Rome 2 was abysmal, Attila was riddled with bugs... fret not, here comes Warhammer to save the day! Whilst at its core this is a typical Total War game (with all the good and bad that implies), Creative Assembly have been allowed to really cut loose and go a bit mad. The result is zombie dragons, flaming skulls and dudes that ride mini-griffins, and it's all awesome. With a fantasy setting to run wild in, the campaign finally finds that mix of variety and challenge that so many Total War games before have lacked. The variety of the factions is such a change when contrasted with the poor old historical titles' long list of, "Guys wearing different outfits", and watching Orcs lay into Dwarves is really quite something.

Negatives remain: though their reaction time has improved this time around, CA is still slow to respond to bugs and issues in the game. There are base features of design carried over from previous iterations that still stick in the craw, and the AI, while further enabled by some increased simplification of systems, continues to disappoint in its (allegedly) strategic and tactical thinking. New disappointments loom: the simplification of Siege mode rankles with many, for example.

CA's approach to DLC bears mentioning. It looks a lot like most of the negative Steam reviews for Warhammer revolve around this, and it's an utterly baffling criticism to have when, initial FUBARs regarding the Warriors of Chaos DLC aside, it's all been handled rather well. The initial purchase gives you four great armies. Subsequent DLC has buffed that to a grand total of seven (including the Wood Elves, two days away at time of writing), or eight in multiplayer if you include Bretonnians, who are coming in 2017- for free! At the same time as this, CA have provided a steady flow of free patches and updates to accompany their priced content. People can quibble over the cost, but this is the best way to do DLC, as developers like Paradox have demonstrated.

In summary, then: Total War: Warhammer rises above its predecessors as a colourful, interesting and fun twist on the TW formula. Some of the same old problems remain, but above all it is a glorious success. Praise Sigmar!

Rome 2 was abysmal, Attila was riddled with bugs... fret not, here comes Warhammer to save the day! Whilst at its core this is a typical Total War game (with all the good and bad that implies), Creative Assembly have been allowed to really cut loose and go a bit mad. The result is zombie dragons, flaming skulls and dudes that ride mini-griffins, and it's all awesome. With a fantasy setting to run wild in, the campaign finally finds that mix of variety and challenge that so many Total War games before have lacked. The variety of the factions is such a change when contrasted with the poor old historical titles' long list of, "Guys wearing different outfits", and watching Orcs lay into Dwarves is really quite something. Negatives remain: though their reaction time has improved this time around, CA is still slow to respond to bugs and issues in the game. There are base features of design carried over from previous iterations that still stick in the craw, and the AI, while further enabled by some increased simplification of systems, continues to disappoint in its (allegedly) strategic and tactical thinking. New disappointments loom: the simplification of Siege mode rankles with many, for example. CA's approach to DLC bears mentioning. It looks a lot like most of the negative Steam reviews for Warhammer revolve around this, and it's an utterly baffling criticism to have when, initial FUBARs regarding the Warriors of Chaos DLC aside, it's all been handled rather well. The initial purchase gives you four great armies. Subsequent DLC has buffed that to a grand total of seven (including the Wood Elves, two days away at time of writing), or eight in multiplayer if you include Bretonnians, who are coming in 2017- for free! At the same time as this, CA have provided a steady flow of free patches and updates to accompany their priced content. People can quibble over the cost, but this is the best way to do DLC, as developers like Paradox have demonstrated. In summary, then: Total War: Warhammer rises above its predecessors as a colourful, interesting and fun twist on the TW formula. Some of the same old problems remain, but above all it is a glorious success. Praise Sigmar!