Medieval II: Total War

Tactical Failure

While the strategic layer has been given several important improvements, the same cannot be said of the tactical battles. There have been almost no changes in the tactical interface, and several glaring omissions continue to haunt the game. Once again there is no option to create fluid formations, and as a result the tactical promises that could be seen by curved formations are still lost. The general A.I. system is stupid at best as enemy generals will advance their host in an almost haphazard fashion, dangerously pushing forward skirmish units where they can be picked off by cavalry.

PROTIP: Cavalry is devastating in the right hands. Make sure to give them enough room to gain momentum and use their lances.

PROTIP: Cavalry is devastating in the right hands. Make sure to give them enough room to gain momentum and use their lances.

Perhaps more alarming, Creative Assembly has still not managed to fix the computer's tendency to create unbalanced armies. Many hostile armies continue to neglect supporting elements as siege engines are often left untended for want of capable foot soldiers, yet somehow the computer has thought it right to bring several hundred cavalrymen.

Instead of fixing these lingering problems, Creative Assembly decided to beef up the eye candy to unparalleled levels. Battles now feature some superbly unique soldiers, who sport realistically varied pieces of armor and the like. Infantry units show an increased level of detail as fights often degrade into one-on-one spectacles that can last for minutes. During sieges, everything comes together in a graphical masterpiece as trebuchets and cannons hurl projectiles towards enemy walls, often sailing high and collapsing the many buildings that lie beyond, resulting in a feast for the eyes.

Medieval II is best viewed as a refinement on an already phenomenal product. Most of the lingering strategic problems found in Rome have been swept away, but by now the battle interface is beginning to show its considerable age. That's not to say that the game isn't ridiculously fun - it is - but fans of the series should not expect any revolutionary improvements to the core gameplay. More of the same is the key phrase, and with the Total War series that is always a good thing.

PROTIP: Timurid elephants still rule the battlefield, effortlessly sweeping aside heavy infantry and cavalry. If possible use ranged units or skirmishers to deal with them.

PROTIP: Timurid elephants still rule the battlefield, effortlessly sweeping aside heavy infantry and cavalry. If possible use ranged units or skirmishers to deal with them.

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