When it comes to epic heroism and glory, few battles in history outrank the Trojan War. I remember reading The Iliad in high school and admiring fleet-footed Achilles, crafty Odysseus, and even noble Hector for their prowess and bravery. It made such an impression on me that whenever I see games set in the Bronze Age of Ancient Greece, I immediately jump at the opportunity to play them. Thus, the hands-on preview of A Total War Saga: TROY, by Sega Europe Ltd. and The Creative Assembly, was an absolute treat, and I believe this game will be enjoyed by superfans and new gamers alike.
In the preview, we were able to fight one battle in either easy or difficult mode, and I tried out both. This was my first time playing something from the Total War series, so I was new to this type of gameplay, but I found it relatively easy to orient myself with the controls. As commander of several troops, you can position different segments of your army in whatever formation or order you like. The best way to overwhelm the enemy is to outflank them and attack from multiple sides, which will cause them to lose morale and retreat. The main heroes, Achilles and Hector, have a much bigger effect on morale, and they can even rally scared troops to return to battle. I tried playing on both teams, and I appreciated how Achilles’ army had a lot of speed while Hector’s infantry was very heavy and hard to penetrate. Additionally, the various troops in your militia have unique tactical strengths, whether they be long range archers or a mighty Minotaur. This enriches your strategy, as you can analyze how to best use these different forces to match the enemy and eventually vanquish them.
Besides the soldiers, I found two features of the game that were especially impactful: the terrain and the pacing. The maps feel large and expansive, which fits the epic battle premise, and they are full of forests, hills, and mud. This allows for creative strategies such as concealing troops in the trees, as well as dangerous obstacles that you must be careful to avoid. In my difficult-level match, I realized very quickly that my army was at a disadvantage as long as the enemy had the high ground. They could shoot my soldiers down from above without having to get in close range, and it was difficult trying to run up the hill and attack them from the side or behind. If your army starts off with the high ground, make sure not to rush down to the enemy and lose that advantage!
Finally with the pacing, it is worthy to note that you can pause the game at any time to reassess the state of the battle. This might be old news to those who have played other Total War games before, but for those like me who are new to this, it can be especially useful in the beginning. You assign each of your platoons to attack different segments of enemy troops by clicking on them, and in the heat of battle they can get muddled and overlap with each other. In these moments, I always found it helpful to pause and double check that my troops are targeting the desired enemy soldiers so they were not wasting their energy—for example, if my infantry and cavalry are already fighting the enemy’s infantry, I want to make sure my archers are fighting the enemy’s cavalry. Also if the tide of the battle turns, you can always pause to reconsider your next move before resuming. I found this extremely valuable during the most intense parts of the game.
In conclusion, I believe A Total War Saga: TROY is varied and detailed enough to be a fully intriguing and satisfying new game. Whether you know all about the Trojan War or just want some good strategic battle play, this is sure to give you hours of stimulating, epic fun!
Check Out A Total War Saga: TROY Trailer:
A Total War Saga: TROY will launch on PC exclusively on the Epic Games Store on Tuesday August 13, 2020. The game will become available on other digital PC storefronts such as Steam from August 2021.
For more information, please visit: https://www.totalwar.com/
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From the moment I first played Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy on the original Xbox, I have always had an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for video games. I admire their ability to immerse us in completely different worlds, and I am always eager to see how they integrate the newest breakthroughs in digital technology to make virtual reality feel real. I am currently a senior at UC Berkeley, but when I'm not studying I always make time to play Xbox One with my younger brother.
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