Rome: Total War

"Rome: Total War™ - Collection" is a strategy game that transports players to the ancient Roman world. Command one of three powerful factions and expand your empire through strategic warfare and political intrigue. The collection includes the original game and its expansion, "Barbarian Invasion," offering hours of historical combat and empire-building.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,576 reviews

graphics213 positive mentions

optimization38 negative mentions

graphics
805 mentions
26 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Rome: Total War" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2004 release, yet many players appreciate their nostalgic charm and the game's overall artistic design. While some reviews note that the visuals do not hold up to modern standards, they emphasize that the gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable, often overshadowing graphical shortcomings. Overall, the graphics are considered acceptable for their time, with a few players suggesting that mods can enhance the visual experience.
- “Graphically, the game was groundbreaking at release and still holds up reasonably well.”
- “The graphics for its age and the playability is just so incredibly inviting.”
- “The detailed graphics and immersive sound design bring the ancient world to life, while the addictive multiplayer mode adds to the longevity of the game.”
- “The graphics are outdated but the gameplay still holds up, best total war.”
- “The graphics are certainly outdated, but the upside of this is it will work on almost all computers with the right settings, and doesn't take up a lot of storage.”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 have aged poorly and the AI isn't up to today's standards, but there's loads of love for detail such as shields working properly to block attacks and projectiles.”
gameplay
634 mentions
38 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Rome: Total War" is widely praised for its blend of turn-based strategy and real-time tactical battles, offering a rich and engaging experience that balances complexity with accessibility. Players appreciate the depth of mechanics, including empire management, unique faction traits, and dynamic battle systems, which contribute to countless hours of replayability. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics and occasional AI issues, the core gameplay remains compelling and is often regarded as superior to newer entries in the series.
- “The gameplay mechanics are flawless, offering a perfect balance between turn-based empire management and real-time tactical combat.”
- “The depth and complexity of the mechanics, combined with the thrill of massive historical battles, earn gameplay a perfect 10/10.”
- “The gameplay is a mixture of turn-based strategy on the campaign map and real-time battles.”
- “No effort by the devs to put any extra work into the game, no gameplay mods, reskin, VFX overhaul... nope, same game, same bugs, no different than the Age of Empires Win 10/11 port.”
- “Rome 2 had annoying settlement building mechanics where different mutually exclusive buildings gave incredibly minor differences in benefits, making it feel like you had to sit around with a calculator to determine if it's even worth it to build up certain settlements.”
- “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.”
music
241 mentions
62 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Rome: Total War" is widely praised for its iconic and immersive soundtrack, which enhances the game's atmosphere and complements the grandeur of the Roman era. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth and memorability of the tracks, with many considering it one of the best soundtracks in gaming history. The combination of stirring battle music and atmospheric compositions contributes significantly to the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The sound and music are iconic, with a stirring soundtrack that perfectly complements the grandeur of the Roman era.”
- “The music alone is worth the play.”
- “The soundtrack is just amazing; every second of the music makes you feel more immersed in the battle.”
- “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.”
- “The music in the game is alright.”
- “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.”
replayability
139 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, often rated 10/10 by users, thanks to its diverse factions, engaging empire management, and the ability to unlock additional playable nations. Players appreciate the balance of simplicity and depth, which allows for varied strategies and experiences, even after many years since its release. The modding community further enhances replay value, making it a timeless favorite among strategy enthusiasts.
- “A truly remarkable experience offering almost unlimited replayability.”
- “Its combination of epic battles, robust empire management, and replayability make it a must-play for strategy enthusiasts.”
- “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.”
- “While I enjoyed the time I played on this game, I feel as though I won't ever play it again due to it having little replay value.”
- “The game itself is unoptimized, at least for me, and Medieval 2 offers much more in the ways of replayability and mods.”
optimization
113 mentions
16 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
34 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is widely criticized, particularly in its Steam version, which suffers from severe performance issues on modern hardware, often resulting in low frame rates and stuttering during battles. Many users report needing to apply various tweaks and fixes to achieve playable performance, and while some find success with older versions or mods, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for contemporary systems, making it challenging for new players to enjoy. Despite its nostalgic value and engaging gameplay, the lack of proper optimization significantly detracts from the experience.
- “It requires some performance tweaking to run well on modern systems, but it's overall quite functional on recent hardware/software.”
- “Awesome and can even run smoothly on laptops.”
- “The only cons worth mentioning are performance problems on newer PCs and outdated graphics, both of which can probably be fixed through modding.”
- “The Steam version is completely screwed up in terms of performance; if you can find the CD version, it will run a lot better.”
- “Just maybe reconsider buying this game, as it has strong performance issues with today's computers.”
- “The game itself is unoptimized, at least for me, and Medieval 2 offers much more in the ways of replayability and mods.”
