Well considering everyone on my friends list has forgotten about their lives for this new rome2 game.. I'm guessing it's quite good.

I tried playing as Sparta yesterday on Normal and went to attack Knossos. My army wasn't nearly large enough and I ragequit (had to wake up super early today anyway). Will start a new game, again as Sparta, probably this weekend.

Yeah it's really poorly optimized. Haven't had a chance to play too much yet though.

I think you need some advice on spartans.

if they add SLI and a wee bit better optimization, it'd be pretty coo.

Depending on when the game is set (time period wise) Sparta was pretty weak by the time the Romans started really getting down and dirty on everybody - although they still didn't actually attack sparta in an all out war (they fought a few battles here and there) and then just signed a treaty whereby sparta became a vassal state of Rome - in essence retaining its independence until its cultural identity became fully integrated into Rome's.

if youre not playing rome, carthage, or parthia youre losing

also still have yet to get past turn 18 on legendary difficult with Rome

I actually never took interest in the battle system in total war games, I always simulated, much mmore interested in the strategic aspect of the game (altough battles also have strategy but its much more boring for me), but is the Rome 2 battle system any good?

I've heard mixed things. I love the hell out of Shogun 2 and contemplated getting this. Will wait til I read more about it.

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/81021-Review-from-an-Anonymous-Developer?s=348564fc8ded6fb15f0927df8befaaec&p=685384&viewfull=1#post685384

this is the best one i think, the guy sounds like a fucking maniac, ahahaha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdpIENG0Y2k

rome 2: http://i.imgur.com/mpLB5tS.jpg

Total war series has always been bad ass. I havent ran into too many of the AI issues with Rome 2, but apparently CA is planning on doing weekly patches, which sounds pretty nice.

I'm really pleased with some of the changes to the series made in this iteration. The cities seem to manage pretty well, and I like that you get bonuses for holding Provinces.

50 turns in (I think) on my Roman campaign. Pretty fun, senate stuff is kinda whatevs, looking forward to trying Sparta and the other civz.

I'm honestly concerned with Online battles, and Co-op campaigns which is/was horrifically buggy in Shogun 2.