Masterpiece
This game definately gives you the total freedom on how to rule your nation and dominating Europe. There are different factions and three different periods you can play in this game, there are different religions which give your provinces much easy and identity.
There are so many things you can do in this game that are countless like assassinating an enemy general, or spying on your enemy and marrying beautiful princesses from different nations. It's just plain amazing and it's a masterpiece of all time.
Buy this game first and play it, it will boost your taste for Medieval Total War and when your taste is boosted, reward yourself by buying Medieval II Total War, i gurantee, this game won't bore you.