MTW2 - Kingdoms XP

[Monte Carlo]

Medieval Total War 2: Kingdoms

(Creative Assembly / Sega)

Price UK

[Hurlshort]

I've always thought Rome TW was all the game I ever needed. I might pick up a new version of Shogun though, as that's a drastically different setting. Still, I'm sure it will rock, as all the TW games do.

[Rosbjerg]

I've ordered it already - should arrive any day - I can't wait..

[Monte Carlo]

One cool feature is that you can install any of the campaigns independently with their own desktop icons.

 

Each campaign has it's own quirks, i.e. the English face the possibility of organised internal revolt (a bit like in the original MTW) the Teutons cannot build massive cities but can attract the Hanseatic League to earn big bucks, Aztecs can sacrifice captured armies to increase loyalty in their cities (etc).

 

I'm a bit nervous about the "Hero Units" (i.e. historical commanders), I associate hero units with crappy cartoony Warcraft-type games. We'll see how they pan out here.

 

Cheers

MC

[Guard Dog]

I am very curious to hear what you think of that XP Monte. I have sunk countless hours into MTW2 but to tell the truth it has never appealed to me as much as RTW did. But I am VERY psyched about Empire TW coming out next year. And I'm with Hurlshot, if they were to remake Shogun I'd buy it is a second.

[Tigranes]

I have one question, though I hold little hope.

 

Is the AI any less retarded? Difference between mediocrity you can't let go and greatness you can't let go, really, for TW.

[Leferd]

I'm loving it!

 

Be sure to download this mod if you want to play the grand campaign with all the new goodies provided by the XP:

 

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2119551

 

Though it's an unofficial mod, it's created by the guy who made the Custom Campaign Mod for vanilla MTW2 -who is incidentally a Creative Assembly developer.

[Calax]

I've always thought Rome TW was all the game I ever needed. I might pick up a new version of Shogun though, as that's a drastically different setting. Still, I'm sure it will rock, as all the TW games do.

yeah, I played Midevel 2 and found that it's the exact same game just iwth updated graphics and a few guild like things. I wish we could get Shogun back.

[Monte Carlo]

I'm a bit annoyed that the improvements for Kingdoms do not port over into the Grand Campaign and that you have to mod it instead (as above).

 

Anyway, I have tinkered with the Teutonic and Britannia campaigns and they are very good. The strategic challenges on the main map are quite tough if you are, for example, the Teutonic Order. This part of the game is much stronger than the combat which is very much like the vanilla version but with more, newer units.

 

Basically I am paying five pounds per very large, polished, strategically challenging mod. So I am quite happy, there are many hours of Total War gaming in this XP.

 

Incidentally, like others here, I think they should be remaking Shogun, not TW: Empires. Naval battles and the 18th Century leave me completely cold. It's a shame that the rumoured Tolkien-themed TW game that was murmured of years ago came to nothing, that would have rocked (anybody remember the SPI tabletop wargames based on LotR?).

 

Will add a review of the Britannia mod this weekend, but my initial feelings are that if you love Medieval then there is no reason not to love this XP... it's main strength is developing the strategic aspect of the game, really providing circumstances and choices that are much more period and faction specific.

 

Cheers

MC

[Oerwinde]

I could never get into the strategic battle half of the Total War games and just stuck to the overland game which was a lot of fun itself. I'd like to see the total war guys do a game that focuses more on the overland aspect, kind of a mix between Civ, Total War, Europa Universalis, and Crusader Kings. Only fix the noble families. I really got sick of my freaking adopted nobles being the heir to the throne because the actual heir was too young. Or when the king's brother is the heir because the king's 4 sons are too young. It would be neat to arrange strategic marriages to put your king in line for a foreign throne, then along the line have the rival king assassinated so you inherit the throne.

[Kaftan Barlast]

I have sunk countless hours into MTW2 but to tell the truth it has never appealed to me as much as RTW did. But I am VERY psyched about Empire TW coming out next year.

 

 

Empire TW is the game i wished they would make ever since I frst stumbld on the Total War games I could never get into medieval or SHogun because the historical settings doesnt interest me at all.

