8.2 out of 10

Empire: Total War

 

Information found in: from 175 sources in 21 countries

  • User Score (293)
    4.8 4.8 from 293 reviewers
  • Expert Score (121)
    8.7 8.7 from 121 reviewers
  • Value for money (7)
    10 10 from 7 reviewers
  • Features (5)
    9.6 9.6 from 5 reviewers
  • Gameplay (38)
    9.7 9.7 from 38 reviewers
  • Graphics (42)
    9.9 9.9 from 42 reviewers
  • Sound (35)
    9.4 9.4 from 35 reviewers
  • Storyline (5)
    9.4 9.4 from 5 reviewers
  • Multiplayer (14)
    9.2 9.2 from 14 reviewers
  • Control (7)
    9.5 9.5 from 7 reviewers
  • Lifespan (8)
    9.8 9.8 from 8 reviewers
  • Overall quality (4)
    9.4 9.4 from 4 reviewers
  • Playability (2)
    10 10 from 2 reviewers
  • Replay value (2)
    8.6 8.6 from 2 reviewers
  • Atmosphere (3)
    10 10 from 3 reviewers
  • Singleplayer (3)
    10 10 from 3 reviewers
  • Game depth (3)
    10 10 from 3 reviewers
  • Funfactor (2)
    9.9 9.9 from 2 reviewers
  • Lastability (2)
    7.7 7.7 from 2 reviewers
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  • Score Distribution

Experts:
9-10
(90)
7-8
(28)
5-6
(2)
3-4
(0)
1-2
(1)
Users:
9-10
(62)
7-8
(35)
5-6
(16)
3-4
(34)
1-2
(146)

  • Expert Reviews

  1. AusGamers

    9.6/10
    13 March 2009

    As it stands, Empire: Total War is an amazing achievement. It feels like the natural progression of years of accumulated cutting-edge technology and gameplay. It definitely deserves your attention, with Creative Assembly cementing themselves as a developer at the forefront of large scale RTS and simulation gaming. Read more

    • Epic real-time battles, Impressive AI and graphics engine, Incredibly deep 'Civilisation' like gameplay
    • Some quirky AI bugs, Day one patches, Naval battles that are a little too difficult

  2. GameSpot

    8.5/10
    9 March 2009

    Unlike with most turn-based historical games, battles can be played out in real time, and though the autoresolve option may look tempting, you should, at least on land, manage any battle in which you have a reasonable chance of winning. The most obvious reason is that they're enjoyable to command and enjoyable to watch. Read more

    • Impressive and ambitious historical scope, A huge amount of content, online and off, Both land and naval battles are fun to play and fun to watch, Addictive gameplay w...
    • An array of artificial intelligence issues, Numerous bugs and performance hitches.

  3. Australian Gamer

    Australian Gamer
    6 April 2009

    This was without a doubt one of my most anticipated titles for 2009. Creative Assembly have not disappointed. The game melds all the positive elements of Medieval II whilst building on logical steps of the genre that were untouched in previously. One of those is Naval battles, where you can now apply your sea-faring nouse to conquer the computer. Read more

    • Graphically beautiful game. The world map is a visual delight of colour and graphics, where as the land battles are stunning exhibits of countryside. The naval battles...
    • Huge tax on the system, meaing you need a high end machine to really enjoy the game at a decent level.

  4. The Sydney Morning Herald

    10/10
    19 March 2009

    EMPIRE: TOTAL WAR Platform: PC RRP: $99.95 Classification: M Rating: 5 out of 5 Thanks to the Total War strategy game series, we've already conquered feudal Japan, mastered medieval Europe and ruled the Roman Republic. So building up an 18th-century empire should be as easy as pie. Of course, the brilliance of these games is that they're relatively easy to learn and yet extremely challenging to master. Read more

  5. BigPond GameArena

    9.0/10
    3 March 2009

    At the end of the day I find myself in the peculiar predicament of hating the pathing, disliking the setting and being underwhelmed by the sea battles... and yet still consistently attempting to conquer the world. The series has always traditionally been the kind of game which is too difficult for your average gamer, and Empire: Total War isn't here to pander to the Everyman. Read more

    • Wow this game is big., At no point did CA stop and say "Maybe we've done enough"., No holds barred approach to hardcore strategy will satisfy many.
    • Arrrrgh, the pathing!, Yarrr, the sea battles!, No holds barred approach to hardcore strategy will prove too complicated to some.

  • User Reviews

  1. BigPond GameArena

    Reviewer: Arhimed, BigPond GameArena
    12 March 2009

    Great game, the only problem I have is that the strategy map section is too slow & laggy. It takes forever to see all the AI moves play out and they themselves have a laggy transition from one to the next. Personally though, I always loved the Total War series for the real-time part, so I mainly play custom battles (land & sea). Read more

    • Huge game, great real time battles, sea battles
    • Strategy map is laggy, the AI moves take too long to process & are lacking optimization

  • WikiFreak Description

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  • Manufacturer's Description

Empire: Total War is set in the eighteenth century, a turbulent period alive with global conflict, revolutionary fervour and technological advances. With themes such as the Industrial Revolution, America’s struggle for independence, the struggle to control Eastern trade routes and the globalisation of war on land and sea, Empire: Total War is one of the richest and most dynamic PC RTS games of all time.

  • Publisher: Sega
  • Genre: Strategy Action
  • ESRB Rating: T - (Te…

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