Info about Total War: PHARAOH:

Official game description:
DYNASTIES UPDATE OUT NOW
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Wage total war across the ancient world from the Aegean to Mesopotamia in this free addition to Total War: PHARAOH.
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REVIEWS
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"Historical Total War is back, baby"  
8/10 - **IGN**  
"Total War: Pharaoh is a success"  
8/10 - **PC Gamer**  
"Total War: PHARAOH is a smashing success"  
9/10 - **But Why Tho**
About the Game
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In Total War: PHARAOH immerse yourself in ancient Egypt at the zenith of its power and experience the dramatic events that threaten its destruction. With dynamic real-time battles and incredible turn-based empire management, will you rise to become Egypt’s last great Pharaoh, or a conquering Great King of the Hittites? Or will you take command of the Sea Peoples’ bloodthirsty hordes and drive the Bronze Age Collapse?  
With the Bronze Age Collapse looming and the dark sails of the Sea Peoples filling the horizon the people of Egypt cry out for a new leader. Many desire the power of the throne, but the path to becoming Pharaoh is a perilous one. Unearth a breathtakingly vibrant recreation of the Bronze Age Collapse as you battle societal disarray, face natural disasters and fight to protect your people against waves of invaders.  
Enemy armies aren’t the only challenges to overcome on the battlefield. Lead your soldiers through sudden and dramatic shifts in weather, such as torrential rain and sandstorms, and witness the tides of battle turn as it directly impacts the surrounding terrain. Beware the threat of fire too, as battles can become engulfed in flames, striking and spreading across the battlefield as it burns forests and damages the foundations of enemy settlements.  
Prove your legitimacy to become Pharaoh, Great King of the Hittites, or command the invasion of the Sea Peoples, and expand your growing empire on a campaign map that spans the rich cultural hubs of Egypt, Canaan and Anatolia. With a choice of ten Faction Leaders, step into their unique playstyles and take charge of diverse unit rosters. Whether you’re charming the courts as a peerless diplomat, charging into battle as an unwavering commander or causing chaos as a fearless warlord, become a leader that history will remember.  
On your journey to becoming Pharaoh, uncover a beautifully lush and vibrant recreation of ancient Egypt at the height of its power. From the fertile banks of the river Nile to the windswept, arid deserts of the Sinai Peninsula and the mountainous crags of ancient Anatolia, this magnificent visual reimagining brings the beauty and brutality of Egypt’s most tumultuous era to life.  
With a brand-new Campaign Customisation feature, no two campaigns will ever feel the same. Determine how you play with an extended range of campaign customisation options, such as random starting positions for all factions, detailed resource settings, the ability to toy with natural disasters and much more. With an abundance of options, stack the odds against yourself for an added challenge or become an unmatched power to breeze your way to victory.

Release date: Oct 11, 2023

Categories: Grand Strategy, Turn-based Strategy, Real-time Tactics, Historical Simulation, Resource Management, Faction Management, Dynamic Weather, Diplomacy

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game is heavily criticized for its monetization practices, particularly regarding the pricing of the base game and its DLCs. Players feel that the content does not justify the cost, leading to a perception of greed and dissatisfaction. The DLC model is also criticized for being exploitative and not providing sufficient value. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as aggressive and predatory, significantly impacting the user experience negatively.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Positive Educational Content; summary: The user feedback highlights a strong appreciation for the instructional and educational content provided within the game. The in-game encyclopedia and detailed historical references are noted as significant positive aspects, enhancing the learning experience and overall gameplay.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent graphics and visuals (weight 0.53): The game features impressive visuals, detailed animations, and improved graphics. Players appreciate the modern mechanics and the overall aesthetic appeal, including beautiful cities and varied building designs.
- Outpost system adds dynamism (weight 0.3): The outpost system is a notable addition that adds dynamism and interesting mechanics to the campaign. It encourages robust gameplay and provides potential for strategic depth.
- Dynamic weather and battles (weight 0.29): Battles are enhanced by dynamic weather and environmental effects, making them visually impressive and strategically interesting. The weather system adds a layer of complexity and realism to the combat.
- Historical accuracy and atmosphere (weight 0.23): The game is praised for its historical accuracy and detailed atmosphere, which immerses players in the period. The setting and cultural elements are well-researched and compelling.
- Large and well-designed map (weight 0.16): The game features a large and well-designed map, providing ample space for strategic gameplay and exploration. The map design is appreciated for its detail and variety.
- Complex campaign mechanics (weight 0.16): The campaign mechanics are noted for their complexity and interconnection, providing a deep and engaging strategic experience.
- Interesting resource management (weight 0.16): The resource management system is well-implemented and adds a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay, making it a central aspect of the game.
- Immersive and tactical combat (weight 0.14): Combat is described as immersive and tactical, with a focus on strategic depth and varied unit properties. The game offers a rich and engaging combat experience.
- Stable performance and optimization (weight 0.14): The game runs smoothly with good optimization and performance, with no major bugs or crashes reported. This stability enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Engaging and fun gameplay (weight 0.12): The gameplay is described as engaging and fun, with diverse mechanics that add flavor to the overworld gameplay. Players find the game enjoyable and immersive.
- Unique and distinct factions (weight 0.12): The game features distinct factions with unique units and playstyles, adding variety and strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Customizable elements (weight 0.11): The game offers customizable elements such as leader bodyguards and artifacts, allowing players to personalize their experience and units.
- Atmospheric music and sound design (weight 0.11): The music is atmospheric and characterful, enhancing the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game. The sound design is well-done and contributes to the game's appeal.

