Empire Total War is a turn based strategy game that also endures real time tactics. Meaning you do some things click the end turn button, you then fight or go to the next turn for more improvements. Total War is the 5 game to enter the Total War series developed by The Creative Assembly. ETW focuses on the 1800 time frame, the game got good reviews from critics saying it was on the top of RTS games, they did a good job at the time frames of the 1800th century. This is a game that includes military, political, and diplomacy power to win. Another great thing about ETW is that this is the first time the Total War series has included naval combat.

There are many great things to say about the graphics. There is a simple map that over views Territory's, and there is a battle mode. In battle mode you can view your unit's from afar, or really up close. The graphics's look very good when your attacking your enemy's unit's. Your unit's look very detailed for having so many, they also look good when there interacting with other unit's as well. The scenery looks very good as well as your structures. When there is a large explosion the screen "shakes." You can play campaign or historic battles.

The sound quality is good as well. The music fit's the time that the game covers (1800s) but it gets old after a while there are few music tracks. You can hear your unit's clashing weapons with realistic sounds. Not just the same few clashing noises that some RTS games have. When your battling there's not just a few booms and yells going, you hear all sort's of havoc going on. There are also noises for various building and unit selection's.

The object of the game is to take over with your faction. When you start a game each faction has it's own unique starting position's and there own unit's. The structure of the game is the same as the Total War as far as taking your turn. But, the campaigns each have their "own" strategy. As an example the British might want many colonies while Russia wants to focus more on it's borders. You have 12 factions to choose from while having the main force of Calvary, foot soldiers and artillery. Each faction has different unit's and different unit strength's as well leaving no faction the same.

This is also the first Total War to bring in a Technology tree that focuses in military, industrial, and philosophy. Technology tree's is a list of technology's that you must upgrade in order, they give better unit's, better economy structures, and newer techs. Economy also brings in a bigger role than the older Total War's. But the fact is Total War is famous for it's ability of warfare.

Not many game's give the option to fight thousands of unit's at the same time. You can command your unit's to do all sort's of things like attack certain enemies, go to a designated area and many others. Fighting is based on skill of your troops, how many troops you have, what kind of troop's they are, there moral, weather. Unit's can now take cover which wasn't available in the earlier series. There are more commands and strategy's to use along with new unit's and territory's. There is also a huge change in settlements. there is no longer one castle, instead there is one center settlement with smaller ones popping up around it. Another big twist is in the way you build your army. You no longer build from settlements but rather from your general that recruits soldiers from your nearby settlements. You have 12 factions to choose from while having the main force of Calvary, foot soldiers and artillery. Each faction has different unit's and different unit strength's as well leaving no faction the same.

Overall I think that this is a very good game. I like how the fighting system works it's confusing at first but easy to get the hang of. Your also not waisting your time following on unit like you would in other turn based RTS games. The naval combat could also be way better as well, but I won't complain about they it looks. Naval combat needs more depth to it, it kind of seems like whoever has the most ships wins. When one of the ship's collide they stay there until one is destroyed. I also think that they needed a better choice in there music, it seems like the same 5 tracks just play over and over again. What the game lack's most is the AI. sometimes they don't respond the way they should they might stand there when they should be attacking or moving. One huge problem is in the weapons. When a group of guys with gun's loose to a group of guys with arrows you feel a little confused and overwhelmed at what just happened. If your a RTS fan you should at least give this game a try. I'm into RTS games and I've all ways loved the Total War series. This is not the best RTS in my opinion but it's on the top 3 I highly recommend playing this game. It is very fun and has lots of replay value to it. It's not a game that you will play several times. There are many possible outcomes for each battle keeping games from playing the same.

Other good Games

Red Faction Guerilla; a great Open world game
Prototype
Velvet Assassin
Soul Calibur 4 
Halo Wars
Skate 2
World at War
Stronghold Crusaders

Recommended: Yes