Recent reviews by Armaneus

I personally do not know much about Lovcraftian lore, save what I have gleaned from an alll-night session of Arkham Horror with friends. Prior knowledge is not needed to enjoy this game though, important information (Cthuhlu is an elder god who cares little as to the fates of humans) is quickly explained and then pushed to the side as the jokes roll in. Four chapters in so far, and the laughter has not subsided. They come in the conversations between party members, the descriptions of the enemies, and in the insanity bestowed upon ones' enemies. The gameplay is a fairly simple turn-based RPG, with options chosen from a menu. The story is simple too: Cthuhlu is leading a bumbling (or maybe I'm the bumbler?) group of adventurers in order to become a hero so he may regain the power to destroy the earth. Currently it is less than a dollar due to the steam sale, but I believe it is worth the mere three-dollar full price. Zeboyd Games have created a delightful game that will keep a player entertained for as long as one is playing it.

One of the older Total War games, this classic is still fun to play. An enjoyable blend of RTS and turn-based strategy. You start out as one of three Roman families, and proceed to conquer the known world. The world map is turn-based. On your turn you can march your armies, train more soldiers, hire mercenaries, and send out your agents to do your bidding. You can have your diplomats trade and ally with other nations, send spies to find their weaknesses, or send assassins to remove their generals and kings (or do all three!). When your army encounters an enemy army or beseiges a city, you can fight in real-time. Soldiers move in squadrons across the battlefield, flanking and being flanked in turn, breaking when morale is low, or staying to fight when the general rallies them. As you defeat nations, they are unlocked for you to play. Parthia, Britannia, and Carthage are three of them.

There are several issues with the game. Diplomacy can be rather frustrating, with enemies refusing to make peace, or demanding you become a protectorate when you are crushing them into the dust. Anachronisms abound (the entire Egyptian roster, for example). Graphics are dated, though the map view is still pretty.

Overall, though, the game is fun, and longevity is added through mods. Some like Europa Barbarorum overhaul all the races, removing anachronisms; others like Lord of the Rings change the game from the Mediterranean to Middle-earth. In the end, if you have not played it, or you enjoy history and can't get Rome II Total War to run on your computer, this is a good classic to have.

An enjoyable game that has replayability and versatility.