Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Gixer on March 08, 2010, 03:37:58 PM
-
For anyone that was put off by Empire Total War, don't let that stop you from picking the latest title up. It is far better then any previous TW versions even in new release vanilla form.
Every aspect imho has been improved, it even runs faster and with less stutters then ETW and with a good system the graphics and effects are stunning.
<S>...-Gixer
-
multiplayer campaign has some things that need to be worked out, such as if you are playing with a human ally and you wish to fight a battle on your own vs the AI, you are forced to autocalc it or let the human ally command the enemy forces. This is pointless, as they will be trying to do badly to help you both. They really need to redo the multi campaign system to have a movement phase simultaneously and then a battle phase the same. Autocalc-ing battles is just stupid and rarely worth bothering with. It's hard to understand what I mean unless you have tried to play a co-op campaign in multiplayer. The rest of the game is superb though.
-
I saw this game on the shelf the other day and went with Battlefield BC2 for that very reason (ETW sucked). I will keep this in mind next time im in the store. :aok
-
Wait this is out already??? In the US too?
I love ETW... maybe I should pick this up :D
Multiplayer campaign sounds squealing cool... that's something that I thought would be very cool in ETW.
-
Wait this is out already??? In the US too?
Yup, I bought it a couple days ago, but haven't had a chance to get into yet. I've been waiting for a good Napoleonic warfare game for years. I hope this one doesn't disappoint.
-
Its in the download queue in Steam right now. Can't wait to get it installed and waste some time on the plane with it on Wednesday morning.
-
Was on the fence for this. But receiving a Starcraft2 beta key last week changed things!!! :rock
-
Only thing I don't like is it seems very narrow in scope. You really don't have a lot of latitude to do things however you want. It's very heavily scripted. I don't mind it so much with this title, but I hope this isn't a pattern that will continue with future releases.
-
I prefer ETW over NTW. Although I'd rather have MTW2 with the engine of ETW.
-
What is wrong with ETW?
I'm still enjoying it and my 10 year old has finished three or four campaigns.
In fact last night I sent an invasion force from India (playing Maratha Confederacy) to go take over Portugal because those pesky "Gees" keep sinking my trade ships. They will find out why they should not have done that in a turn or two.
-
Although I'd rather have MTW2 with the engine of ETW.
Yes please, that would be the best game yet.
-
I prefer ETW over NTW. Although I'd rather have MTW2 with the engine of ETW.
That would be cool...I've been out of the TW loop and haven't really played since MTW2 was so buggy. This new Napoleon game doesn't sound interesting...I'm still waiting for a U.S. Civil war version to come out.
-
This'll get you in the mood to play NTW or ETW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uclE3g2OU5I
The whole movie is posted by the same guy in like 15 parts.
-
They ruined it for me with ETW - I'm not going to be buying any more of their products until they are in the bargain bin - maybe not even then unless I hear about some good mods.
-
What were the problems with ETW? Please don't tell me it was as buggy and lifeless as MTW2...
IMO RTW was the pinnacle...everything else is just eye candy.
-
the only TW I've played was Rome (though we have Shogun also)
I loved it
Might check this new one out.
It'd be the first game I've bought for myself in over ten years LOL
-
Think I'm gonna give the demo on this one a try. Glad you guys started talking about it. Made me remember that this one was coming out.
http://www.histwar.com/
-
I've actually liked the series more as it's progressed, and I've never had any of the 'bugs' that everyone else is always going on about. ETW is one of my favorite strategy games yet (might have something to do with the fact that I'm a RevWar reenactor who's unit is a featured 'elite' Regiment though... :) )
-
After looking at some reviews of NTW I've decided to just stick with ETW....
No true grand campaign where you can do whatever you like just doesn't sound fun.
Not to mention that it seems like an over glorified expansion pack than it does a whole new game. Even the sounds are the same.
-
After looking at some reviews of NTW I've decided to just stick with ETW....
No true grand campaign where you can do whatever you like just doesn't sound fun.
Not to mention that it seems like an over glorified expansion pack than it does a whole new game. Even the sounds are the same.
Not sure what reviews they were, but they don't sound reliable. There is grand campaign ranging from 1805-1812. This time they did it in half months. First turn is Early January 1805, second turn is Late January 1805, third turn is Early Febuary 1805, etc.
You can do what ever you like, it is no different from any other TW campaign.
The Graphics have had a major work over. Cannon balls now leave scuffs and holes in the ground. Infantry combat is much smoother. The gunsmoke and battle ambience have been greatly improved, one of the best new features is the haze over a battle field and rolling mist on the sea battles. The sounds are reworked also, alot more historical/national touches although finding a modded sound pack should be easy if you dont like it. The optimization is one hundred times better, no lag even on huge battles where E:TW was making this same PC have siezures.
