Total War (series)
Overview
The Total War series is a franchise of strategy video games developed by the British company Creative Assembly. The series combines elements of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics to simulate historical, fantasy, or science fiction warfare on both a campaign map and battlefield. The Total War series has been praised for its strategic depth, historical accuracy, and innovative gameplay mechanics.
Gameplay
The Total War series is characterized by its unique blend of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics. In the turn-based strategy portion, players manage their empire's economy, diplomacy, and military on a campaign map. The real-time tactics portion involves commanding armies in battle, with the player making decisions on unit placement, formations, and tactics.
The series is known for its large-scale battles, with thousands of units on screen at once. The player can command individual units, groups of units, or the entire army. The games also feature a morale system, where units can break and run if their morale drops too low.
Games in the Series
The Total War series began with Shogun: Total War in 2000, set in feudal Japan. Since then, the series has covered various historical periods, including the Roman Empire in Rome: Total War, the Middle Ages in Medieval: Total War, and the Napoleonic Wars in Napoleon: Total War.
The series has also ventured into fantasy with the Warhammer: Total War games, based on the Warhammer Fantasy universe, and science fiction with A Total War Saga: TROY, which is based on the Trojan War from Greek mythology.
Development
The Total War series is developed by Creative Assembly, a British video game developer founded in 1987. The series is published by Sega, a Japanese multinational video game developer and publisher.
The development team has been praised for their attention to historical detail, both in the game's visuals and mechanics. The team often consults with historians and experts to ensure accuracy.
Reception
The Total War series has been well-received by critics and players alike. The games are often praised for their strategic depth, historical accuracy, and innovative gameplay mechanics. The series has also been commercially successful, with millions of copies sold worldwide.
Impact and Legacy
The Total War series has had a significant impact on the strategy game genre. Its blend of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics has been influential, with many other games adopting similar mechanics. The series has also been praised for its historical accuracy and attention to detail, setting a high standard for other historical strategy games.