story
105 mentions
27 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a rich historical backdrop, particularly in the Roman campaigns, where players engage in senate missions that shape their narrative and influence their standing. While some players appreciate the immersive and dynamic storytelling, others find the senate missions to be repetitive or overly challenging, leading to mixed feelings about the overall narrative experience. Ultimately, the game allows for personal storytelling through gameplay, with each faction offering unique strategies and experiences that contribute to a sense of epic storytelling.
- “The immersive campaign story and the notable Jeff Van Dyck musical score are not to be missed.”
- “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 relatively simple.”
- “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.”
- “The story mode is boring as hell and I never played much of that.”
stability
75 mentions
8 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate its nostalgic value and find it runs well on various systems, they also report frequent crashes, loading screen freezes, and various bugs, particularly in unit pathing and AI behavior. Despite these issues, some users argue that it remains less buggy than newer titles in the series, making it a beloved classic for strategy enthusiasts.
- “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.”
- “The game is also buggy and unit pathing is bad.”
- “It is buggy as heck, has lots of lag, and crashes frequently.”
- “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.”
humor
37 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its glitches, quirky AI, and amusing voice acting. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of gameplay, such as absurd battle scenarios and historically inaccurate units, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the game's blend of strategy and humor makes it a fun choice for players looking for a good laugh while engaging in tactical gameplay.
- “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 the game falls flat; the jokes feel forced and unoriginal, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor is so dry that it feels like a desert in here.”
- “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
atmosphere
30 mentions
47 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Rome: Total War is widely praised for its immersive and realistic depiction of the Roman Empire, enhanced by an epic soundtrack that captivates players. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics, the game's engaging mechanics and deep historical context create a memorable experience that keeps players returning. Many reviewers consider it one of the best in the Total War series, highlighting its ability to evoke a sense of scale and intensity during battles.
- “What could by some measures be called the greatest game ever released in the Total War series, it has graphics that some would consider outdated, but its bellicose yet optimistic atmosphere evocative of a small kingdom or republic fighting and building its way to greatness and founding the world's most illustrious empire is combined with game mechanics and a user interface that are easy to understand and enjoy, allowing immersion in an experience that, by the testimony of many, will be relished and entirely unforgettable to players and observers of all ages.”
- “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.”
- “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, weather, and even soldiers surrounding the battlefield have an effect on the battle itself, and it manages to create a somewhat realistic atmosphere.”
grinding
18 mentions
0 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the strategic and tactical gameplay is engaging, the late-game can become tedious due to the sheer number of rebel armies and the micromanagement required for managing multiple provinces. Many suggest using auto-resolve for battles to alleviate some of the grind, but the overall campaign can still feel slow and cumbersome, especially on modern laptops without proper tweaks. Despite these issues, the game offers a variety of mods that can enhance the experience and make it more accessible for less experienced players.
- “Just be aware that if you play the vanilla version, the number of rebel armies you fight becomes tedious by late game (you can auto-resolve any battle if you like) and the campaign map can be slow on modern laptops unless you make some tweaks/experiment with software.”
- “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.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes strong emotional responses, with heartfelt speeches from generals enhancing the sense of connection to the characters and the stakes of battle. Many reviewers highlight a transformative experience, feeling spiritually and emotionally invested in their campaigns, particularly in the context of commanding troops and strategizing for world domination. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a deeply engaging and emotionally resonant experience.
- “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 the traits they have earned.”
monetization
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a strong dissatisfaction with the game's monetization practices, labeling it as a "cash grab" and criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions and overpriced DLC. Many users express a desire for a return to more consumer-friendly pricing models and complete game releases, urging fellow gamers to boycott titles that exploit these practices. Overall, there is a call for accountability in the gaming industry to combat unfinished products and profit-driven strategies.
- “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 together need to stop buying their games and incentivizing them to continue selling unfinished, cash grabs at full price.”
- “It comes from a time period when strategy meant logic, reason, tactical prowess, and intelligence; not pay-to-win microtransactions.”
character development
3 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 unit properties and their synergy with city and general roles. While it may lack the depth found in later entries and in overworld gameplay compared to "3 Kingdoms," it remains a standout for its character progression and empire-building elements. Overall, it is regarded as one of the best in the series for character development.
- “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 during character development seem to have little impact on the overall gameplay experience.”
- “I found the character development system to be confusing and poorly explained, which detracted from my enjoyment of the game.”