From gameplay to graphics this game got it where it counts
If you start with the tutorials you will be helped through a rather simple and easy campaign, along with teaching you about battles, both siege and normal ones.
Once you fire up the Grand Campaign, you should be greeted with a few factions, each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and some have the advantage of land.
If you defeat a faction in the Grand Campaign, you will be able to make a new Grand campaign with that faction, or if you finish the Campaign, you will unlock all unlockable factions (Note: Papacy, Mongols, Aztecs and Timruids are not playable without a mod)
There are also historic battles (like in the old games) which allow you to replay some of Europe's greatest battles, with you as the commander, difficulty is varies, but a good stragedy always beats numbers, right? ;)
Then you can customize your own battles, pit Danes against Moors and watch Viking steel cut Camel flesh. But it has a unit cap, I usually just pass it, but it recommends to you what your computer is able to do. Handy if you're not a gamer with a powerhouse PC.
And that leads me to specs, this game isn't very new, I mean, it's not old, but now new. And it uses a lot of the PC's power, and can even lag on great systems though they should be able to more the handle it.
But of course high specs don't just come for no reason (usually), the character detail and the epic battles will make your jaw touch the floor. City sieges are as fun as ever and the factions feel more balanced now since Rome Total War.
You can drop down and watch one of your men slice an stomach and then he stabs his heart, or you can stay in the air and watch your men massacre the enemy.
Sound is also top notch, I mean, when was it bad in a Total War game? Not much has been improved about the sounds, but they are good, great for a Total War game.
And to the high replay value, this game is what every Stragedy gamer wishes, and finishing it with just one faction will not satisfy you, you will need more, and you will play until you get hungry or you need to go to the bathroom.
If it's at the right difficulty level, the AI can be fun and challenging without getting annoying. If you are a Real Time and/or Turn Based Stragedy games fan with a good PC, you should run out and buy a copy of this game, now! :P
Awesome Game! : Real score: 9.6
I must rental and a recommended buy :D