Total War: MEDIEVAL II - Game Overview

Step into the tumultuous heart of the Middle Ages with Total War: MEDIEVAL II, a grand strategy masterpiece that invites you to rewrite history. Developed by Feral Interactive, this acclaimed title plunges players into an era of knights, empires, and brutal warfare, offering an unparalleled blend of strategic depth and immersive historical simulation.

Plot & Gameplay

Unlike games with a fixed narrative, Total War: MEDIEVAL II empowers you to forge your own epic saga. The game’s expansive campaign is a dynamic tapestry where historical events intertwine with your decisions, allowing you to shape the destiny of nations. Will you reign as a benevolent monarch, fostering prosperity and alliances, or carve out a tyrannical empire through conquest and subjugation? Every choice, from diplomatic overtures to the deployment of your armies, directly influences the unfolding narrative, making each playthrough a unique journey through medieval history.

At its core, the gameplay unfolds across two distinct yet interconnected layers:

• Strategic Campaign Map: Manage your burgeoning empire on a vast, detailed campaign map. Here, you’ll oversee city development, construct vital infrastructure, manage your economy, and recruit diverse military units. Engage in intricate diplomacy with rival factions, forge alliances, or declare war. Utilize a range of agents—from cunning spies to influential diplomats—to gather intelligence, sabotage enemies, and secure your political standing. Mastering the strategic map requires a keen eye for resource management, political maneuvering, and long-term planning.

• Real-Time Tactical Battles: When armies clash, the game seamlessly transitions to breathtaking real-time battles. Command thousands of highly detailed units on sprawling battlefields, utilizing terrain to your advantage, deploying intricate formations, and executing tactical maneuvers to outwit your opponents. Whether laying siege to formidable castles or engaging in pitched open-field battles, success hinges on your ability to understand unit strengths and weaknesses, exploit enemy vulnerabilities, and adapt your strategy on the fly. The visceral soundscapes of clashing steel, thundering hooves, and bellowing war cries further immerse you in the chaos and glory of medieval warfare.

Total War: MEDIEVAL II is a demanding yet profoundly rewarding experience, offering a deep dive into an era where the fate of kingdoms rested on the might of the sword and the wisdom of the ruler.

How to Play Total War: MEDIEVAL II

Embarking on your journey to forge a medieval empire in Total War: MEDIEVAL II involves mastering both grand strategy and tactical combat. Here’s a guide to get you started on your path to conquest and glory:

Getting Started

1. Choose Your Faction: Begin by selecting one of the many historical factions available, each with unique strengths, starting positions, and challenges. Your choice will significantly influence your initial strategy and the type of campaign you’ll experience.
2. Master the Campaign Map: Familiarize yourself with the strategic campaign map, which serves as the heart of your empire.
   • City Management: Develop your settlements by constructing buildings that boost your economy, improve public order, unlock advanced units, and enhance your technological progress. A strong economic and infrastructural foundation is crucial for sustained growth.
   • Army Recruitment & Movement: Recruit diverse military units within your territories and assemble powerful armies. Plan their movements carefully across the map, considering supply lines, terrain, and potential enemy encounters.
   • Diplomacy & Agents: Engage in diplomacy with neighboring factions to forge alliances, negotiate trade agreements, or declare war. Utilize various agents—such as spies to gather intelligence, assassins to eliminate threats, and diplomats to negotiate—to influence the political landscape.
3. Prepare for Battle: Before committing to large-scale conflicts, consider practicing in custom battles or skirmish modes. This allows you to experiment with different unit types, formations, and tactical approaches without risking your campaign progress. Understand the importance of terrain, unit matchups, and flanking maneuvers.
4. Engage in Combat: When your armies meet the enemy, the game transitions to a real-time tactical battlefield.
   • Tactical Command: Position your units, utilize formations, and issue commands to your troops. Exploit the terrain to gain advantages, such as hills for archers or forests for ambushes.
   • Sieges & Open Battles: Master both open-field engagements and complex siege battles, where you’ll assault or defend fortified castles and cities.
5. Expand and Adapt: As your empire grows, you’ll face new challenges, including internal unrest, religious tensions, and powerful rival factions. Continuously adapt your strategy, develop your cities, and strengthen your armies to maintain control and expand your dominion. Your ultimate goal is to achieve your chosen faction’s victory conditions, which often involve conquering key territories and eliminating rival powers.

Controls

Total War: MEDIEVAL II is primarily played using a mouse and keyboard.

• Mouse: Used for navigating the campaign map, selecting units, issuing commands in battle, interacting with the user interface, and controlling the camera.
• Keyboard: Provides shortcuts for various actions, camera control (e.g., WASD for movement, Q/E for rotation), unit grouping, and tactical commands during battles. Specific keybindings can often be customized within the game’s options menu.