Creative Assembly takes a trip to Ancient Britain in a spin-off of their award winning Total War series.

Set in 878AD, Thrones of Britannia: A Total War Saga covers a period of internal turmoil as Alfred the Great seeks to unify the kingdoms of Britannia. As if finding common ground amongst the English, Welsh and Gaelic people wasn’t enough, the even-present Vikings place a further threat to unification.

This is not the first time that UK outfit, Creative Assembly have offered up a more intimate version of their famed wargaming franchise. They’ve been doing it for years, but usually as an offshoot from one of their main titles. In the past we’ve had Alexander and Rise of the Samurai, both offering more personal variations on the series’ trusted formula.

Thrones of Britannia: A Total War Saga allows the developers to tell a tale over a much smaller, but more detailed campaign map. Compared to the map of the UK in Total War: Attila, Britannia’s sceptred isle is 23x bigger. It is not only bigger, it’s also very detailed, mimicking the topography of the British Isles of the time. In my home county of Kent (Cant in the time period of the game), the Isle of Thanet is still an island, which it isn’t today.

Britannia is also a welcome return to the series’ historical roots, after two Total War titles set in the fantasy world of Games Workshop’s Warhammer.

The game is based around the technology employed in Attila, but unlike Attila, Britannia isn’t about a huge army ransacking everything in it’s wake. Britannia picks things up after the Viking invasion with a divided Britain full of factions all vying to take control.

The game features five cultures split into ten factions, each with their own traits, benefits and weaknesses.

If you’ve played a Total War game before, you are likely going to be right at home with Britannia, at least the combat side of things. Total War campaigns are played at two levels.

On the Campaign map, which in this case in the whole of the British Isles and Ireland, players can manage settlements and command troops. Britannia seems to assume that you are very familiar with this turn-based strategy element of the game. Whereby in previous offerings the in-game advisor almost nagged you with tips and advice, this time out she is rather muted. Advise is often cryptic and more frustrating than helpful.

The cut-throat political skulduggery of your opponents means that you need to pay attention to a map that is quite cluttered. Many aspects of the game are hidden amongst various menu and information panels give the game, which is supposed to be more streamlined experience, a greater learning curve than I expected.

The turn-based element focuses on keeping your lineage going, your generals loyal, your allies happy and your coffers and granaries full. Failing to juggle all these balls will result in a struggle to maintain the power you have, without even thinking of exerting your will on new territories.

The emphasis is on properly managing your realm, rather than amassing the largest army. Large armies need feeding and are led by ambitious generals that’ll rise up against you if you don’t look after them. My first game was a disaster ending with my faction being crushed by enemies of my own making- a result of poor decisions in the early game.

Creating and maintaining experienced armies commanded by sound generals takes time and effort. This gives confrontations a bit more jeopardy that in previous games whereby you may quickly assemble armies using might over cunning to win.

The real-time strategy side of the game departs very little from the tried and tested battles of previous games. You command units of different types: cavalry, archers, swordsmen etc., as well as your general’s elite units. The battlefields are diverse, featuring different terrain and vegetation. The settlements look absolutely glorious.

The main difference between the real-time element in this game and previous entries is the upgraded visuals which were never shabby, but for Britannia, look even more realistic. There’s no blood, though, meaning I’ll probably have to splash out on the DLC blood patch (really Creative Assembly, again?).

One of the big annoyances with Total War games is that they are a premium DLC bonanza for Sega and Creative Assembly. If you want the full Britannia experience expect, over the coming months, to spend a fair amount of cash on DLC. Saying than, the game comes with hours and hours of gameplay.

When you’ve exhausted playing the campaign as the ten different faction, you can play through it again via online multiplayer. Fans wanting the jump straight into their own custom real-time battles can do so either against the CPU or in online multiplayer.

Thrones of Britannia: A Total War Saga is a bit of a comedown after the Warhammer games, but it is great to get back into a historic setting. I found the game less intuitive than previous entries, but after a few hours of false-starts I began to get to grips with it.

Those pinning for Total War: Medieval 3 may find this entry somewhat sates their thirst, but fans of Warhammer: Total War, looking for more of the same, may best check out one of the earlier entries in the series such as Attila (upon which Britannia is based) or Total War: Rome II.

