Rome: Total War

Rating: T
Release date: September 22, 2004
Platforms: PC
Multiplayer: Yes.
Downloadable content: No. However, there are two expansions: Barbarian Invasion and Alexander.
After they released Shogun: Total War, The Creative Assembly released Rome: Total War. It marked the first game in a series that continues to do very well. The game is set during the period of the Roman republic and the player can take take control of one of three Roman factions: the Julii, the Brutii, and the Scipii. In addition, there are other factions like the Greeks, Carthaginians, or Seleucids.

The campaign for each is different and some are incredibly challenging due to the enemies faced (like Macedonian phalanxes). Playing as the different factions enables the player to use certain units that are specific to that faction, like Egyptian chariots, Roman praetorians, or the Spartans of the Greek Cities. Some factions can also recruit elephants, which offer both a unique challenge when fought against and a good bonus when used on the offensive.

If you either finish or get bored with the campaign, there are always the historical battles,wherein the player is given the chance to re-fight battles like Teutoburg Forest or Telamon in order to see if they could have done better than the actual commanders. The only real downside to the historical battles is that the player is only able to play as one side, which limits the replay value of each battle.

The multiplayer I have not tried, though if it's anything like Empire's it should be very good. Most of the units are balanced, at least in the campaign mode. However, the fact that some factions, such as Egypt, have chariots causes the balance to tip slightly in their favor. Players can counter this by using either phalanxes or the testudo formation of the later Roman legions.

If the player becomes bored with Rome: Total War by itself, they can always install Barbarian Invasion, which introduces the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire and most of the barbarian tribes surrounding it, like the Gauls and Britons. Alternatively, the player can install Rome: Alexander, which puts one in the sandals of Alexander the Great and his conquering Macedonian army.

Of course, since the game is several years old, it has several modifications, chief among them being Rome: Total Realism and Europa Barbarorum. I myself use Rome: Total Realism simply out of personal preference. Both mods re-skin both the game's units and its maps, bringing them more in-line with the actual historical units. In addition, both bring the Julii, Brutii, and Scipii together as the Roman republic (SPQR).

If you'd like to pick up Rome: Total War or any of its expansions, look for them in my Amazon aStore.