Lets start from the obvius.
Every game has its bad and it good features. No game can be perfect because they are made by humans. Also game is a matter of personal taste of what is nice to have in a game and what is not.
Medieval 2 Total War and espesialy its expansion "Kingdoms" is by far the best game for me to enjoy.
I explain my self.
The game is old and ofcourse can not be compared in "apearence" with the most recent games. Graphics for example are out of competition and its rather natural.
But modding the game I was forced to nottice some things the game has as features that no other game managed to have since.
Animations are one such feature. The battle mechanics that include animations as part of pleasure of a player to watch and "participate" in a battle are still out of reach for anyother TW game.
For a reason unknown to me, models act more naturaly ussing their weapons, walking or running, clombing ladders or ussing siege equipments.
Ofcourse M2TW horses were aufull compared to those of Rome II and Attila but both games do not allow real time "participation" in close watch combat to ENJOY animations and feel that "you are actually" in that battle!
Timming problem, boundry sphears one? I am not a technisian to know. Also M2TW game does not allow its horsemen to get down of their horses. True...
Some will counter my arguments about animations with "yea but in Attila , human mouths are moving, eyes bling etc"...I will agree, but in a battle simulator are the eyes the most critical factor of pleasure or natural sword swing of a horseman
getting ready to cut an enemy infantry man?
In the picture above please ignore the models and textures because they are results of moddifications. Simply focus your attention in the horseman in the far right end of the picture that uses the original
animations of the game made by that game's devepoping team more than 10 years ago!
The same exists here...
Despite the fact that the models are not from original game watch how "naturaly" horsemen get close and engage and watch the man in the center ussing his spear seconds before he will use his sword!
I was amased when i realised that game had realistic javelin throwing animations:
See the following steps in the box:
Launching javeling phases.
Conclusion: What i still love in this game is the fact that i can enjoy battles watching them fron within with out the need to freeze the game to have the pleasure to see details!
Cameras help alot, time of animations help also!
Is the game perfect? No..Since day one i asked Rome I siege mechanics (with multiple siege armies attacking same city from different directions ussing THEIR OWN siege equipment that included tunnels.
But playing Rome II and Attila I gladly returned to M2TW/Kingdoms just to see enemy siege armies to RE-USE unharmed ladders, or rams to use them in the NEXT line of walls without any problem.
I could not avoid comparison with the dammest AI of both Rome II and Attila. I exclude Warhammer since I have not played the game and it would be unfair to make conclusions about something I do not have personal opinion.
In the end I was happy with CA/SEGA's announcement about Warhammer II. That way we avoided a new "historical" title embaracement AGAIN!
Now -without any new historical title to wait- I will feel free to stay focused in M2TW and enjoy smooth battles, massive sieges huge settlements, multiple armies in the field that take orders by you etc.
Those things are those that make me still love M2TW. I have not naval battles...true but after Shogun II TW naval battles are so idiotic that their only use is to stay and watch the ships models.