Total War: Attila
Review
The Hun becomes the Hun...ted
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
Tech tree
Having an army is fine, but having one that is more advanced than the enemy is better. The technology tree in Attila is quite basic, but choosing the right technological discovery at the right time can give a definite advantage when it comes to waging war. The technologies focus on two main paths - military and civic. As expected, the tech tree focusing on military will improve the abilities of your armies and reduce the costs involved with recruiting and maintaining your troops. The civic tech tree focuses on food production, wealth and the happiness of the citizens in your cities. As mentioned earlier, unhappy citizens can revolt and it's no easy task to avoid fighting battles internally as well as externally.
As with other Total War games, Attila is quite complex and has a steep learning curve for newcomers. Total War veterans may not have as much trouble getting into the game and the added features of Attila should not faze them. But for Total War novices, it can be a lot to take in at once. The tutorial Prologue campaign isn't really at all helpful. It skims over the basics and hopes that you know what you're doing. For instance, there was nothing mentioned about setting up your army formation prior to battle, so you are left on your own to figure out which formation is best suited to the combination of units in your army. Trial and error as well as experience will make this easier over the course of the game. The in-game Encyclopedia doesn’t help that much either, as it takes a heap of reading, just to find what you’re looking for. It is okay, but a little harder to navigate than expected.
Visuals
Watching from a distance as your mounted troops flank an unsuspecting archer unit and then zooming in to see your individual foot soldiers charge out of a forest and attack a foe is great. The detail continues to be of superb quality. You can almost see enemy troops wetting their pants prior to fleeing for their lives. The weather effects give the game a more realistic feel too. It's not just fog hiding the enemy that forces you to throw your plans out of the window either. Rain beating down on the battlefield will make it a hard slog on foot as you attempt to gain whatever possible advantage in the terrain. The seasonal effects on the campaign map are quite cool too, with the snow covered Alps in winter causing extra fatigue for any units situated in such unfortunate position.
The interface is surprisingly well laid out, with most of the important information available on screen or one click away. Indicators showing the strength and well-being of your armies are always visible, as are the important factors in governing your cities and empire. Current funds, income and food stores can be viewed at any time and can often help in determining which building to construct in a city. None of this information detracts from the campaign map.
A refinement
The additions and tweaks to Total War: Attila definitely makes it a little simpler to navigate for Total War veterans. But newcomers may struggle with coming to terms with all the features of the game and it will take a fair investment of time to learn the ins and outs. The tutorial missions and the Encyclopaedia are somewhat vague but once you get the hang of it, it can be quite rewarding. Watching your general levels up as you win battles, or watching as your governor ranks up as a city grows is a joy. Battles are evenly fought and the AI is relatively competent. They still do some weird things at times, but nothing that breaks the game. I also found that naval warfare was a little unnecessary, especially when your empire is primarily land-locked. It is only really when you want to attack Britain that it becomes a necessity. The game looks great and has fitting background music which resonates with the drama of the battlefield. Attila hits the mark on most targets and continues on with the high standard set by the Total War series.
8.2
fun score
Pros
Improved diplomacy and politics, looks and sounds great
Cons
Really tough learning curve for beginners
