"Creative Assembly created a truly innovative and compelling real-time strategy game with Shogun: Total War," states Kathy Vrabeck, executive vice president global publishing and brand management. "With the improved graphics, more intuitive controls and classic historical scenarios in Medieval: Total War, we intend to springboard the Total War brand into the preeminent historical based RTS franchise in the industry."
Massive in scope, but intuitive in implementation, Medieval: Total War allows players to take control of one of twelve world powers as they attempt to rewrite history through a mixture of trade, diplomacy, resource management and wars of conquest. Featuring an incredibly powerful 3D engine, the game supports real-time 3D battles of more than 10,000 troops and more than 100 unique unit types, including knights, infantry and siege engines, in terrain as varied as deserts, forest, plains and mountains. Players will utilize authentic battle strategies and tactics as they unleash their forces against medieval castles and mighty fortresses with an arsenal of battle-field weapons including long-bows, muskets, cannons and catapults which can pound castle walls and buildings to rubble.
Tim Ansell, founder, owner and managing director of The Creative Assembly added, "We are very excited at the prospect of working with Activision on Medieval: Total War. They have the drive and ambition we are looking for in a publisher to build Total War into the #1 historical RTS franchise. In Activision, we have found a publisher who understands what Total War is about. Shogun: Total War was just the beginning. We have exciting plans for Medieval: Total War and beyond."
In addition to real-time 3D combat, Medieval: Total War includes a turn-based mode where players can build the empire that they need to support their war machine. From the turn-based screen, players can manage the affairs of their kingdom by forging strategic alliances, creating trade routes, researching technology, constructing castles, deploying naval power, training warriors and generals and suppressing revolts.
The player's choice of nation will impact their overall strategy as many battlefield units are culturally specific - English Longbowmen will face Highland Clansmen while Teutonic Knights will charge into battle against elite Turkish Janissaries. As the game progresses nations will have to adapt or perish in the face of the technical revolution of gunpowder, which brings muskets and cannon to the battlefield. This variation between nations and cultures goes beyond the battlefield to the economics, architecture and politics of four centuries of history - all of which is reproduced with fantastic accuracy and attention to detail. Medieval: Total War also adds RPG elements into the mix with nation-specific hero units that feature unique skills and bonuses - from military giants such as Richard the Lionheart, Frederick Barbarrosa, Saladin and Kublai Khan; to legendary warriors and rebels such as William Wallace, El Cid, Robin Hood and Joan of Arc.
The gameplay in Medieval: Total War is as far reaching as the title would suggest. The full campaign is estimated at 70 hours of gameplay with enormous replay value, and encompasses four centuries of warfare from one of the most brutal periods of history, with campaigns including the Crusades, the marauding Mongol Hordes and the 100 Years War. Multiplayer generals will be able to do battle online with hundreds of maps and multiple game types, including King of the Hill, Siege and Assassin. A comprehensive and easy to use map editor will also ship with the game.
For more information on Medieval: Total War visit the website HERE.
For more information on The Creative Assembly visit the website HERE