Make sure you have DirectX 9 installed as DX 10 (which is included with Vista) is not backwards-compatible. One more thing: Despite what the Product description says, it is compatible with Vista. Which I suppose is a mixed blessing, since, once you do figure it out, it provides a great deal of depth. Other than that, it just takes a large time-commitment to wrap your mind around the different factors involved in both the campaign and the battles. Only real complaint I have is that it took an solid hour and a half to install. Properly using the units at hand in the battles is just as important to success as building the right units in the campaign map.

The way the units perform on the battlefield depend on a vast array of factors including experience, Terrain, weather, the command ratings of the respective generals, and more. All the resource management and building takes place on the campaign map so the battles focus on using the forces already at hand to win. The battles, however, are practically another game in themselves, putting you in command of the armies in the field to run in real-time. If you've played any Civ games then you know essentially how it works. The campaign takes place on a top-down 3D-Rendered world map. The gameplay is a wonderful fusion of turn-based 4X style and a different, seldom explored, style of real-time battles. Visual aesthetic is great for every aspect of the game and music incredible. A great game for anyone who thought that Civilizations IV needed more depth.

Total war medieval 2