What Should I get?

[Carlson809]

A while ago I had the first medieval total war and I liked it so I thought that I might buy another total war game but I am not sure to get Rome or medieval 2? What do you guys think? Is medieval 2 the same as rome except better graphics, does it have as good campaign? Anything that Rome has that Medieval 2 doesn't(besides the time and place)? I have to say that I am more interested in Romans and Barbians than factions in mediaval times, should this be a deciding factor? and also is there barbarians in medieval 2?

~thanks

P.S. Did anyone see the modern marvels on barbarian tech? It talked about Rome Total War in it. This is how I remembered about the good times I had in Medieval Total War

[Archer of Sparta]

Well if you like barbarians a lot I suggest you buy Rome: Total War and the expansion barbarian invation.

Plus there are alot of great mods out there for rome total war. But yea medieval total war does have better graphics and improved deplomacy and stuff but if you like barbarians and romans than get rome.

[kelvintyk]

Well medieval 2::total war is fun too other than the fact that most factions had the same units.For me, i preferred rome:total war....the romans are cool.But if i were you i would buy medieval 2 cause there are lots of improvements and the siege machines,especially the trebuchet rocks!unlike the onagers back in rome.But if u like to have more units than rome:total war will be the game for you

[Scutarii]

Rome is definitely better, more unit diversity. In Medieval II, its basicall all cavalry armies that dominate, as cavalry is grossly overpowered.

[NobleNick]

Let me preface by saying I have not played MTW, M2TW nor BI (RTW Expansion).

Based on the fact that you already have MTW, RTW would give you a wider variety than going straight to M2TW.

M2TW gives you better graphics, but you need an excellent machine to take advantage of it. From what I have heard in many posts, RTW gives better gameplay.

RTW replay value is high, since you will be forced to use different tactics based on which faction you play: Only certain factions get high technology; only a few get elephants; some don't get archers; some get horse archers; some get Cataphracts; some are very rich; some get awesome military upgrades at temples; others get great economic upgrades at temples; some have high quality infantry, some don't, some get reanged siege equipment, some don't, etc. And, despite the wide variation in unit make-up and faction advantages, the game is surprisingly well balanced.

M2TW currently has at least one serious bug: shield bonus counts AGAINST the shield bearer. This results in unpredictable and sometimes wacky battle results; with Peasants being able to smack down more heavily armored opponents.

Since you can get RTW plus BI expansion in one box for $30 at the stores I shop; while M2TW comes in at $50; the choice is clear to me (and I am doing it) : play RTW now, and get M2TW after the price drops and some of the bugs are worked out. I have played probably 400 hours of vanilla (no mods) RTW, and still do not feel the need to move on to BI (but I am starting to think about trying a mod).

Hope that helps.

[Savage_Swede]

I own all the Total War games except Shogun and the medieval 1 expansion, viking invasion. And i would definitely recommend you to get Rome first. I played M2TW ofr a week or two, then got bored. It just didn't have that magic thing that made me want to start it up and continue my campaigns.

And when you get tired of vanilla RTW, try one of the major mods. SPQR, RTR and EB are the ones i love the most. I am currently playing EB, and it is like a whole new game in itself. The skins in that mod are also so detailed that i for one don't give a damn if M2TW have better graphics.

Hope that helped some ^^