An Enjoyable Surprise

[Shawn1066]

I finally got my chance to play Rome 2 earlier today and I was fortunate enough to play it for several hours. I purchased the game at launch, but was unable to play it due to internet issues. I was, however, able to hear the bad initial backlash. I was terrified that the game was a slow, unplayable, ugly mess that would turn me into a raging 13 year old. Thankfully, the game loads quickly and the battles play beautifully. Graphically, the game is gorgeous and the battles play very nicely--though they are over a touch too quickly in most cases. I recall seeing several complaints about capture points being mandatory in all battles and that simply is not the case. I guess the first several weeks of patches must have drastically changed things, because it has been a very positive experience.

My only major criticism is that the user interface is very clunky and seems like a step back from Shogun II, Napoleon, and Empire. I feel like it takes up too much of the screen and that it is not very intuitive. I love the basic idea of the unit cards, but they are not very attractive in their current state. Unless I am missing it someplace, the option to fine-tune unit direction and rank/file via the user interface has been scrapped. The option to do it via keyboard and mouse clicks is still there, but I miss the way it was in done in all of the other games from Empire to Shogun II.


I still have a lot more to do in the game, but my initial feelings are very positive. I'd place it at least on par with Shogun II. It's a great game. Either the backlash was greatly exaggerated or CA has done a tremendous job fixing things with patches. Regardless, I'm looking forward to more of Rome II tomorrow and to the continued improvement of this already great game.

[Tullaris]

Several hours? Why did you feel the need to post here then? On par with Shogun 2? WHAT?? You should play atleast through half a campaign before posting your experience. I mean what is the added value of playing this short and then posting here. You think everybody is wrong about this game while they have played a lot more than you have?

In any case, be ready for:

- Waiting up to 5 minutes for end of turns
- No challenge what so ever mid to late game as the campaign AI horribly fails
- Broken siege AI and naval battles
- Just a very boring overall experience

[✠Ikaroqx✠]

Several hours? Why did you feel the need to post here then? On par with Shogun 2? WHAT?? You should play atleast through half a campaign before posting your experience. I mean what is the added value of playing this short and then posting here. You think everybody is wrong about this game while they have played a lot more than you have?

In any case, be ready for:

- Waiting up to 5 minutes for end of turns
- No challenge what so ever mid to late game as the campaign AI horribly fails
- Broken siege AI and naval battles
- Just a very boring overall experience

You know what? He gave his impressions of the game, not yours.

[Agent Provocateur]

Several hours? Why did you feel the need to post here then? On par with Shogun 2? WHAT?? You should play atleast through half a campaign before posting your experience. I mean what is the added value of playing this short and then posting here. You think everybody is wrong about this game while they have played a lot more than you have?

In any case, be ready for:

- Waiting up to 5 minutes for end of turns
- No challenge what so ever mid to late game as the campaign AI horribly fails
- Broken siege AI and naval battles
- Just a very boring overall experience

Originally Posted by Shawn1066
I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory forum time-limit of gameplay before giving *first impressions*. I did not say that everybody was wrong either. I said that a lot of negatives were either exaggerated or quickly fixed--I did not say that there were no negatives. Obviously I cannot comment on the late-game, but I will be more than happy to after I've gotten further in.

I've had a great experience thus far, I'm sorry if this troubles you.

Nice reply, sans pre-pubescent angst, which makes for a nice change. As you've probably realised unbridled rage seems is the standard form of communications for a quite a few round here nowadays.

So far I've managed to play the game without loosing the plot as well.

[Vor]

- Waiting up to 5 minutes for end of turns

Even during the pre patch 1 times, I never had turns that slow even late game.

[Tsarsies]

- Waiting up to 5 minutes for end of turns

Try upgrading your system. I have never had end turn last longer than a minute to a minute-and-a-half. and that's on release day. After the patches, my end turn is 10-20 seconds. And that's 150 turns in!

I agree there are a lot of disappointments with this game, but most of the issues are affecting people completely differently based on system specs, it seems. The only real issue i have with this game, is the AI. But that is no different to any other TW game (except, this AI is pretty piss poor!)...