They brought back the option to loot/occupy when you take a city, and added a liberate fundtion. I took brussels off the frenchies and liberated, New NAtion Arrives, Belgium. As my protectorate no less :D
Overall, I think it is a big improvement on Empire.
-
I first played MTW 1 and I loved it to bits, then of course came Rome and then MTW2 and then Empire. I loved Empire to death because of the old muskets and the sounds of battle.
I am looking forward to buying NTW.
-
What were the problems with ETW? Please don't tell me it was as buggy and lifeless as MTW2...
IMO RTW was the pinnacle...everything else is just eye candy.
It is kind of a progression really. MTW2 was broken on release. Not only did they not fix all the bugs (2 handers in particular are the one I remember), they released the expansion... which also had bugs that were never fixed. Granted, idea-wise that was the best expansion ever, imo.
ETW - a multitude of bugs on release. The battle AI was more or less retarded. Fixed? Naah. Lets release a new game!
-
Played every TW game, rome and MTW2 being my faves. Just couldn't get into ETW, played it a few times and shelfed it. might check out this expansion when it hits the bargain bin.
-
It is kind of a progression really. MTW2 was broken on release. Not only did they not fix all the bugs (2 handers in particular are the one I remember), they released the expansion... which also had bugs that were never fixed. Granted, idea-wise that was the best expansion ever, imo.
ETW - a multitude of bugs on release. The battle AI was more or less retarded. Fixed? Naah. Lets release a new game!
I'm a fan of the series for ages now but with the rushed release of Empire in its unplayable state I thought "no way".
After hearing some initial good reviews from people who had their doubts as well, I bought it and I have to say N:TW is very polished, in fact more than any other TW game so far - it is what Empire could have been.
If only they could port the E:TW map back to Napoleon.. :cool:
-
This is from another forum on TW, but a very good run down of what makes NTW so good and I couldn't agree more. Excellent game especially if you have a good system.
1) Generals can now rally and inspire troops on the battlefield.
2) Artillery is more deadly.
3) Units are more graphically detailed and less generic than ETW.
4) Attrition.
5) Troops now auto-replenish depending on supply lines in region. You can either be in slow, moderate, or fast resupply. Also, your units will not resupply at all in enemy regions. Its simplistic, but a step in the right direction.
6) Campaign map is more detailed and outright beautiful.
7) Campaign map has seasons which are reflected graphically on the campaign map.
8) Battle maps reflect seasons graphically as well.
9) Graphically the game looks much better than Empire in all respects. May not be as noticable on an older machine, but on my 5870 it looks outstanding.
10) Smoke effects and the destroyable environment are amazing.
11) Campaign AI is more aggressive and streamlined with a single map and in place alliances. I thought the smaller scope would be my biggest complaint, but it has actually improved gameplay in my opinion.
12) BAI is a huge improvement over ALL previous Total War games. Its not perfect, but its much better and less predictable than previous titles. And regardless of what people are dying to convince people, there are no "bugs" with the BAI.
13) The game is much more stable than ETW.
14) The game is much more polished than ETW.
15) Campaign music is great and an improvement over ETW.
16) Multiplayer campaigns.
17) Drop in battles.
18) No more generic Generals. Now all Generals are historic and have unique skins, both on the campaign map, and on the battle map.
19) Improved diplomacy...you can now ask an ally to break an alliance with a rival, request a trade embargo to be put in place with a third party nation, or allies can be persuaded to join ongoing wars.
20) Naval repairs in battle.
21) You can now change building types instead of first having to destroy the building. This is great because you can now swap a high tier building to another high tier building of a different type. Previously, you had to destroy the building, then build each tier to get to a higher level building.
22) Almost no siege battles. CA learned well from ETW and have made it highly unlikely that you will have a siege battle in NTW. They increased the cost of star forts to 8,000 and 16,000 for large star forts. I've only had 2 siege battle in the hundreds of battles I've had on the campaign map so far. This is another huge departure for a Total War game as most people quickly got tired of playing nothing but siege battles in past titles. Huge improvement. Sadly, the AI still does not handle siege battles well though.
23) Ability to liberate a region instead of outright taking it over. This is a fun addition for roleplay reasons, but also for strategic reasons like not wanting to maintain a garrison in a terrible location.
24) Unit icons on the battlefield! Another seemingly irrelevant improvement that has made locating and identifying troops much more reasonable.
25) Fire and advance looks very cool, and from what I have read, it's historically accurate. However, it doesn't work all that well and doesn't seem to give any practical advantages. It does look very cool, though.
26) Observation balloons!
