Medieval II Total War

On the strategy side if the game, city management is much the same, but a number of new features have been added. On the building side, the game now features guilds such as the Weapon smiths and thieves’ guilds which approach your cities bestowing new abilities upon them.

Players also have more choice in the management of their cities and must now decide whether to turn a captured settlement into a castle or a city. Cities are trade centres generating income but troop and building choices are restricted. Castles allow for better troop choices but generate less income. Specific factions will also gain buildings that are unique to them.

As befitting the time, religion is also a major focus of the game. Heresy was and is a threat to all factions in the game. On the world map, players can recruit religious units to keep up faith in cities and settlements. If faith drops too low you face public riots and an AI controlled inquisitor character will appear to try and slaughter your irreligious faction characters.

Religion also plays a part in the form of the Vatican faction. Much like the Roman Senate in Rome Total War, the Pope can hand out missions that will gain you a reward if successfully completed. Similarly, if you are at war with a rival catholic faction he can hand out edicts ordering you to cease hostilities. Failing to do so will see you excommunicated and set upon by both the church and other catholic factions, so politics plays a strong part Medieval’s game play.

The Pope can also order you to embark on a Crusade to capture a settlement or on for the Muslim factions, an Imam can order players to go on a Jihad.

As mentioned the world map is much the same as Rome however, Denmark and Scotland have been added as conquest areas and factions. Later in the game the New World also becomes available as an area of exploration allowing you to retread Cortez’ footsteps and conquer the region and pump back gold to your faction.