Rome: Total War
- August 27, 2007
- CREATIVE ASSEMBLY
- 109h median play time
Once the Roman Empire is under your command, don't lay down your sword just yet - the Barbarians are coming. With two award-winning titles from the esteemed Total War series, you'll have twice as many obstacles and opportunities to control and conquer the greatest empire ever known to man. Includes the Barbarian Invasion expansion!
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Reviews
- graphics627 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Rome: Total War" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 2004 release, yet many players find them charming and serviceable for gameplay. While some criticize the visuals as poor by modern standards, others appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly on low-end systems, allowing for large-scale battles without significant performance issues. Overall, the consensus is that despite the dated graphics, the game's depth and engaging mechanics more than compensate for any visual shortcomings.
“The campaign is excellent, particularly the oft overlooked barbarian invasion campaign, and the music and graphics hold up despite their age.”
“Graphics are gorgeous for the time it came out.”
“The graphics are horrible, hurts your eyes.”
“The graphics are certainly outdated, but the upside of this is it will work on almost all computers with the right settings, and doesn't take up a lot of storage.”
“The graphics may have aged a bit and the late game has some balance issues relating to city management, but this is still an amazing game and worth checking out!”
- gameplay452 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Rome: Total War" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, offering a rich blend of turn-based strategy and real-time tactical battles. Players appreciate the intricate campaign mechanics, which allow for various strategic approaches, and the engaging battle system that emphasizes unit tactics and formations. Despite its outdated graphics, the game remains a favorite for its immersive experience and replayability, bolstered by a strong modding community that enhances gameplay further.
“Revisiting the game as an adult, I was taken aback by how mechanically deep the gameplay on the campaign map is.”
“The campaign management mechanics are not crucial to playing the game successfully, but understanding these mechanics unlocks a universe of gameplay that feels akin to solving puzzles.”
“The gameplay is immersive both on the level of individual battles and the overarching map of Europe, and I love all the historical detail.”
“The gameplay, graphics, and technology aren't on par with games released more than a decade and a half later, but until another strategy game comes along that makes me care in the same way, Rome will remain my favorite Total War game.”
“The gameplay makes up for most, however, though the actions in a battle are quite limited and controls are a bit clunky, which reduces tactical play.”
“The campaign map and all its intricacies can be overwhelming at first just because of how many mechanics are involved in the turn-by-turn upkeep of your cities and armies, but the realism and depth of it all make it all the more fun once you get the hang of everything.”
- music161 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers calling it exceptional, beautiful, and iconic. The soundtrack, composed by Jeff van Dyck, enhances the gameplay experience, evoking strong emotions during battles and adding to the overall atmosphere. Despite some criticisms regarding the limited number of tracks, the music remains a significant reason for players' enduring affection for the game.
“The soundtrack is also stunning.”
“The music is one of the best for any game, period.”
“The soundtrack, too, was a standout feature, with epic and immersive music that added to the game's overall atmosphere.”
“Now the game doesn’t have many tracks to get you humming along; in fact, it has a couple of tracks running in the background, and some music to set the mood for a fight, but that’s about it, and that’s one of the things letting this game down in my opinion.”
“Personally, I don't really like this kind of music, but if you are familiar with music notation, the history of scales, and the history of music in general, then you might appreciate the music more.”
“Game music is Roman-like but quite repetitive.”
- replayability106 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its diverse factions, unique playstyles, and extensive modding options that enhance the experience. Even years after its release, it remains engaging due to its varied campaigns and the ability to unlock new factions, ensuring players can enjoy countless hours of gameplay. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable titles in the Total War series, appealing to both new and veteran strategy gamers.
“It has so much replayability and modability; I doubt this game will ever take a backseat role but instead maintain its position on the throne of the best Total War of all time!”
“Absolutely addicting, lots of replayability, plus great mods to add to it.”
“The replayability is astronomical, especially with the use of mods.”
“The AI system, in particular, was not as challenging or strategic as some players would have liked, which led to a lack of difficulty and replayability.”
“The game itself is unoptimized, at least for me, and Medieval 2 offers much more in the ways of replayability and mods.”
“While it lacks aspects of new Total Wars like multiplayer campaign, it makes up for it in quality and replayability.”
- story81 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of historical elements and player-driven narratives, particularly through the senate missions that guide gameplay and influence faction dynamics. While some players appreciate the depth and potential for personal storytelling, others find the overarching plot simplistic and the senate missions occasionally tedious or inconsequential. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of strategic gameplay and narrative opportunities, though opinions on its execution vary widely.
“The three Roman campaigns are the most developed, complete with historical events and developments, with the Roman Senate providing missions, support, and guidance for the first half of the game.”
“Each faction plays very differently, having access to different unit types and requiring dramatically different strategies, which results in every playthrough feeling like its own epic story.”
“The different factions with different units make things much more interesting, and the Senate's missions really help drive objectives.”
“The story is also poor.”
“I would also say that most of the senate missions are largely inconsequential and not particularly interesting or challenging if you're playing as the Romans.”
“One last thing, do not buy Rome: Total War 2; it's too expensive as well as having an extremely dodgy story plot.”
- optimization79 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is widely criticized, particularly for its poor performance on modern hardware, with many users experiencing significant lag, crashes, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some players have found ways to improve performance through community fixes and mods, the game is fundamentally unoptimized for multi-core processors and struggles to run smoothly during large battles. Overall, despite its classic status, the game's technical issues make it difficult to recommend without reservations.
“Awesome and can even run smoothly on laptops.”
“If the performance could be a little better, then I may say this is the perfect game, flaws and all.”