The post Thrones of Britannia: A Total War Saga (PC) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Creative Assembly returns for another fantasy take on their popular strategy war-gaming series with Total War Warhammer II.

For me, one of the major draws of the Total War games is the historical aspect. I wasn’t holding out much hope for last year’s fictional fantasy-based Total War Warhammer. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised.

Based on the Games Workshop fantasy table-top battle game, Warhammer is a good fit for a PC strategy game. With units ranging from lizardmen to high elves, Total War Warhammer II, brings to life the painted white-metal (which are probably now plastic) figures, that I remember from my younger days.

As will all Total War games, Warhammer II plays on two levels. First, you’ve got your real-time battles, where you are in direct control of your individual regiments on the battle map. You choose the formation, position and targets for army.

The second, exclusive to the campaign mode, is the turn-based campaign map. Here you command you armies to travel across the world to engage the enemy, capture settlements and explore ruins and wreaks. You also manage your towns and cities, recruit additional troops, engage in diplomacy amongst many, many other things.

Part two of an apparent trilogy of Total War Warhammer games, Total War Warhammer II’s main campaign, Entitled Eye of the Vortex, focuses on a war between the forces of darkness surrounding an idyllic High Elven island haven. There’s eight factions to choose from consisting of one of four races: High Eves and Lizardmen on the side of good and Dark Elves and Skaven representing evil.

The action is set over a massive map consisting of a variety of interesting environments, from the rainbow-adorned, care-bear-like land if the high elves, to the lush forest of the lizardmen and the blacken soil of the realm of the Dark Elves.

The campaign story is a bit of a mouthful, the narrative being packed with clichéd fantasy dialogue that sounds pretty ridiculous at times. The eight factions mean that you do get eight different variations on the campaign each with their own story variations.

Being based on a tabletop RPG-based war game, Warhammer II, like it’s namesake, places particular importance on the lords and heroes commanding the armies. Each lord and hero can be equipped with unique weapons, armour and talisman that you find as you explore the world. You can also equip Bannermen to support them and unlock mounts. This customisation, along with a huge skill tree, that is in addition to the tech tree for your faction, provides players with their own, personal, gameplay experience.

Of course, you are not just restricted to the campaign, there are other ways to play. You can dive straight in command your army of choice in real-time battle via the quick game option, create your own custom battles, or try the pre-authored quest battles. Extruding the game further, you can play both single battles and the campaign in multiplayer, both local and online.

Whilst the visuals are pleasant enough to look at, they are getting a bit stale. The messy user interface is just a re-skin of what Creative Assembly have been using since 2009’s Empire Total War. The graphic engine is starting to show its age, lacking the fidelity and lighting that a more modern engine affords.

Whilst it’s nice to play a game without loot boxes, what I’m not looking forward to is being inundated with DLC that should probably have been included in the initial release. Creative Assembly (or, maybe, publisher, Sega) are a bit fast and loose when it comes to premium DLC. Common in Total War games, paying extra for blood on the battlefield has got to be some of the lamest DLC since Oblivion’s horse armour. Good news for owners of the first Warhammer game – if you bought the blood DLC for that game, you won’t need to buy it again for number two.

The real bonus of owning both Total War Warhammer games is the upcoming free DLC, Mortal Empires. This expansion features an all-new map created as an amalgamation of the campaign maps from both games. You can play as any one of the Legendary Lords from either game, plus any included in owned DLC packs.

Total War Warhammer II is a huge game that’ll keep you busy for weeks if not months. It offers players a deep, dynamic war-gaming experience. Despite the complex multi-layers gameplay, it’s still easy to get into, with tutorials teaching you how to play “on the job”.

The game’s good use of Games Workshop’s source material and Creative Assembly’s always-excellent gameplay makes Total War Warhammer II a must have title for both fans of Warhammer fantasy RPG and the Total War series.

The post Total War – Warhammer II (PC) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

SEGA and ATLUS have announced a bumper line-up for E3 2017 across two neighbouring stands in the West Hall, showcasing a diverse selection of games in the publisher’s biggest E3 showing since 2013.

