This game started off rough and even after these years it still doesn't seem to be the polished game I was hoping for. I was not one of those crying war when it first released and was littered with bugs as well all know. I could go file my taxes in the time it took to complete one turn. I still enjoyed the game, perhaps I was misty eyed at reliving my first experiences with the original Rome Total War.

For me the number one postive thing about this is game is the modding community. Without them Rome would still be a mess. I've installed everything from enhanced graphics to troop rosters. Having a larger selection of soldier types from the vanilla offerings is perhaps my favorite feature. On top of that people have taken it upon themselves to create entire campiagns rework general and agent perks and create new nations.

I still have problems with this game however, agents are perhaps the most annoying feature though am sure a lot of people like them. Create a spy spam coercion and watch your spy ranks grow to infinite proportions, at least I was able to do that, bypassing the agent limit. One can wipe out an army rather quickly with 8 spys posioning their supplies.

The AI is still rather dumb even after the latest patch, a year or so late to fix. Assault a town with a few artillery and watch them wipe out an entire army that refuses to leave the cap area. This has changed somewhat as the enemy will now rush you blindly instead and die. Though my last few games I've noticed them staying onto their cap again. I rarely play hard mode so perhaps its different but even the AI trying a simple tactic like flank rarely works unless its one or two cavalry units.


Diplomacy I've found to be a mess as well and its a feature I'd like to work the most. My latest game had myself fighting Armenia. I crushed 5-6 of their armies killings just as many generals, and took 3-4 towns and cities from them. Did they want peace, nope. My power rating compared to them was laughable and yet when I offered peace to recover my armies they rejected it. Common sense is gone, even bringing a nation to its last town on the verge of defeat offer peace and I've been rejected. Heck even make them a vassal and its no, though lets not forget having a vassal is a waste as well since they are dumb as bricks.

With my 500+ hours I clearly don't hate the game, it has its quirks like anything. I love the modders out there and I still enjoy the combat and history that Rome brings. I think am just dissapointed in the noise dive the series took, the response from Creative during its release was sad in the way they treated their community. The latest DLC is a joke from what I've been hearing, thank you reviewers for allowing me to dodge that bullet.

Would I still recommend this game?
Yes in using the mind set Rome II is a foundation for all the great mods out there. Make Rome II into the game you want it to be and it will be a fun ride, the sad thing being it took a loving community to make the game into what it should be.

This game started off rough and even after these years it still doesn't seem to be the polished game I was hoping for. I was not one of those crying war when it first released and was littered with bugs as well all know. I could go file my taxes in the time it took to complete one turn. I still enjoyed the game, perhaps I was misty eyed at reliving my first experiences with the original Rome Total War. For me the number one postive thing about this is game is the modding community. Without them Rome would still be a mess. I've installed everything from enhanced graphics to troop rosters. Having a larger selection of soldier types from the vanilla offerings is perhaps my favorite feature. On top of that people have taken it upon themselves to create entire campiagns rework general and agent perks and create new nations. I still have problems with this game however, agents are perhaps the most annoying feature though am sure a lot of people like them. Create a spy spam coercion and watch your spy ranks grow to infinite proportions, at least I was able to do that, bypassing the agent limit. One can wipe out an army rather quickly with 8 spys posioning their supplies. The AI is still rather dumb even after the latest patch, a year or so late to fix. Assault a town with a few artillery and watch them wipe out an entire army that refuses to leave the cap area. This has changed somewhat as the enemy will now rush you blindly instead and die. Though my last few games I've noticed them staying onto their cap again. I rarely play hard mode so perhaps its different but even the AI trying a simple tactic like flank rarely works unless its one or two cavalry units. Diplomacy I've found to be a mess as well and its a feature I'd like to work the most. My latest game had myself fighting Armenia. I crushed 5-6 of their armies killings just as many generals, and took 3-4 towns and cities from them. Did they want peace, nope. My power rating compared to them was laughable and yet when I offered peace to recover my armies they rejected it. Common sense is gone, even bringing a nation to its last town on the verge of defeat offer peace and I've been rejected. Heck even make them a vassal and its no, though lets not forget having a vassal is a waste as well since they are dumb as bricks. With my 500+ hours I clearly don't hate the game, it has its quirks like anything. I love the modders out there and I still enjoy the combat and history that Rome brings. I think am just dissapointed in the noise dive the series took, the response from Creative during its release was sad in the way they treated their community. The latest DLC is a joke from what I've been hearing, thank you reviewers for allowing me to dodge that bullet. Would I still recommend this game? Yes in using the mind set Rome II is a foundation for all the great mods out there. Make Rome II into the game you want it to be and it will be a fun ride, the sad thing being it took a loving community to make the game into what it should be.