medieval total war medieval total war turn based strategy real time tactics computer game developed published set middle ages second game total war series following title total war originally announced august game released north_america august europe august microsoft windows following similar form play total war player builds empire europe north_africa middle_east spanning period gameplay strategic tactical strategy played turn based fashion province province level military units varying types capabilities fight real time battlefield medieval total war received acclaim reviewers critics commending milestone gaming real time battles praised realism new feature siege battles received criticism unit management depth complexity strategy portion received reviewers integrated historical accuracy game commercial success topping british video game chart release gameplay medieval total war based building empire medieval europe north_africa middle_east focuses warfare religion politics time ultimately lead player conquest known world preceding total war game total war game consists broad areas gameplay turn based campaign map allows user armies provinces control agents diplomacy religion tasks needed run faction real time battlefield player directs land battles occur strategic portion game divides campaign map factions period total playable initial extent major faction territory factions available depends starting period game early high late reflecting historical state factions time factions represent major nations time including byzantine_empire france england turks factions golden emerge course play historical time factions factions appearing start campaign unavailable player main campaign faction varies territory religion units factions culture share core units addition main campaign medieval total war features game mode player undertake historical campaigns battles historical campaigns allow player control series famous battles war medieval period years war playing historic commanders like richard individual historic battles player controlling historical figure isolated battle occurred era controlling campaign main campaign involves player choosing fourteen playable factions eventually leading conquest strategy map factions controls number historical provinces map contain castle located sea port campaign player controls construction unit recruitment movement armies fleets agents provinces means acquire defend provinces diplomacy economics aspects player use advance aims having access clandestine means espionage assassination religion important game player able convert provinces religions cement people loyalty campaign mode available called glorious achievements faction historically based goals achieve score points faction achievement points wins game campaign mode turn based turn representing year allowing player attend needs faction allowing artificial intelligence carry factions moves decisions campaign carried similar fashion total war features enhancements game set mainly europe features middle_east north_africa production occur province player building hundreds connected buildings units game technology tree income develop provinces armies comes taxation provinces trade neighbouring provinces specific technology research advances gunpowder available time castles provide basis developed construction game players having upgrade castle level able build advanced buildings upgrades curtain wall guard towers added individual castles buildings economic functions trading posts generate money military buildings allow training advanced unit types whilst common unit types unique units available units restricted single faction dependent control particular province unit possesses different strengths weaknesses faction variety different generals related royal family line throne rest members nobility command units field assume offices state characters base ranking attributes command ability affects carry duties battlefield governing provinces attributes factors health influenced virtues defining character personality actions traits acquired seemingly randomly given character actions game non military units collectively referred agents trained types agent faction able produce depends religion factions spies assassins available conduct diplomatic tasks start alliances factions bribe foreign armies spies allow detailed information collected foreign provinces characters assassins attempt kill foreign domestic units factions access religious agents spread religion christian factions marry domestic generals factions political reasons occasionally game character trained bearing famous historical figure better normal starting abilities general capable military commander bishop higher normal rebellions occur loyalty particular province falls low rebel army appearing province attempt assume control owners civil wars place generals commanding large armies sufficiently low loyalty event civil war player given choice current rulers rebels planned allow factions established prior claim throne marriage join civil war claim throne implemented naval warfare carried campaign map ships built organised fleets fleets control game sea regions form sea lanes allowing trade troop movement provinces constructed port fleets engage sea battles foreign fleets unlike land battles resolved computer religion plays important aspect medieval total war religious differences catholic orthodox muslim factions affecting diplomacy population loyalty catholic factions respond wishes factions gain favour hostilities catholic nations responding run risk option launch holy war form crusade open catholic muslim factions warfare battle system takes place battlefield real time instead turn based system campaign battles similar total war armies opposing factions engage combat defeated warfare medieval total war occurs player artificial intelligence moves armies province held hostile faction player presented option fighting battle battle map allowing computer automatically resolve alongside campaign battles players option historical custom battles player controls climate units terrain present battlefield battles players control medieval army containing units knights advantages overall effectiveness players use medieval tactics order defeat enemy historical formations units advantages different situations units game gain experience points known improves unit effectiveness combat increases battle map contains terrain based province campaign map separate maps borders provinces unique maps available game climate surroundings building style map varies depending world located example map based middle_east hot sunny climate sandy terrain islamic architecture important aspect game introduced total war series occurring invading army attack defending army retreated inside province castle starting engagement attacker fight way castle defences winning battle enemy units defeated unit game morale increase battle going faction decrease situations sustained heavy casualties morale drop low eventually force unit rout battlefield player having option attempt rally men battle general army capture routing enemy units ransom owning faction important generals having greater ransom values multiplayer medieval total war features multiplayer game mode similar total war players engage real time battles seven players players create control armies factions available game players use compete online tournaments casual battles campaign mode played multiplayer feature later added total war series empire total war beta stage