“We’re really pleased to see Yakuza and Sonic back on the biggest stage for video games, and having the first public hands-on for Total War: WARHAMMER 2underlines a really strong showing from SEGA and ATLUS this year!” said John Clark, Senior Vice President for SEGA Europe Ltd. “We look forward to welcoming trade visitors but we’re especially looking forward to having the public come and see our line-up this year, it’s great for E3 and it’s great for publishers. We’re confident there’s something for everyone on the SEGA stands this year.”

“From a bleak story about 13 heroes and their mechs in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, to the emotional, final story arc of Kazuma Kiryu in the Yakuza series as he goes from a lone fighter to a loyal, protector, to nostalgic gameplay from titles like Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology and Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux, and longed-for sequels such as Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth, SEGA and ATLUS are positioned to deliver a very gratifying line-up for all E3 attendees this year,” said Naoto Hiraoka, President and CEO of Atlus U.S.A., Inc. and Senior Vice President of Publishing for SEGA of America, Inc.

“We’re thrilled to have not just one, but two great Sonic games coming out this year for all the major consoles plus PC,” said Ivo Gerscovich, Chief Brand Officer for Sonic the Hedgehog. “Both games will be on the E3 show floor for everyone to try. Sonic Mania, which we recently announced is available for pre-order, will be showcasing new demo stages while Sonic Forces will have its first ever hands on experience. Come by and see why this is the year of Sonic.”

Attendees will be able to reacquaint themselves with the legendary Kazuma Kiryu in a double header of hard-hitting Yakuza action, playable on the show floor: Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the latest entry in the long-running series and Yakuza Kiwami, a rebuilt-from-scratch HD remake of the original 2005 PlayStation 2 hit, Yakuza. Those who visit the booth will also have the opportunity to receive special Yakuza-themed swag (as long as supplies last).

If breakneck speed is more your thing, SEGA will feature playable stations for the ultimate celebration of past and future with Sonic Mania, an all-new 2D adventure with stunning HD retro style graphics running at smooth 60FPS and featuring all your favourite classic characters. Sonic Forces, from the development team behind Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, will be your second dose of speedy Sonic action where you will get to experience fast-paced gameplay as Modern Sonic, thrilling platforming as Classic Sonic, and powerful gadget action as your own custom Hero Character! Those who come by to play Sonic could receive a special Sonic E3 giveaway item.

ATLUS will have an exclusive new trailer for the hotly anticipated Western release of Vanillaware’s 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, a story of battle-ready youths, humanity and… giant mechs. Plus, those that take a photo with the 13 Sentinels mech stand to receive a poster featuring Vanillaware’s signature flair (while supplies last).

For Nintendo 3DS gamers there will be three titles showcased.

Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth which begins with the creation of your party to explore the uncharted labyrinth of the Yggdrasil Tree, Beyond the Myth is all about choosing how your own adventure unfolds. Practice your map-making and FOE slaying skills with the playable hands-on demo on the show floor.

Secondly, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology once again allows players to take the reins of Alistel operative Stocke as he unlocks the power of the White Chronicle relic and gains the ability to travel between two alternate timelines in this enhanced retelling of a JRPG classic.Watch a live demo of Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, only for show attendees.

And lastly Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux. Demon aficionados can look forward to a new Redux trailer. New story content, additional endings, a new dungeon to explore and more await those who wish to brave the spatial distortion known as the Schwarzwelt.

In a neighbouring booth, Creative Assembly are unleashing the Lizardmen on the public for the first time in Total War: WARHAMMER II. The second game in the Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy is set in a whole new part of the Warhammer world, introducing four new playable races in an epic narrative campaign. In a spectacular quest battle taken from the game, E3 goers can seize control of a Lizardmen army as they march against the High Elves, who they’ve caught meddling in the dormant ruins of an ancient Lizardmen portal. Additionally, there will be playable stations for Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania at the booth.

If you are attending E3 2017 (like us at StG) we would love to hear your opinion!

The post SEGA & ATLUS Announce E3 2017 Line-Up appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Total War: Warhammer is the Total War game that I have always wanted. The mix of the deep strategy elements of the Total War series with the fantasy lore of Warhammer makes this latest entry the most interesting in the series to date. Despite going in a very different direction for the series, the game both looks and functions like a modern Total War game, both to its advantage and detriment.