[Mr. Battle]

Try upgrading your system. I have never had end turn last longer than a minute to a minute-and-a-half. and that's on release day. After the patches, my end turn is 10-20 seconds. And that's 150 turns in!

I agree there are a lot of disappointments with this game, but most of the issues are affecting people completely differently based on system specs, it seems. The only real issue i have with this game, is the AI. But that is no different to any other TW game (except, this AI is pretty piss poor!)...

Yeah, this AI is even worse than Empire's. Everyone keeps bringing up how bad the AI is when sieging. I haven't had the AI siege one of my cities with walls yet, but they couldn't possibly be worse than they are when defending. Ranged units just eat them alive because they just stand there and take it until you run out of ammo. They aren't quite as bad when they are attacking, but the AI is just a complete joke when defending.

[Frost, colonel]

I haven't had the AI siege one of my cities with walls yet, but they couldn't possibly be worse than they are when defending. Ranged units just eat them alive because they just stand there and take it until you run out of ammo. They aren't quite as bad when they are attacking, but the AI is just a complete joke when defending.

Can't agree with this, yes the AI lets me unload on them big time, but at least they do attack sometimes. My last siege assault I took quite a few casualties. Since patch 4 I think the AI garrisons seem to be a lot stronger.
Where as the AI assaulting, that's an epic fail full stop. Just one unit blocking the gate, will take no real casualties, yet wipe out an entire stack. You don't even need to be there, just setup, and go and do something more useful with your time like take a dump.

[Mr. Battle]

Can't agree with this, yes the AI lets me unload on them big time, but at least they do attack sometimes. My last siege assault I took quite a few casualties. Since patch 4 I think the AI garrisons seem to be a lot stronger.
Where as the AI assaulting, that's an epic fail full stop. Just one unit blocking the gate, will take no real casualties, yet wipe out an entire stack. You don't even need to be there, just setup, and go and do something more useful with your time like take a dump.

So they don't even use siege equipment? Good grief.

[Frost, colonel]

Several hours? Why did you feel the need to post here then? On par with Shogun 2? WHAT?? You should play atleast through half a campaign before posting your experience. I mean what is the added value of playing this short and then posting here. You think everybody is wrong about this game while they have played a lot more than you have?

In any case, be ready for:

- No challenge what so ever mid to late game as the campaign AI horribly fails
- Broken siege AI and naval battles
- Just a very boring overall experience

No offense Shawn1066 , But I have to agree with this post, a few hours is nothing really.

Glad you like it so far though. The game does look nice although the grass looks crap because they cut the graphics. The sieges from the AI are truly awful, one turn per year means your generals will just come and go, and come and go.(the die off quickly).
If you are able to fiddle with files and use the mods(I'm crap with PC's so only use auto install mods)then hopefully you will enjoy it for along time.

I agree with you, the battles are still too short, the players who want short battles could just hit fast forward, instead the players like me who want to see all the detail are forced to play battles in slow mo with no sound, except CA lovingly put the missing 'outstanding' music scores in, in a recent patch.

Another aspect of the short battles that doesn't help is their is no guard mode(causes more distracting micro management), in other words if you order your missile troops to fire on a given target, and that target moves out of range, the unit will follow them, unlike previous releases.

Battle lines will blob into giant scrums(looks like an ugly mess)and your units will often turn sideways when fighting in a battle line, thus opening up gaps again no proper guard mode, although CA have told us they have auto guard mode, but this doesn't stop units turning side ways. I think it has to do with what a unit considers to be it's centre, as to which direction it faces in contact with the enemy, and thus ignores your orders and CA's auto guard mode.

Generally I would avoid playing a naval battle, but you see what you think of course.

[Shawn1066]

I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory forum time-limit of gameplay before giving *first impressions*. I did not say that everybody was wrong either. I said that a lot of negatives were either exaggerated or quickly fixed--I did not say that there were no negatives. Obviously I cannot comment on the late-game, but I will be more than happy to after I've gotten further in.

I've had a great experience thus far, I'm sorry if this troubles you.

[Remo]

I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory forum time-limit of gameplay before giving *first impressions*. I did not say that everybody was wrong either. I said that a lot of negatives were either exaggerated or quickly fixed--I did not say that there were no negatives. Obviously I cannot comment on the late-game, but I will be more than happy to after I've gotten further in.

