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 8,276 reviews

graphics167 positive mentions

optimization26 negative mentions

graphics
649 mentions
26 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Rome: Total War" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 2004 release, yet many players appreciate their nostalgic charm and the game's overall artistic style. While some reviews note that the visuals may not hold up to modern standards, they often emphasize that the gameplay experience compensates for any graphical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus is that despite the primitive graphics, the game remains enjoyable and accessible, especially on lower-end systems.
- “The graphics and some mechanics might show their age, but I actually think the core of the game is the best that Creative Assembly has done.”
- “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 good for its time (2004 A.D.), it’s a big jump from Medieval Total War (2002 A.D.) and Shogun Total War (2001 A.D.), the effects, environments, buildings and reflection quality are also good for its time.”
- “The graphics are outdated but, who cares.”
- “The unit movement pathing is atrocious and the graphics don't hold up great to modern games, but this game gets almost everything else right.”
- “The graphics are horrible, hurts your eyes.”
gameplay
478 mentions
38 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Rome: Total War" is widely praised for its engaging blend of turn-based strategy and real-time battles, offering a rich and immersive experience that balances complexity with accessibility. While some players note the dated graphics and occasional AI issues, the core mechanics, including unique faction traits and strategic depth, continue to captivate both new and veteran players, making it a standout title in the Total War series. Many reviews highlight the game's replayability and the satisfaction derived from its intricate campaign management and tactical combat, solidifying its status as a classic in the strategy genre.
- “Overall, I would recommend people play the remaster for a more modern experience, while staying true to the original Rome mechanics that made Total War great.”
- “The gameplay is a mixture of turn-based strategy on the campaign map and real-time battles.”
- “The strategic depth and intricate diplomacy system offer engaging gameplay with countless strategic possibilities.”
- “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, 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, Rome will remain my favorite Total War game.”
music
184 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and immersive nature, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotions and enhance the overall gameplay experience. Composed by Jeff van Dyck, the soundtrack is described as iconic and unforgettable, perfectly syncing with the game's action and atmosphere, making it a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's lasting appeal. Overall, the music is considered one of the best in the series, with many players expressing nostalgia and a desire to revisit the soundtrack long after playing.
- “The music is one of the best for any game, period.”
- “The soundtrack absolutely slaps, the gameplay and strategy is very enjoyable.”
- “The music is fitting and helps get you in the mood, especially on the battlefield and has a good variety of units.”
- “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.”
- “Game music is Roman-like but quite repetitive.”
- “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
110 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, remaining engaging even after many years since its release. Players appreciate the variety of factions, strategic depth, and the availability of mods, which significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable titles in the Total War series, offering countless hours of enjoyment through different playstyles and scenarios.
- “A truly remarkable experience offering almost unlimited replayability.”
- “The replayability of this game is phenomenal.”
- “Once you've completed a game as Rome, you can then play as any of the other factions, and this makes it infinitely replayable.”
- “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.”
- “Despite this, it remains a game with an absolute ton of variety and replayability, and is deep enough to keep your attention for a long time, no matter if you're a fan of the series or just looking for the right one to start with.”
- “The game itself is unoptimized, at least for me, and Medieval 2 offers much more in the ways of replayability and mods.”
optimization
83 mentions
19 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
31 % 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 that the game is poorly optimized for multi-core processors and recommend using compatibility settings or community fixes to improve performance. Despite its age and technical shortcomings, some players still find enjoyment in the game, especially with the help of mods, but caution potential buyers about the significant performance challenges they may face.
- “Still, I managed to make it work a bit better by disabling fullscreen optimization and running it in Windows XP compatibility.”
- “The only cons worth mentioning are performance problems on newer PCs and outdated graphics, both of which can probably be fixed through modding.”
- “I cannot state enough how much mods help this game as there is a very dedicated community out there that has developed this game to peak performance; if you don't have mods for this game, you are missing out.”
- “The Steam version is completely screwed up in terms of performance; if you can find the CD version, it will run a lot better.”
- “Constant performance issues and crashes on a high-performance computer are unacceptable for a game that's been out as long as this one has.”
- “Horribly optimized for newer hardware, filled with performance issues; my pretty decent modern PC cannot fast forward a 4,000 soldier battle with more than 10 FPS when I can play games like Rome 2 with full-sized armies on 60 FPS without drops.”
story
82 mentions
24 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by an immersive campaign that allows players to shape their own narratives through various senate missions and historical events, particularly within the Roman factions. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge of the political dynamics and character development, others find the senate missions can become tedious and less engaging as the game progresses. Overall, the blend of strategic gameplay and personal storytelling offers a unique experience, though opinions on the quality and significance of the overarching narrative vary.
- “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.”
- “Secondly, senate missions end up becoming pointless near the end of the game and give you no reason to complete them.”
stability
60 mentions
7 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate its relatively smooth performance and infrequent crashes, others report significant bugs, freezes, and graphical glitches, particularly on modern systems. Despite these issues, many still regard it as a classic and a better experience compared to its more recent, buggier counterparts. Players often note that while it may show its age, it remains enjoyable and runs well on a variety of hardware.
- “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
30 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
10 % 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 humorous character descriptions, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to blend strategy with laugh-out-loud moments, making it a memorable and enjoyable play.
- “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 humor is so dry that it feels like a chore to get through the dialogue.”
- “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than entertained.”
atmosphere
24 mentions
50 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised as a masterpiece, characterized by its immersive and evocative depiction of ancient times, complemented by a standout soundtrack and engaging gameplay mechanics. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics, players find the atmosphere, sense of scale, and historical immersion to be compelling enough to keep them returning to the game. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most atmospheric entries in the Total War series, successfully capturing the essence of its setting.
- “This is a real masterpiece with an absolutely beautiful atmosphere.”
- “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
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when managing numerous provinces and settlements. The campaign map feels expansive, but the repetitive nature of conquering and managing resources can detract from the overall experience. While some enjoy the strategic elements, many express that the game requires significant time investment, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging challenge.
- “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.”
monetization
6 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 a more complete experience 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 like CA 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.”
- “Fun game, good amount of content, ok balancing, lacks overpriced DLC and microtransactions.”
emotional
6 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 the narrative. The heartfelt speeches from generals and the immersive experience of commanding troops contribute to a sense of spiritual and emotional transformation, keeping players invested in their campaigns. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth and engaging tactical gameplay.
- “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.”
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 combat and empire building, despite lacking the depth found in later entries. 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 titles 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.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the units.”
- “I found the character development system to be confusing and poorly explained, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “There seems to be a lack of variety in character development options, leading to repetitive gameplay.”