One of the best RTS games of this decade...and I have seen and played a lot.
The graphics are very good but can use some minor tweaking and improvment but nothing to go screaming about. The graphics are just right for a RTS game like this. And besides when hundreds of warriors are on the field duking it out, the graphics are superb and that is very important to the game. Another minor thing that could get some players scratching their heads, is the lack of blood. When I read the title and summary it said Total War not bloodless war. With some nice blood effects this game could have been even better. Picture the movie the Gladiator in video game form minus the blood. With that said let me move onto the gameplay.
Gameplay in this game does not dissapoint and is pretty standard for the average RTS player. Some nice touches like buliding, sieges,political options and stuff like that make the game better and that much more immersive. I could spend a long time talking about the gameplay but I will say this, it is AWESOME. Nuff said.
The value I would say is modarate since it has some multiplayer options and some other campaigns. The historical battles are a nice feature as well. My tilt is pretty high since i had some great experiences with this game. From leading your calvary into the flank of the enemy to capturing Rome thru political and military battles this game does not go to far from the basic RTS forumula. It is a worthy addition to your collection and definitely lives up to the name Rome Total War!