Gamespot's NTW First Impressions

[aeoleron9]

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...&mode=previews

There's a campaign screenie

[Frost, colonel]

Interesting article. The campaign map seems alot more in your face than before. Cheers for the link.

[Ebusitanus]

representatives from the studio were quick to point out that the game will absolutely build on the progress made by Empire to date, up to and including all content in the version 1.5 patch, which includes, among other things, numerous artificial intelligence enhancements that make computer-controlled enemies much more aggressive and realistically challenging.

Napoleon's AI opponents will be at least as tough as anything you see in Empire version 1.5

This made me very sad to read.

[Fireright]

There's that word 'intimate' again! hardly appropriate in the context of a war game.

[Invictus XII]

NOOO, I hope there is some place holding here, look

The year states 1797, but Napoleon is wearing his imperial uniform from after 1804. I hope this is only some place holding from ETW. But otherwise excellent, I like the new campaign map view. Very close up!

And again with the post 1804 clothing worn by Napoleon in the 1798 Egyptian Campaign.



But again with the golden epuillettes for the Old Guard, but these are placeholders because Jack insured us that the Old Guard would have red epuilettes.


Still some work to be done, i hope that some of them are place holders, but otherwise excellent!

[Jack Lusted]

And indeed the bottom two are, looks like there is a mix of screenshots coming out some with the new uniforms others with the old placeholder ones. If you see Old Guard with gold epaulettes, they are the old placeholder ones.

[Ebusitanus]

Is this yet again a shot of one of those cool looking towns that later never make it into the game?

[Invictus XII]

And indeed the bottom two are, looks like there is a mix of screenshots coming out some with the new uniforms others with the old placeholder ones. If you see Old Guard with gold epaulettes, they are the old placeholder ones.

What about what Napoleon is wearing, if is before 1804, shouldn't he be wearing his General of the Italian Army uniform, not his "Imperial" uniform of a grenadier, and shouldn't Bonnies horse be white, (Post-1800)? I would appreciate an answer Jack, Thanks!

[Jack Lusted]

And as I said in response to your question to whether any of the screenshots are placeholder, that yes the bottom two are so that includes the picture of Napoleon in Egypt.

[Invictus XII]

Sorry Jack, I mean't the campaign one, the top one, will Napoleon have a different unit for before he was Emperor and after?

[Ebusitanus]

If we go by unit card you will notice that the Italian Campaign SS shows him in his younger years.

[Invictus XII]

Yes, i see, But the Napoleon model doesn't, but it's obvious its a place holder, because look in the back ground, its ETW models, I was just wondering will the campaign have a pre-imperial model and a post-imperial model for Napoleon? if they don't its perfectly fine with me!

[General_Meevious]

It is certainly interesting to see the Imperial Napoleon with the portrait he has in the same shot!

It is, however, very good to see that bridges seem to have been reworked! In Empire, my men march in convoluted double file on the thickest bridges, so to see a column march effortlessly across as an organised fighting unit is exciting!

[Ragga]

Hey Jack... the picture of Napoleon in Egypt and the men marching over the bridge looks as if the sprites are reduced to nothing... did not see one in the distance. is this a new option for those with gaming rigs who can handle it... or was this screen shot cleaned up a bit?

[spanish_emperor]

wonderful. i had bad expectations but so far N:TW is coming well nicely. Now all i hope is in battle retreating AI forces when attacked by inferior cavalry stop, take them out and then continue routing. And CA bring back the Kingdoms feature where another fullstack could enter battle controlled by AI

[SirVulf]

This particular tweak is all part of Creative's attempts to build a more-convincing AI--for instance, defending a stronghold in siege combat will be tougher since AI enemies will be more aggressive about sallying forth into siege combat, and will more aggressively seek out and exploit gaps in your walls and other weak points.

Ummm... isn't that what it does now...? Completely avoid any enemies, move straight for the hole in the wall, and head right for the Fort center square? Nothing new there... seems like the same old broken sieges from ETW.

[Magic Man]

Napoleon's AI opponents will be at least as tough as anything you see in Empire version 1.5

That doesn't bode well...

[chomps]

I hope that Venetian army in Piemonte is also a place-holder. Unhistorical to say the least.

[Ebusitanus]

I hope that Venetian army in Piemonte is also a place-holder. Unhistorical to say the least.

Did they even have an army to talk off when Napoleon just marched into their lands pursuing the Austrians?

[MehemtAli_Pasha]

WOOWW..those campaign map screens are awesome. i looooooove how detailed they are. i'll have to say, whoever made the campaign map..

there's something i don't understand from the preview though..there are 5 campaigns in the game..

As it happens, the game will have five campaigns in all: a tutorial which chronicles the ambitious French ruler's initial rise through the military ranks from 1778 to 1793; the assault on Northern Italy from 1796 to 1797; his conquest of Egypt and North Africa in 1798; his campaigns in Europe from 1805 to 1812; and finally the Battle of Waterloo on Sunday June 18, 1815.

which one of all these are the GC? and also, which is of all these is story based and which is not?