smash...smash...smash...smash...smash...
I accept that there are more levels, characters and story lines but i don't seem to care anymore. Ok prsonally i am really interested in the era of history the game is set in, but since the gam is exactly the sam sinc 2 i dont car for this seris.
Finally empires came out, finally some sort of strategy within the game finally something different....Or is it?
Granted there is a phase of th gam in which you select wether or not to upgrade officrers or to bribe anothr officer, but it is all very basic. Whats worse is that the combat remains essentially unchanged. Yes if you requst an ambush of pesants to appear it will happeen, unlike 3 or 4, but you carry on smash smash smashing your way through a ridiculous amount of foes all the same. In essence the same game with a few extras but nothing new, or nothing that really makes a difference combat wise.
In fact the "Strategy" is th best part of the game. The only reason being is that it is something different, a breath of fresh air, which is somthing this seris despratly needs. And until then i wouldn't reccomend purchasing another Dw or empires title.
Graphics: Quit simple bad, unfinished, ugly. Everyon looks the same (your common foes). Only differece in common foes being their colour of uniform. However this is a minor point. Firstly you can shoot your crossbow through walls!!? Once a certain amount of enemies gather around you som start to become invisible. But worst of all is that dammd mist, you can se about 20ft in front of you and you ar then compltly surrounded by mist. Added to the fact that since 3 at least no graphical improvemnt has been made makes the graphics very poor. (this is the same on the 360 too).
Sound: Th voice acting is ok, the music (while metal isnt that fitting for this game) isnt too bad and the twangs and clashes of the swords are functional. But overall its one big MEH...
As for gameplay its all one big button mashing fest. hammr on square mix it up with triangl occasionally and repeat. Thats it, and yes there is a special attack...just press circle once the spcial bar is full. Thats all combat is. Essentially run to a bunch of enemies and attack. This wouldnt be half as bad if the enemies actually fought back...but no only enemy generals seem capable of doing that. Granted there are bases to capture but as you casually stroll onward killing an army by your self they dont exactly pose a threat. they merely channel where you need to head until capturing the enemies main base. In other words they merely make games last longer. occasionally your bases are lost but it mainly comes down to how many times you can kill an enemy general, do this and you can easily win the game....
Valu: Yes lots of characters and indeed things to do but all revolving around the same hack n slash. Bored after one play through empire mode, in fact propably before i had completed the main mode of the game emprire mode.
Tilt: all in all buy if you wish for the same combat but slightly different in terms of strategy. But at the end of the day essentially combat is the same and the "strategy" doesnt really change anything. Rent it first if you really want to know what the game plays like.