Rome: Total War review

Every once in a while, a game comes along that redefines its genre and reaches new heights of entertainment. Rome - the third game in the massively successful Total War strategy series - does just that. With bells on.

Set during the height of the Roman Empire (around 250BC - 50AD), you take control of one of three Roman factions and attempt to lead them to world domination.

Rome: Total War is divided into two parts. The first takes place on a turn-based strategic map of Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor in which you move your armies from province to province, manage your cities and take care of diplomatic and economic affairs.

But it's in the game's second part that the true genius lies. When two armies meet on the strategic map, the action instantly switches to a stunning three-dimensional battlefield. Here you and the enemy clash swords in a succession of breathtaking and bloody battles across rolling landscapes. Another unique selling point of these dramatic outdoor face-offs is that the battles can take place between collossal armies of over 10,000 animated soldiers, all armed to the teeth, baying for blood!

You'll need to employ realistic battle tactics, such as using terrain to your advantage and executing flanking manoeuvres, if you're to get the better of the game's fiendishly cunning artificial inteligence.

Zooming into the action reveals an unparalleled level of detail, with each stunningly detailed troop boasting countless bone-shattering combat animations. Sitting back to watch your cavalry of war elephants bulldoze into massed enemy ranks is worth the entry fee alone.

Of course, the danger with a game this ambitious is that it won't be accessible to the casual gamer. Fear not, though, as Rome: Total War has been perfectly crafted to suit both war game newcomers and the hardened role-playing veteran. If you get stuck there's even a virtual adviser on hand to explain how everything works should you ever need a little extra help - you can even choose to have all of your cities auto-managed so you can simply concentrate on the real-time battles.

Rome: Total War is the greatest strategy game ever made - it's so superior to any other game in its field that there's virtually no competition. Pick up a copy or you'll be missing out on one of the greatest war games ever created.