately bogged down by poor graphics and cumbersome controls that frankly ruin the experience for me.”
“The battles are simply unplayable by today's standards, not just by graphics but also sound, UI, and controls do not hold up.”
- gameplay85 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the early Total War titles, particularly Medieval: Total War and its Viking Invasion expansion, is praised for its depth and strategic complexity, often considered superior to later entries in the series. While the graphics and some mechanics are outdated, the core gameplay remains engaging and offers a nostalgic, board game-like experience that emphasizes strategy over unnecessary complexity. However, players have noted issues with crashes and a clunky user interface, which can detract from the overall experience.
“The gameplay is deep, thoughtful, enjoyable, and memorable.”
“Despite not aging well, Medieval Total War is still a classic of the genre with plenty of fun still to be had.”
“The core Total War gameplay is as enjoyable as ever.”
“In terms of economy and diplomacy, the game is rather simplistic, but within combat mechanics - much, much deeper than in the latest casual Total War games.”
“The UI is clunky and the gameplay in battle is also.”
“Every game that followed it seemed to be needlessly bloated with a social presence to keep your population calm, or limited variety of units, constant income shortage, or overly complex or limited mercenary mechanics, or faction units whose stats were way too similar and created an air of redundancy and repetition.”
- music43 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack features a mix of deep, engaging compositions that reflect the game's historical setting, creating a captivating backdrop for gameplay. Overall, players consider the music to be one of the standout elements, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact.
“An auspicious and deep soundtrack that reflects the period in which the game is set.”
“The world campaign is a vellum map spread over an oak table, with lulling atmospheric folk music playing in the background making you feel like you're planning your strategy in the tower of your castle with gameboard pieces that represent forces and agents.”
“The music is the best music you could hope for in a game matching the genre and the factions.”
“This game is pure darkness; the campaign, gameplay, and soundtrack are nothing but crude and dark.”
“Something very interesting I noticed while playing is that one particular piece of music, entitled 'European Summer', is completely identical to 'The Fields of Ard Skellig' from The Witcher 3.”
“The music and sound effects are pretty simple but nonetheless do an incredible job of establishing the setting and really add to the game's personality and charm.”
- stability37 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern for many users, with frequent reports of freezes and crashes, particularly during battles and when transitioning between game states. While some players have experienced no issues, the overall sentiment indicates that the game is plagued by bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the developers' ability to provide effective patches. Overall, the game's stability issues have led to a mixed reception, with many recommending against purchasing until these problems are addressed.
“It's not buggy.”
“This game can be played completely chill as a board game-like turn-based strategy. Four eras and mod support give it huge replayability. This Steam version runs great on Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines regardless of specifications.”
“I have had some freezes, especially on exit to the system menu.”
“Unfortunately the game often freezes and then crashes without saving or back-up.”
“The game used to be good, now it constantly freezes up, then will not allow you to get past a certain point; sucks!”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, characterized by a beautifully designed campaign map, evocative folk music, and rich sound design that enhances the medieval setting. Players find themselves deeply engaged, often losing track of time while strategizing against a backdrop of atmospheric elements that create a unique and memorable experience. Overall, the combination of visual artistry and auditory excellence contributes to an unparalleled sense of immersion.
“The world campaign is a vellum map spread over an oak table, with lulling atmospheric folk music playing in the background, making you feel like you're planning your strategy in the tower of your castle with gameboard pieces that represent forces and agents.”
“Wonderful atmosphere and immersion thanks to memorable music, crunchy sound design, beautiful campaign maps, and a plethora of creative design decisions.”
“The gray medieval atmosphere brought on by the music and sounds can't be easily recreated and fits in very well.”
“The atmosphere is brooding and the contours of the land are very nice on the eye.”
“The atmosphere will draw you in like no other and the soundtrack is second to none.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing crashes, performance issues, and janky battles, particularly on certain systems. While some users report smooth performance on Windows 10 and 11, others highlight significant optimization problems, especially with the Steam version and the recent iOS upgrade. Overall, the game seems to struggle with modern hardware compatibility, leading to a less than ideal experience for many players.
“Despite what other reviewers reported, the game runs smoothly on Windows 10 for me.”