“The only cons worth mentioning are performance problems on newer PCs and outdated graphics, both of which can probably be fixed through modding.”
“This game is not perfect performance and modern hardware don't match well, not including some frustrating AI and horrible pathing for units.”
“Constant performance issues and crashes on a high-performance computer is unacceptable for a game that's been out as long as this one has.”
“The upshot is that this game is simply drastically unoptimized for modern hardware and operating systems.”
- stability54 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches, particularly on modern systems. While some players find it playable and enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over the game's performance and the need for troubleshooting. Overall, it is considered an all-time classic, but its outdated and buggy nature can detract from the experience.
“This game runs great.”
“Unlike its sequel, you can expect no glitches!”
“It runs great on my crappy laptop and the scale of warfare is amazing.”
“Freezes on Windows 10 and I am not motivated to research and hack and change ini files, without knowing that the game works until the end.”
“It is buggy as heck, has lots of lag, and crashes frequently.”
“The graphics are poor and constant glitches throughout the game!”
- humor27 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its quirky voice acting, amusing character descriptions, and the absurdity of certain battle scenarios, such as elephants turning on their allies or creating armies of war dogs. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its strategic gameplay and entertaining glitches, making it a fun experience for both casual and seasoned players. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm that enhances the enjoyment of the game.
“It's hilarious watching elephants steamroll an army; creepy too how a lot of soundbites from this game are found scattered across media.”
“As a younger player, I found it hilarious to create an army full of thousands of war dogs and fight rebel peasants, shouting 'cry havoc and unleash the dogs of war!' as I did so.”
“Those that struck me in this game were the hilarious descriptions and attributes of the generals, which adds flesh to the polygons you command.”
“The humor in this game falls flat; the jokes feel forced and unoriginal, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the attempts at humor are cringeworthy and often miss the mark.”
“The comedic elements are so poorly executed that they detract from the overall experience rather than enhance it.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and evocative qualities, capturing the essence of a small kingdom's journey to greatness amidst a backdrop of epic music and engaging gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics, players find the combination of a colorful cast of factions, realistic battle depictions, and a deep sense of scale to create a memorable and addictive experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances its replayability and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack, too, was a standout feature, with epic and immersive music that added to the game's overall atmosphere.”
“The best in the Total War franchise due to its immersion, atmosphere, and realistic depictions of battles.”
“I'm not much into strategy or management, but the awesome battles and the immersive atmosphere were enough to keep dragging me back to this title throughout the years.”
“Though there have been some very popular Total War games since Rome, for me they've never captured quite the same atmosphere.”
“Sure, the graphics aren't great, but the music and the atmosphere it brings, along with the simplicity of the gameplay, is what makes me keep coming back to it.”
“Also, this game varies a lot more than you’d think; the terrain and weather, and basically all the nature, and even soldiers surrounding the battlefield have an effect on the battle itself, and it manages to create a somewhat realistic atmosphere.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when managing numerous provinces and settlements, which can feel overwhelming and time-consuming. The campaign map, while expansive, often leads to a sense of monotony as players navigate through various building types and deal with issues like squalor and rebellions. Many suggest that auto-resolving battles can alleviate some of the grind, allowing for a greater focus on empire building.
“Other things I found annoying is the tediousness of conquering and holding 50 provinces in the full imperial campaign.”
“The world map can get tedious, what with all the squalor and rebellions.”
“If the battles get too tedious just auto-resolve and focus on empire building.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a strong dissatisfaction with the game's monetization practices, labeling it a "cash grab" and criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions and overpriced DLC. Many users express a desire for consumers to collectively reject such business models to encourage better practices in the industry. In contrast, some note that earlier versions of the game offered more content without the burden of additional costs.
“The horrible launch of Rome 2 and the crummy monetization of that game also gave the original new life and appreciation, and it continues to this day.”
“This game was released before CA gave into microtransactions and 'pushing a political agenda'.”
“Sad to see this company sell out for profit margins, incomplete and bugged releases, and microtransactions.”
“I am telling you that if you wish for companies to stop these terrible business practices, then we as a consumer base need to stop buying their games and incentivizing them to continue selling unfinished, cash grabs at full price.”
“This game was released before the company gave into microtransactions and 'pushing a political agenda'.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game deeply emotional, highlighting its ability to create a strong connection to the characters and their struggles through heartfelt speeches and immersive storytelling. The experience is described as transformative, with players feeling genuinely invested in the outcomes of battles and the overall campaign.
“This game transformed me spiritually and emotionally.”
“There is no other Total War game I have ever played that made me feel I was commanding actual people.”
“Heartfelt speeches from generals before each battle, which reflect their traits they have earned.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in this title is noted for its engaging and satisfying nature, particularly in the context of combat and empire building, despite lacking the depth found in later entries and other titles like 3 Kingdoms. Players emphasize the importance of understanding unit properties and effectively complementing them with various character roles, such as generals and merchants, to enhance gameplay. Overall, it is regarded as having strong character development compared to other games in the series.
“It doesn't have the same depth in the battlefield as the later titles, and definitely falls short in terms of overworld gameplay compared to 3 Kingdoms, but it's the entry that brought Total War into the spotlight with satisfying combat and engaging character development and empire building.”
“I haven't played some of the most recent titles, but this had the best character development out of the ones I've played.”
“I suggest you research each unit's properties and how to complement the units with city and general; monk, ninja, or merchant character development is important.”
“Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The choices you make in character development seem to have little impact on the overall gameplay, leaving it feeling unimportant.”
“I found the character development system to be confusing and poorly explained, which detracted from my overall experience.”
