14 DAY TRIAL // Total War: Attila is the new project from developer The Creative Assembly and publisher SEGA, and the two companies are ready to start detailing some of the core elements of the strategy title by offering a full presentation for one of the most important factions that will be included, the Eastern Roman Empire.
As the various barbarian threats descended on Rome itself, the power center of the empire has shifted over time towards Constantinople, which resulted in the development of more trade with the Near East and other fiscal reforms that allowed for armies to be recruited to face down invaders.
The official site states, "The East has safely weathered the storm of barbarian migration, often by diverting them into the West. However, the young Emperor Arcadius will have to negotiate barbarian threats, court intrigues, and the ever-present Sassanid menace to ensure that the last light of the Roman Empire continues to burn."
The presence of the faction was all but confirmed by the initial screenshots and trailers linked to Total War: Attila, and the developers reveal that, when the campaign starts, gamers will have a fairly secure position with a lot of potential for expansion, although they will have to deal with the Visigoth armies of Alaric, which are moving into Thracia and Macedonia.
Total War: Attila offers a new take on war
Total War: Attila will use the same engine as Rome 2, but with a series of enhancements which are designed to improve the way warfare is portrayed and with a focus on the savagery that the tribes of the East brought with them.
Gamers will have the option of abandoning settlements that they can no longer protect and will need to deal with the debilitating effects of plagues and climate change, which can make it even harder to feed all the population.
At the same time, battles will be enhanced in Attila by the different ways fire can be used, both on the defensive to cut off attacking routes and on the offensive to take out structure and scare defenders, with realistic spread patterns.
The Creative Assembly also promises that the AI of the new strategy title will be smarter both on the campaign map and during the real time tactical battles.
Total War: Attila is at the moment set to be launched on the PC and will be offered at some point in 2015, probably in the fall.