“Nonetheless, this game has a couple of cool things going for it, including the ability to have truly massive battles (because of the limited performance hits) and some interesting mechanics that have been lost on later titles.”
“Nothing negative to say about Medieval I, with the exception that, since it has been 'upgraded' to fit into modern iOS, its performance has plummeted.”
“A classic game like this really cries out for a proper GOG-style optimization for modern systems.”
“On my Windows 10 AMD FX-8350 | GTX 970 | 16 GB RAM system, performance was unacceptable.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's storytelling is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its nostalgic world-building and the personal narratives that emerge from gameplay, others note the absence of structured quests or a central story thread. Instead, the experience is shaped by player-driven narratives and the historical context of various factions, which can evoke a sense of intrigue and epic storytelling. Overall, the game excels in creating a backdrop for players to craft their own stories within a rich medieval setting.
“Hearkens back to an era where game developers, largely due to limited technology, had to devote more time to storytelling and world-building, which this game does a great job of accomplishing.”
“Winning a campaign is not just about the victory itself, but about telling a story rich with the brutality, avarice, and intrigue of the medieval world.”
“The game engenders that feeling of intrigue and epic storytelling more than any other title.”
“Story: n/a (there's no quests or story thread in this game, except for the ones you make up in your own head).”
“Winning a campaign is not just about the victory itself, but about telling a story fecund with the brutality, avarice and intrigue of the medieval world.”
“I always like to start off my review with a story (generally); my current playthrough, I am playing as the Holy Roman Empire and I killed every other Catholic nation except the Papal States and he keeps warning me he'll declare a crusade on me, he does.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its simple management system, diverse factions, and multiple campaigns, including distinct European and Viking scenarios. The active modding community further enhances the experience with large-scale overhauls, while the engaging gameplay keeps players immersed for hours. Overall, players find the replay value to be a standout feature, making each playthrough feel unique and memorable.
“It has a great replayability value; it is not too complex, the management system is quite simple, and it is easy to lose track of time while fighting your battles and growing your medieval empire.”
“The modding community for this game is still somewhat active, and several large-scale overhauls exist, greatly improving replayability.”
“In addition, the game offers 4 different campaigns - 3 European ones, set at different starting dates, and a Viking campaign set in the British Isles, which allows considerable replayability.”
“There is a difference between every nation that adds replay value to play with every faction in the game.”
“In addition, the game offers 4 different campaigns - 3 European ones, set at different starting dates and a Viking campaign set in the British Isles, which allows considerable replayability.”
“But my favorite feature, the one that dwarfs all others, is the replayability.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky '90s graphics and amusing scenarios, such as using a rejected marriage proposal as a pretext for war. While the gameplay has been polished in later installments, players still find enjoyment in the comedic elements of battles and the overall absurdity of certain game mechanics. Despite some technical issues, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the experience.
“The campaign works like an upgraded form of the board game Risk; though battles look funny when compared to later Total Wars, they are quite fun and a little immersive in their own right.”
“It is true that many aspects concerning the management of the turn-based mode and real-time battles have been polished in later games of the series, but anyway, it is funny.”
“I personally find it humorous to use a rejected marriage proposal as grounds to go to war with a much more powerful faction.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the late stages where managing taxes and unit construction can feel overwhelming. The lengthy turn-based battles and the frequent setbacks from random rebellions and attacks contribute to a sense of frustration, especially when managing a large empire. While the building system offers flexibility, it ultimately adds to the grind, making gameplay feel repetitive and drawn out.
“Towards the end, it can become very tedious adjusting all the taxes and selecting units to build.”
“This means it takes many, many tedious turns to do anything, such as build.”
“However, even on normal game mode, it becomes tedious when hours and hours of gameplay are quickly undone with 'random' rebellions, attacks, and the return of defeated factions.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with feelings of nostalgia and heartbreak stemming from the inability to play it despite fond childhood memories. The crashes evoke strong feelings of sadness, highlighting the game's significant impact on their lives.
“The crashes make me want to cry.”
“I played this all the time when I was a kid, and to be able to own it but not play it is heartbreaking.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is hindered by its 2D character design, which some players find lacking, particularly given the game's age and budget constraints.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth throughout the game.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
