For example, High Elves play somewhat typically, almost like a historical Total War faction (plus dragons), but have far reach, both in terms of their powerful ranged units and overall strategy, as they can see through the eyes of their trade partners, allowing them to explore huge swathes of the map without ever leaving home. Thankfully, that seeming homogeneity lies just at the surface level. They all wield a mix of magic, cavalry, air, ranged, and melee units in their respective armies. At first glance their differences from each other don’t seem as dramatic as, say, the Greenskins or Vampire Lords of Warhammer 1. Warhammer 2 trades in the previous game’s quasi-European geography for steamy jungles, sweltering deserts, and mystic archipelagos as it brings on board four more major factions: The courtly High Elves, sinister Dark Elves, reptilian Lizardmen, and the fan-favorite Skaven, who are all gross rat-people that the traumatized players of Vermintide know all too well. For one, it’s a direct sequel to the first game, expanding the narrative and setting to encompass the “New World” portion of Warhammer‘s Fantasy setting and ensnaring its four new playable factions in a crisis related to the troubles that plagued last year’s “Old World” environs. Indeed, despite relatively little changing about its basic formula of turn-based, Civilization-esque empire-management married to real-time tactical battles, much is different about Total War: Warhammer 2 compared to the franchise’s more realistic outings, though players of the first installment will find it quite familiar. Between installments, the games don’t change all that much in their basic approach to play, and players are usually best advised to take the plunge when a new installment touches on a setting they enjoy.Īfter I spent time with Total War: Warhammer 2, though, I immediately rushed out to get the first game, cursing my ignorance and wondering why I’d let such an accomplished Total War game pass me by.

In defense of my seeming negligence, however, it’s not like Total War games are the kind of title you’re supposed to play every single entry of (much as that would delight the people making them). With the exception of Shogun 2, the sheer scale of a typical Total War game tends to keep me from committing to any single one, or even starting despite my initial interest in titles like Atilla, Napoleon, or Empire. In the Grim Darkness of the Fantasy Battle Setting…Īs much as I’ve enjoyed and admired the games of The Creative Assembly, I can’t help but admit that I’m something of a fair-weather Total War fan.

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