later removed development medieval total war originally announced august working title total war development game started shortly release total war early development decided change medieval total war better reflected scope game press release announced game published instead publisher previous games outlined features game including game covering medieval era 11th 15th century players able participate historical scenarios time years war media releases subsequent months gave game information features game uses updated version game engine total war allowing larger battles previously possible increased troop limit thousand improved game engine allowed battle maps previously possible based conflicting armies located strategy map new battlefield enhancements included terrain detailed villages vegetation improved castle siege mechanics players having focus destroying walls assaulting capturing castle game features improved artificial intelligence total war individual unit tactical controls overall army tactics separated effectively control opposing forces creative director stated interview percent satisfied didn cover scope rich diversity game focus medieval period chosen perfectly suited direction wanted gameplay wanted great castles spectacular designer wrote game release important features added total war series explaining led increasing troop limit total war medieval total war increased authenticity research carried medieval period aspects historical figures leaders period included game represent personalities actions virtues system incorporated game designed characters realistic actions demonstration game released june featuring missions single player mission game released august north_america august europe released patch november targeted fix bugs present game new historical battle based battle bridge later released available reception medieval total war received favorable reviews according review website metacritic united_kingdom game went straight video game chart release staying weeks united_states charts saw medieval total war reach fourth second week release expansion vacation reviewers praised different factors adding complexity campaign noting medieval adds new strategic balance game teaches great come greater responsibility eurogamer praised way player manage production guard loyalty important generals use spies assassins calling level control far ahead seen previous game reviews shared similar view number factions game historically accurate units territories commended ign game informer stating gives game huge replay value gamespot adding strategic portion lot options reviewers gave praise fact historical setting middle ages said integrated game zone acknowledging brutality instability era included game gamespot praising religion game religion played enormous role shaping history game gamespy stated different historical starting positions games attention detail impressive noteworthy historical battle system highly received stating successfully provide authentic glimpse past gamespot commented problem lack information tough time keeping track provinces suggesting solved interface overall reviewers highly complimented strategic gameplay saying similar civilization style game battle system medieval total war considered reviewers highlight game review eurogamer felt sensation scale drama conflicts incredible praising visual effects combat different environments praised ign agreeing medieval total war looks better adding terrain units detailed total war gamespot praised realistic battles mentioning real world battlefield considerations like fatigue ammunition facing morale included game welcome change gamespy stated chaotic battles appropriate era criticised siege aspect claiming plain lack detail compared elements soundtrack game received ign soundtrack context sensitive orchestra moments mood bloody slaughter commenting fitting game delivers body counts like admired game music changed pace battle commenced praising placed audio visual effects artificial intelligence medieval total war thought improved predecessor mentioning intelligent prevent force winning fights criticism received larger battles giving low frame rates performance noted unit management issues path finding unit facing stating facing wrong way medieval total war received favourable reviews despite criticisms gaining high distinction industry gamespot summarised saying game isn suited casual gamer strategy gamers find lot like long time gamespy described medieval total war hit road mentioned game players interested months eurogamer enthusiastic milestone gaming ign closed stating game delivers encompassing experience finished proclaiming simply isn room magazine virtues medieval total war recipient number industry awards gamer named game replacing previous entry awarding distinction gamer stated contender game received emma award technical excellence audio commended having game soundtrack score lush mixed adds gameplay extensive diverse musical tracks sound authentic fully engage user game received number game publications award gamespy mentioning medieval great games games feed ultimate rush creative assembly awarded year award production expansions versions announced development expansion pack medieval total war viking invasion january viking invasion expansion pack adds viking campaign taking place set expanded map british isles western scandinavia campaign replaces original factions earlier anglo saxon celtic kingdoms wales scotland viking faction designed raid british isles achieve faction access faster ships gains money building destroyed battle map celtic factions goal ultimately controlling british isles new historical units included expansion pack medieval total war viking invasion brought enhancements added original campaign ammunition giving player option set enemy castles pre battle deployment screen allowing player organise forces view terrain opposing forces battle begins addition new factions added main medieval total war campaign artillery game patch expansion pack released united_states united_kingdom game publisher produced combination called medieval total war battle collection released january medieval total war battle collection contained games latest version june sega company took publishing series released collector edition version total war series called total war eras edition included versions total war medieval total war rome total war expansion packs documentary detailing creation game series total war memorabilia reception viking invasion received favorable reviews albeit slightly original medieval total war according metacritic reviewers felt new gameplay features important expansion pack eurogamer commending raiding system original medieval lacked praised new campaign challenge players normal difficulty setting viking invasion challenging game view shared critics pre battle screen commended gamespot calling new feature gamespot praised new additions original campaign mentioning castle interesting main criticism graphics eurogamer stating starting feel little bit lack new multiplayer options considered gamespot unfortunate mentioning multiplayer campaign option great new feature overall expansion received critics industry ign concluded saying fans won disappointed viking invasion finished stating graphics beginning look old challenge expansion worth review gamespot finished saying overall expansion great addition medieval eurogamer concluded praising addition medieval total war worthy expansion pack truly excellent game
Medieval: Total War