How much more refined are the battle animations in Medieval2 compared to Rome?

[D.B. Cooper]

I've heard the game doesn't have a ****load of dramatic finishing moves. But all I want really is something other than "a guy swings and the other falls dead". Like, I want maybe parries and blocks and shield smashes like the reviews describe. But you guys seem to say otherwise. Assume I have effects settings on maximum.

[Elric von Rabenfels]

It's waaay better than Rome. That's basicly all I can say.
There are some finishers, not enough, but some. Then people block with their weapons and stuff, even if it doesn't looks correct sometimes.

But it's better than Rome in that stuff. Way better.

[T-wester]

, I want maybe parries and blocks and shield smashes

parries and blocks with both shield and weapons are in the game along with stomach-stabbing leg-chopping and poke-the-guy-allready-on-the-ground-with-what-ever-weapon-that-happen-to-be-in-attackers-hand-attacks

[Garnier]

I personally like the combination of RTW's animations/battle sounds over M2TW's. Because RTW's look and sound like... real.. I don't know how to explain it. But you hear "splrrkquch" and see a guy stab and the other guy get knocked down, all at the same time. M2TW's are always out of sync, and to me the battles don't look nearly as real as CTW's for example.

[italiano]

Don't forget archers often kick the enemy in the nuts

I don't find the animations are out of sync all that often, just that the contact is often lined up incorrectly.

It will be interesting to see what the next engine is capable of.

[InferiorBeing]

The animation where one guy falls over and gets stabbed in the back while on the ground never gets done right, for exaple.

[Garnier]

One thing I hate is how many of the animations, the guy holds his shield [or fist] out on the left, and his sword or spear on the right, and then just kinda swings his body from side to side... looks stupid. I mean.. in battle do you swing you spear from side to side in front of your enemy? or do you... stab him!?