Of course, youcouldopt tonotrejoice if you were hoping for The Creative Assembly to return to a less ancient time period for its nextTotal Wartitle. That said, they were well-served in going back to the series’ roots withShogun 2(I would know!), so you can hardly blame ’em for revisiting my second-favoriteTotal Warsetting inRome II.
The studio promises that they’ll be applying the lessons they’ve learned from refiningShogun 2and itsFall of the Samuraiexpansion and applying them on a much grander scale withRome II. The game’s signature real-time battles will now allow for simultaneous land- and sea-based combat, including amphibious invasions. Even more territories will be in play than were present the originalRome, and players won’t be restricted to playing Roman factions at the start. New systems will also be in place to help players manage huge swathes of territory and head off the “province-creep” that tends to affect late-game play.
Further, the game will include deeper narrative opportunities and the ability to make consequential choices beyond the usual military-industrial dynamic, adding more “human drama” (their words) to the experience of ruling Rome (or Rome’s enemies).
Check out some screenshots and concept art in the gallery. Sadly unpictured are battle elephants, though the game will have those too. I demand pictures of battle elephants!