You are able to play as one of four different races: The Empire, the Vampire Counts, the Greenskins and the Dwarfs. Each race has two different leaders which you can choose from. For a Total War game this may seem light however given the diversity of each of the races and the depth of the campaign, for me it felt like it had more replay value than previous Total War games.

One of the biggest triumphs of the game is that playing a campaign for each race actually feels like a different experience. The Dwarfs for instance starts out with but one city in the mountains and must set out to both unite the dwarven clans and eliminate the other retched greenskins. They possess a unique ability that allows them to utilise the underground paths to more easily navigate through difficult terrain and even pass through mountains. Their inability to take over human cities means that you will be striving to forge trade and military alliances with them.

Each race has their own unique circumstances and abilities like this which makes it feel like you are playing a different story in each campaign. There are general campaign events involving the Chaos which occurs regardless of who you choose. Their unique positions on the maps and the alliances they naturally form means that how you take on the threat is different each way. The Vampires for instance, being natural enemies of anything living, will find themselves surrounded on all sides by enemies. The Alliance on the other hand can put aside their differences with dwarven clans and other human alliances and fight the chaos with a united front.

In most Total Wars games I usually play one campaign and have no desire to come back and play through another. Due to the diversity of the races in Total War: Warhammer however I actually wanted to come back and play them all.

The empire management stays true to the Total War series, a bit too closely for my liking though. The game uses the same city management system in place since Rome II. Settlements are divided up into different provinces, typically three settlements to a province. Own all settlements in a province and you get an added bonus of your choosing in that province. The effect of this is that it makes city management easier. Happiness and other settlement traits are shared throughout the provinces. Once you click on a settlement, you are able to see and select what buildings can be built throughout the province.

Managing cities work in the exact same way regardless of who you chose which is disappointing. The vampires still have to worry about taxes and happiness in the exact same way as everyone else. Each race does have their own set of buildingshowever some are essentially reskinned versions of each other.Maybe it was because the buildings are represented by just a picture but the different buildings didn’t make managing the settlement feel any different. In general, I would have liked to see a bit more distinction between races in the way the empire was managed.

The game expands upon the quest and character upgrade system of previous games giving it more of an RPG vibe. Quests are still given through text rather than a more engaging means like a cutscene which does take away from some of the engagement with them. In amongst the general quests are some race specific ones which unlock cool stuff like new swords and armour for your characters.

Lords and heroes play a very important role both on and off the battlefield.Each of these characters have a skill tree, different for each faction, that you can progress in. This allowed you to specialise each one into a fearsome front line attack unit, a powerful mage, a support unit or even a character specialising in non-battle skills. You could further customise characters by equipping them with different items, armour and mounts.

On the battlefield things are very similar to all the previous Total War games. Battles take place in real time on an epic scale, featuring typically thousands of troops. Despite being so similar to the previous Total War games, it is here where the fantasy element of Warhammeris most noticeable and the diversity of the races is at its foremost.

The vampires rely on a mix of very weak and somewhat strong undead forces which look as terrifying as you would expect from a race of vampires. Their weakness is that they don’t have any ranged units which means you must close your distance quickly against certain enemies. A major strength for them is that their units don’t retreat when demoralised which can be a big deciding factor in battles. The dwarves feature strong units that are few in number. They don’t have any mounted units which made chasing down or getting behind enemies difficult. It also made the mounted archers much more difficult to take on.

It was these stark differences which made the races feel very different to play as and to battle. Outside of this, the battles take a strong focus on strategy just as the previous games did. It isn’t just about killing the enemy, it is about demoralising them and wearing them out. To do this you need to devise a strategy like taking down the commander quickly, make them run to you, sneak around to attack them from behind or shower them with ranged attacks.

The AI was solid, something you can’t take for granted in the series. The enemy employed sensible tactics to try and take me down including trying to sneak behind me and attack while I was distracted with troops from the front. This meant you had to either outsmart or overpower them rather than exploit their AI.

Total War: Warhammer is by far my favourite game in the Total War series. The game manages to stay true to the Total War series yet being distinct enough to make it feel unlike any of the games before it. If you are a fan of both fantasy and Total War like myself, this is the game you have been waiting for.