I've had a great experience thus far, I'm sorry if this troubles you.

[Kraut]

I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory forum time-limit of gameplay before giving *first impressions*. I did not say that everybody was wrong either. I said that a lot of negatives were either exaggerated or quickly fixed--I did not say that there were no negatives. Obviously I cannot comment on the late-game, but I will be more than happy to after I've gotten further in.

I've had a great experience thus far, I'm sorry if this troubles you.

You did not get the point.
You dare to say something positive about R2. Therefore, Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, sentences you to die. Nothing personal, just the law here at TWC.

Enjoy your stay

[wulfgar610]

I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory forum time-limit of gameplay before giving *first impressions*. I did not say that everybody was wrong either. I said that a lot of negatives were either exaggerated or quickly fixed--I did not say that there were no negatives. Obviously I cannot comment on the late-game, but I will be more than happy to after I've gotten further in.

I've had a great experience thus far, I'm sorry if this troubles you.

No such reasoning is allowed. The mandatory view is the glass is half empty rather than half full. Personally I'm finding this game very enjoyable.

[Toho]

No such reasoning is allowed. The mandatory view is the glass is half empty rather than half full. Personally I'm finding this game very enjoyable.

Rome 2 is like raisin chip cookie but you though it was a chocolate chip cookie.
so what happens is that when you are eating the delicious pastry you find yourself constantly biting and tasting those horrible raisins that should have never been on the cookie to begin with.

the chocolate chips were suppose to be the many new game features that would make R2 great but broke it instead.
like naval ladings (god forbid you disembark in a port, thats just stupid) or the great mess that is the political system and etc...

[wulfgar610]

the chocolate chips were suppose to be the many new game features that would make R2 great but broke it instead.
like naval ladings (god forbid you disembark in a port, thats just stupid) or the great mess that is the political system and etc...

There hasn't been a TW game since the continuous strat map of Rome1 where you've had to embark or disembark at a port.

[raest]

I wasn't aware that there was a mandatory forum time-limit of gameplay before giving *first impressions*. I did not say that everybody was wrong either. I said that a lot of negatives were either exaggerated or quickly fixed--I did not say that there were no negatives. Obviously I cannot comment on the late-game, but I will be more than happy to after I've gotten further in.

I've had a great experience thus far, I'm sorry if this troubles you.

and, pray tell, which negatives would that be? the performance is still an issue for many (myself included), the naval transport system is still as retarded and nonsensical since release, and do you have, by any chance, a "quick fix" for the nearly non-existent, but much advertised, political system? (just to name a few of the glaring problems)

because all i see from your post is "looks pretty, runs fast, bad UI, i am enjoying it greatly", which is on par with the early "professional" reviews (i.e. it says nothing at all)

[Kinjo]

Also patches have address some of the issues, for example most capture points were removed via patches so your not seeing the mess that was seen when the game was released.

[Humble Warrior]

Also patches have address some of the issues, for example most capture points were removed via patches so your not seeing the mess that was seen when the game was released.

This is very true. If the OP had seen those flag capture points in the middle of an open field, he`d still have had a very different first impressions view.

To the op: However, you have not played enough to discover the issues - and you will. TW games often take a bit of time to appreciate depending on how easy you are to please. Often a User needs to get to mid game to give it a full chance. I myself usually play one full game before making my conclusion, but the problems were so obvious that it didn`t take me long to see the holes.

So to be honest you`re a bit premature. i`d call your thread `first impressions`.

[wulfgar610]

This is very true. If the OP had seen those flag capture points in the middle of an open field, he`d still have had a very different first impressions view.

I wish they'd bring the flags back. If the besieged sallies forth from a besieged city, I'd imagine the beseiger has a position to protect, or they aren't beseigers. Just all the bubbies couldn't take it, they wanted the freedom to take the best defensive position and have the poor dumb AI at the greatest disadvantage they could possibility have.

Think of the possibilities, Constantine never would have had to fight over the Milvian bridge, he could have had Maxentius chase him up a mountain. Mysteriously still able to cut the road into Rome from there.

Dislike of the flags is simply bad sportsmanship. The same article was in table top and with good reason.