Empire: Total War

Over the past nine years the Total War series has provided us with two distinct gameplay modes, a sprawling turn-based campaign map and visually spectacular 3D battlefields on which thousands of troops clash in tactical and visceral battles. Empire has taken this formula to the next level by adding a third stunning element into the mix: 3D real time naval combat. But more on that in just a moment.

Empire: Total War is set in the highly turbulent period of 1700 – 1800, when the art of war had been revolutionised by the advancement of gunpowder weapons. Social reform was rife, with pitchfork-wielding peasants storming the opulent mansions of their oppressive upper class bosses, while across the ocean, European superpowers battled for control of what would eventually become the USA. Empire embraces all of these themes and theatres, providing the series’ most expansive campaign map to date, one which spans from the centre of North and South America, through Europe and North Africa, all the way to the eastern tip of India.

For newcomers, there’s a tailor-made campaign called The Road to Independence, which charts the US’s struggle for sovereignty. Split into four chapters, this story-driven campaign slowly introduces you to the basics, from building your first army to marshalling troops on the battlefield. Driven by cutscenes that chart the rise of the nation, The Road to Independence kicks off in 1607 as the British attempt to gain a foothold in the new world while fending off the hostile natives, and concludes circa 1700 when it funnels into the main campaign. It’s the perfect introduction to anyone wary of Empire’s almost terrifying scope, while the addition of cutscenes adds an extra incentive for hardened Total War enthusiasts to play through this beautifully crafted episodic challenge.

Empire’s main campaign has evolved hugely since Rome and Medieval II and is now split (America/Europe and African/India). While many elements will be instantly familiar to Total War fans, Empire possesses enough subtle tweaks and new features to ensure you need to learn new skills to prosper. After choosing the length of (50 or 100 years, with each year comprising two turns) and winning conditions (capturing a set number of provinces or attaining the highest prestige rating), then picking from the eleven playable factions scattered throughout the three theatres, it’s time to start conquering.

The first thing that’ll strike you is just how different and more engaging Empire’s campaign map has become, with regions now comprised of a number of settlements. Along with your regional capital, each map segment is dotted with upgradable agricultural and industrial sites such as farms, mines and factories, which generate extra income. This opens up a whole new tactical dimension. Rather than wading into each region and heading straight for its capital, you and your adversaries can now sabotage each other’s economy by attacking one another’s outlying settlements. It’s a tactic particularly favoured by smaller nations unable to strike at larger, better protected cities and stymieing their attacks is essential if you want to keep your economy ticking over at full capacity.

… continued