Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Challenging, but lacks diversity, 2 Jul 2008
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
The Creative Assembly marketed this game as the most challenging Total War title to date, and they weren't lying!
The campaign will see you in command of Alexander's Macedonian army. To the north lie the barbarian hordes of eastern Europe, while to the east lies the massive military might of the Persian Empire, as well as the scattered and dangerous Scythian tribesmen. The game gives you a short amount of time to take on all enemies in a single gigantic push through the Middle East to India. This means having to fight gigantic battles from the very first turns, as waves and waves of Persian infantry, archers, chariots and elephants are sent against you.
The economic, building and diplomatic section of the game are left to the side in this title, as it's only military might that will ensure success.
To win you must plunder every city you come across, and recruit mercenaries to boost up your army's strength. This style of warfare might not be to everyone's taste, and it certainly isn't the way Alexander waged war. If anything, having to slaughter everything in your path seems to be like the type of thing that Genghis Khan would do.
Sadly though, the campaign does have its limits. The newly created Indian civilisation does not make an appearance (a huge missed opportunity) and you'll also lose if Alexander is killed in battle. This could get very frustrating if you are close to finishing.
The game also comes with a series of historical battles, following Alexander's career from the Battle of Chaeronea to the Hydaspes. Each battle can be very challenging, and with some you'll find you'll need to play them a few times in order to win. Brian Blessed offers his narration to these chapters, both in the pre-battle video and in the game's cutscenes.
The game's graphics haven't been given much of an overhaul since the original Rome. The Macedonian phalanxes now wear purple tunics instead of white ones, and the Persians have a few additional units, but nothing noteworthy. The only truly original addition to the game are the Indians, but they only appear in one historical battle scenario, and in the custom battle mode.
This game is rather different to the previous Total War titles, and as such they might alienate some players who love to play the game at their own pace, or who enjoy the economic and diplomatic side a bit more.
That said, if you want a fast paced, frenetic and exciting rush against the clock style strategy, Alexander will provide. It's just a shame the game lacks diveristy and any new stand out features.
NOTE: You need Rome: Total War Patch 1.5 to play this game. When I first put in the game CD I was shocked to see that I couldn't install the game without having the patch. This wouldn't have been so bad it they had actually provided the patch with the game, but they haven't, so you will need to download it from the Total War website. A huge disappointment and a lack of consideration from White Label Company on this matter.
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53 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Total let down?, 7 April 2007
Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars
As a fan of the Total War games I found Alexander a let down. I have had my reservations about the Total War Games since SEGA took over the franchise and this add on almost proves my point. First released in a Battle Chest containing all the previous games and add ons with this one included this game does little to stand by itself and seems to be a rushed affair.
Sure you get some new units but they could have done so much more. There are no opening intros, the campaign game offers little challenge and you certainly have to kill off a lot more people than Alexander needed to do and funnily enough the Egyptians don't seem to have their old Gods around, I guess Ptolemy and Cleopatra would have a thing or two to say about that. The game introduces turns instead of years, supposedly since Alexander died young and you need to finish everything in a 100 turns. Which would be clever if Alexander and the rest didn't age a year every two turns so it kind of beats the point. Also in the campaign you don't get to fight the Indians which is a loss.
The Historical Battles have more to offer than the Campaign game but here you also have the hurried feel and money making concept where profit appears to be a lot more important than a good product.
If they had wanted to make a good product I would have suggested Total War Greeks, included battles such as Marathon and the Hot Gates, Leonidas, Xerxes and Miltiades as well as Alexander. The campaign game would also need to be better thought out.
This game was probably a hurried product in an attempt to get Total War fans to buy the Battle Chest with games they already had and never intended as a stand alone game. Sega probably bought the Creative Assembly for a high sum and is trying to get their profit back with little care for the quality of products.
Sadly you are probably a fan and will buy the game anyhow and the only merit I can really see is that at least it isn't very highly priced.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
definitely the worst Total War so far, 9 Sep 2007
Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars
when I heard that there was a new expansion I was really excited as the other games were brilliant, but I found this one a gigantic disappointment. You can only be Alexander's troops in the campaign and have the time he had to complete the challenges. In custom battles you can only be four factions which is severely limiting to gameplay. The map does not expand but will minimise which I found frustrating having played the other versions for hours on end.
(oli aged 12)
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