The Total War series returns with an intense 18^th century war simulation that the hardcore fans will love. This is a real time strategy game that allows you to play out historical battles for yourself. Empire is also a turn based strategy game on a larger scale but more on that later.

The campaign called Road to Independence is new. You start with limited engagements and work your way to the American colonies in hopes to begin a nation. Fans of the Total War series will like this new option because cut scenes are used to tell a story better than in the Grand Campaign where the dozens of battles tend to run into one another. Fighting for American Independence is pure joy and I loved it.

The Grand Campaign returns. In this campaign you play through the entire 18th century. You will interact with other nations and attempt alliances and trade and so forth. This is the Emperor mode where you run your country. As countries turn on you, battles will be waged. You become a Commander on the battlefield and in epic fashion. There are several nations you can play as and each has their own set of goals for victory. The scale or number of turns in a campaign can be sized down if need be but this still leads to a very long game which the hardcore fans will love.

Trading has been modified and uses outposts now instead of merchants. In order to trade you upgrade whatever production goods you have and then through diplomacy work out a deal. This allows for you to set up a blockade against your enemy’s trade route if you so wish and I did.

Each region in the game is now controlled by a capitol building which is able to be outfitted for whatever you want that region to represent. I like to conquere so I built barracks but you can also build government houses to talk your way through the campaign.

The most epic part of Empire is the battles. The graphics are stunning and every single avatar on the field acts in a realistic manner. The Naval battles are the most fun. These made the game for me. Having to deal with the wind and watching the waves hit my ship was great fun. The whole game could have been just a Navy RTS and I would have been happy. The sounds in the game are very realistic as well. I had someone think I was watching a war movie when I was playing. Kudos to Creative Assembly for that bit of fun.

Bottom line is that if you enjoy complex RTS games then you’ll love Empire: Total War. If you don’t, then you probably won’t. However, the complexity is all explained through menu pop ups and such. Once you get the hang of it there really is nothing to it. The 18^th century is such an awesome setting for a Total War game that I would hope a lot of people would pick this up.

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