In Episode 4 of Critical Moves, the hosts delve into the Total War franchise, discussing its past successes, recent challenges, and what the future might hold. Al is joined by Nuno, Joe, and Tim as they explore the series’ evolution, from its historical roots to the popularity of Warhammer and the potential for new settings like 40K or Star Wars.
Here’s what the episode covered:
- The golden age of Total War: Shogun, Rome, and Medieval.
- How Warhammer revitalized the franchise with asymmetrical factions and fantasy settings.
- Declining reception for recent historical titles like Pharaoh and Thrones of Britannia.
- Dream projects: Empire 2, Medieval 3, and the untapped potential of the Renaissance and Victorian eras.
- Speculation on future Total War titles, including Warhammer 40K and Star Wars.
The conversation began with a nostalgic look at the early Total War games, focusing on how Rome: Total War and Medieval: Total War defined the series with massive scale and epic battles. Joe reflected on Medieval as his entry point to the genre, while Al noted how Rome introduced him to grand strategy. Tim highlighted the accessibility of these games, with their balance of manageable strategy and thrilling battles.
Nuno argued that the franchise has lost its way in recent years, with repetitive gameplay and a lack of meaningful innovation in its historical titles. Pharaoh and Thrones of Britannia were cited as examples of diminishing returns, as CA struggled to capture the magic of earlier releases. Tim agreed, pointing to a lack of bold changes and fresh mechanics in recent historical entries.
The discussion shifted to the Warhammer era, which reinvigorated the franchise with its unique factions, magic, and larger-than-life battles. Joe praised the asymmetrical gameplay, while Nuno emphasized how Warhammer 2 became CA’s most successful title, introducing distinct objectives and faction diversity. However, Tim critiqued the series for leaning too heavily on rock-paper-scissors mechanics, saying the formula feels dated.
Looking ahead, the hosts explored potential new settings for Total War. Joe expressed excitement for the rumored Warhammer 40K game, envisioning massive space battles and Galactic campaigns. Tim proposed a real-time campaign map to bring fresh life to the series, while Nuno suggested a Renaissance setting, with its blend of muskets, pikes, and emerging Naval warfare. Al championed Empire 2 and Medieval 3 as must-haves for historical fans, highlighting the rich potential for improved mechanics and scale.
The hosts also speculated on CA’s rumored Star Wars game, questioning how the franchise’s mechanics would adapt to Galactic warfare and smaller-scale infantry battles. Al noted the need for a new engine to handle the unique challenges of these settings, including massive space engagements and more dynamic land combat.
The episode wrapped with a discussion on what Total War needs to remain relevant. The consensus was that while the series has leaned on its established formula for too long, there’s plenty of room for innovation—whether it’s in setting, mechanics, or scale.
Listeners can find this episode on on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Next week, the podcast will explore the franchises and universes that deserve their own strategy games. Don’t miss it.