[Tigranes]

But then, Oerwinde, the 'overland' portion is already done so, so much better by Paradox games or Civilisation. What makes TW 'unique' and a big seller is the fact that it combines overland with strategic battles (and the overland portion isn't as slow-paced and complex). Personally, I'd prefer that EU got itself a proper combat mode, since Creative Assembly have become incredibly, astoundingly lazy (the gap between RTW and MTW2 was like FIFA 2006 and FIFA 2007) and the awful AI really cheats the great game of a great experience.

[Rosbjerg]

The game is massive, it fills up 12 gb on my harddrive now. But so far I'm happy with my buy, Kindgom feels like a true expansion to the original game.

 

Can't wait for Empires either though, while I would love to see Shogun remade, I'm sure they'll make an excellent game with a naval setting.

[Guard Dog]

I read on the TW forums that one of the goals for Empires was to create a much more useful and complex diplomacy segment to the game. I hope they pull that off. Given the near parity of military power between the great continental powers of the time period, the need a good diplomacy engine to give the game even a little historical credibility. The fight first ask questions later of RTW would not make sense in 1800's Europe.

 

Monte/Leferd have you tried the Crusades campaign yet? That was the one I was most interested in.

[Musopticon?]

Wait, so they are making a modern TW game? Shame, I wanted Shogun 2.

[Morgoth]

Man, I still wonder how people find the time to play these monstrous TW games. I'm still stuck in the middle of RTW, and I bought that game, like, 3 years ago or so. Empire TW looks interesting, though. If Austria is a playable Empire, I consider buying it.

[Musopticon?]

It most likely will be, considering the period.

Edited September 1, 2007 by Musopticon?

[Xard]

SAUCE

[Kaftan Barlast]

Sweden will most likely be playable aswell

 

 

Karl XI, who kicked the bum of many icky Danes

[Morgoth]

Kicking Dane arses is no difficulty. And why does Karl XI have such short legs?

[Musopticon?]

Swedes are typically short, aren't you aware?

 

I have to agree with the ass-kickery though, Swedes have some insane war hero blood in them, even though most of them look like ponsies in the tousled wannabe-French attire.

[Morgoth]

I didn't know Swedes like Ponies. Man, I really should start learning more about Scandinavian history.

[Xard]

Swedes are typically short, aren't you aware?

 

I have to agree with the ass-kickery though, Swedes have some insane war hero blood in them, even though most of them look like ponsies in the tousled wannabe-French attire.

 

Too bad their elite forces tended to be finnish, for example "hakkapeliitat"

Edited September 1, 2007 by Xard

[Monte Carlo]

Monte/Leferd have you tried the Crusades campaign yet? That was the one I was most interested in.

 

Yes, just had a couple of hours playing Kingdom of Jerusalem. I'd say that as a campaign it has (a) the most intriguing unit roster (specifically the levies and warrior orders of crusader knights, including Constable of Jerusalem heavy cavalry) and (B) probably the largest campaign map. Factions are; KoJ, Kingdom of Antioch, Turkey, Byzantium and Egypt. King Baldwin the Leper is I suppose my hero unit but he's basically a very good general (starts with two stars short of maximum). I'm a few turns off of Richard the Lionheart rocking up, which should happen by 1212 or thereabouts I suppose.

 

The AI seems better, but then again it might be the sharper distinction in unit types, i.e. Franks v. heavy units and Muslim factions light skirmishers / mounted archers. Seems even more noticable than in the vanilla game. There are more trade options, spying is significantly tougher, you get jihads thrown at you from Turn 2. I'm playing Hard / Hard.

 

The music is great, same as the original but I love the Muslim faction battle music. The lighting seems different in this campaign, almost a golden light filtering through the battle scenes. Dunno if it's tweaked but it looks nice.

 

Like I said, this game does what vanilla MTW2 can't do which is focus in on historically specfic scenarios that might not pan out in the campaign game. It's apples and oranges as to which is better, but I'm enjoying myself so far. I just wish I had more time to play!

 

Cheers

MC

[Musopticon?]

Swedes are typically short, aren't you aware?

 

I have to agree with the ass-kickery though, Swedes have some insane war hero blood in them, even though most of them look like ponsies in the tousled wannabe-French attire.

 

Too bad their elite forces tended to be finnish, for example "hakkapeliitat"

You don't hackapells to win a fight, but crazed Finnish sabre cavalry helps.