27) The ability to view the enemies troop deployment prior to deploying your own troops! This is based on your General's rank. Huge improvement! Makes a huge difference if you're planning on charging the enemies artillery, or the General. I love this ability.
28) Individual soldiers now have conversations on the battlefield! Yet another feature that seems completely inane and useless, but it really adds to the experience. One of my favorite new features.
29) Spy networks.
30) Gentlemen can now cause unrest in towns.
This is all I could think of off the top of my head. I haven't enjoyed a Total War game this much since the first Medieval Total War. And I've played every single release, including expansions. This game is that good. Empire literally looks like a pile of dog **** next to NTW. If you have a new computer that can handle the game in all its glory, and you like Napoleonic warfare, you have got to play this game.
-
4) Attrition.
Who'se? Every single TW game has had the issue of AI having unlimited resources. Kill off all their armies and it rebuilds them all in a few turns while super-building its assets. Is this fixed?
12) BAI is a huge improvement over ALL previous Total War games. Its not perfect, but its much better and less predictable than previous titles. And regardless of what people are dying to convince people, there are no "bugs" with the BAI.
Do enemy units still instantly know what orders you give your troops? For example, in ETW if you had artillery on 'hold fire' the enemy would walk towards you... the INSTANT you clicked FIRE the enemy troops would run out of range...before your cannons even loaded or fired the first round. Tell cannons to switch target to another unit on the other side of the battle line and THAT unit ran away. Is this fixed?
17) Drop in battles.
what does this mean?
20) Naval repairs in battle.
Nice.
27) The ability to view the enemies troop deployment prior to deploying your own troops! This is based on your General's rank. Huge improvement! Makes a huge difference if you're planning on charging the enemies artillery, or the General. I love this ability.
Very nice.
29) Spy networks.
Explain?
30) Gentlemen can now cause unrest in towns.
Shinobi from Shogun did this.. im glad to see it back.
[/quote]
-
It's funny that even though the time progresses slower, it still takes the same amount of turns to build units. You can build an 80-gun ironclad in 5 months! I'd wager it took longer than that.
Artillery is indeed more powerful. The howitzers can easily defeat cavalry attacks and kill the general right off the bat. After that the closing infantry will be demoralized group after group. Any meaningful artillery comes first though.
-
After looking at some reviews of NTW I've decided to just stick with ETW....
No true grand campaign where you can do whatever you like just doesn't sound fun.
Not to mention that it seems like an over glorified expansion pack than it does a whole new game. Even the sounds are the same.
I have your mindset... I bought it anyway and I've put down ETW for NTW.
The game is significantly better but there is that nagging feeling that it is what ETW *could* have been.
There are Grand Campaigns available. You can play as any of the Allied powers.
Although the timeline is more condensed and the focus more narrow, it does not feel like an expansion.
That said... if all the NTW features were backwards compatible with ETW, I wouldnt be playing NTW...
-
4) Attrition.
Who'se? Every single TW game has had the issue of AI having unlimited resources. Kill off all their armies and it rebuilds them all in a few turns while super-building its assets. Is this fixed?
I'm not sure, it does still seem that the enemy can build things alot faster than me.
12) BAI is a huge improvement over ALL previous Total War games. Its not perfect, but its much better and less predictable than previous titles. And regardless of what people are dying to convince people, there are no "bugs" with the BAI.
Do enemy units still instantly know what orders you give your troops? For example, in ETW if you had artillery on 'hold fire' the enemy would walk towards you... the INSTANT you clicked FIRE the enemy troops would run out of range...before your cannons even loaded or fired the first round. Tell cannons to switch target to another unit on the other side of the battle line and THAT unit ran away. Is this fixed?
It's better, but still has the same basic elements you speak off on a smaller scale. Mostly only obvious with cavalry and generals.
17) Drop in battles.
what does this mean?
Any fight you have in yur single player campaign gives you the option to call in a real person from your online friends to fight against you.
29) Spy networks.
Explain?
Keeping a spy in the enemy city for a certain period of time sets up a spy network that can relay all sorts of info to you. Taking the psy out , I think, still keeps the network in place for a period of time.
-
I'm not sure, it does still seem that the enemy can build things alot faster than me.
Armies are affected by attrition during the winter months, out of population centers and in northern areas. You can see enemy armies under this condition so it does happen.
However... in concert with your statement, I'd like someone at Creative Assembly to explain to me how, when I am playing as Austria and have the Ottoman's down to two regions; my precious 4-strong squadron of 38-gun frigates is jumped by six 80-gun second rates which were all seemingly built by a single dockyard over the course of about 4 weeks.
That irks the toejam out of me when I've got Ol' Boney knocking on the other door. :D