Common complaints:
- Poor combat system (weight 0.27): The combat system is criticized for being boring, poorly designed, and lacking in excitement or enjoyment.
- Diplomacy system is flawed (weight 0.25): The diplomacy system is described as broken, underdeveloped, shallow, and ineffective.
- Interface issues (weight 0.24): The user interface is described as too simple, cluttered, confusing, and sometimes eye-straining or ugly.
- Limited unit variety and tactical depth (weight 0.23): Players frequently mention the lack of cavalry and other unit types, which limits tactical options and makes battles repetitive.
- Game feels broken and boring (weight 0.17): Many players report that the game feels broken due to bugs, is not fun to play, and lacks engaging content.
- Lack of innovation and replay value (weight 0.16): The game is seen as repetitive and lacking in innovation, leading to a lack of replay value and recycled gameplay.
- Price not justified (weight 0.16): Players feel that the high price tag is not justified by the content and quality of the game.
- Court system is useless (weight 0.14): The court system is criticized for being simplistic, tedious, and annoying, adding little value to the gameplay.
- Technical issues with freezing and crashing (weight 0.12): The game is reported to have technical issues such as freezing and crashing, affecting the overall experience.
- Poor AI implementation (weight 0.11): The AI is noted for its poor behavior, design, and notable limitations, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Limited factions and strategic options (weight 0.11): Players report limited factions, battle maps, and strategic options, reducing the game's depth and variety.
- Unit visibility and management issues (weight 0.1): Players report difficulties in distinguishing units and managing resources, particularly with certain unit types.

Gameplay feedback:
- Large-scale battles with varied units (weight 0.29): The game features large-scale battles focusing on melee foot units, archers, and chariots. However, some players find the battles long and boring, and there is a noted lack of powerful cavalry.
- Resource management centrality (weight 0.24): Resource management is a significant part of the game, involving multiple resources and trade. It is central due to the scarcity of resources and is intertwined with city-building.
- Turn-based strategy with real-time battles (weight 0.17): The game combines turn-based strategy with real-time tactical battles, offering a mix of strategic planning and immediate combat.
- Diplomacy and strategy mechanics (weight 0.17): Diplomacy and faction interactions are key components of the game, requiring players to engage in strategic planning and resource trading.
- Similar to Troy gameplay (weight 0.16): The gameplay dynamics, combat mechanics, and UI are similar to Total War: Troy, making it familiar to fans of that game.
- Bronze Age historical setting (weight 0.14): The game is set during the Bronze Age, focusing on the historical context and the collapse of the Bronze Age, providing a unique historical strategy experience.
- Dynamic weather affects battles (weight 0.14): The game includes a dynamic weather system that affects battles, changing combat conditions and adding a layer of strategy.
- New mechanics like court intrigue (weight 0.12): The game introduces new mechanics such as court intrigue, resource economy, and diplomacy, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Sea Peoples invasion mechanics (weight 0.11): The game features mechanics related to the invasions of the Sea Peoples, providing a unique strategic challenge.
- Deep grand strategy elements (weight 0.1): The game includes deep strategic and political systems, offering a rich grand strategy experience.
- Unit recruitment and composition (weight 0.09): Unit recruitment is a key aspect, with regional variations and army composition playing significant roles in strategy.
- Settlement and civil war mechanics (weight 0.09): The game features settlement mechanics, including the ability to capture settlements and engage in civil wars.
- Conquest and religion systems (weight 0.09): The game includes systems for conquest and religion, adding layers of strategy and gameplay depth.
- Outpost slots and buffs (weight 0.09): Outpost slots unlock with each city, providing garrisons, temples, and various movement and buff tools, enhancing gameplay dynamics.

Performance notes:
- Frequent crashes and freezes (weight 0.26): Many players report that the game frequently crashes or freezes, impacting the overall gaming experience.
- Performance issues persist (weight 0.23): Players experience poor performance even at low graphics settings, affecting gameplay smoothness.
- Language-specific issues (weight 0.11): There are reports of issues in non-English languages, such as problems with specific game elements not appearing.
- Sound and FPS stuttering (weight 0.07): Sound stuttering and FPS drops are noted, particularly during weather changes and in large battles.
- Memory leaks reported (weight 0.04): There are reports of memory leaks which can degrade performance over time.
- Multiplayer desync issues (weight 0.04): Co-op multiplayer mode suffers from desync issues, affecting the multiplayer experience.
- Improved graphics and lighting (weight 0.04): Some players appreciate the improved graphics and lighting in the game.
- Performance compared to previous titles (weight 0.04): The game is noted to have better optimization compared to previous titles like R2 and Attila.

Recommendations:
- Buy on sale for best value (weight 0.33): Many players recommend purchasing the game during a sale to get the best value for money. This sentiment is echoed across multiple clusters, emphasizing the game's worth at a discounted price.
- Recommended for strategy fans (weight 0.16): The game is recommended for fans of strategy games and the Total War series, particularly those interested in historical settings and customization.
- Ideal for beginners (weight 0.14): The game is considered ideal for beginners in the Total War series due to its user-friendly improvements and accessibility. However, experienced players might find it less appealing.
- Positive reception for historical fans (weight 0.12): Fans of historical titles and the Bronze Age setting are likely to enjoy the game. It is particularly recommended for those interested in ancient history and historical customization.
- Better alternatives available (weight 0.11): Some players suggest that there are better alternatives to this game, such as Troy, Rome 2, or Three Kingdoms. These alternatives are often preferred for their gameplay or features.
- Good for solo players (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for solo players who enjoy single-player experiences. It may not be as suitable for those looking to play with friends.
- Dynasties expansion included (weight 0.06): The game includes the Dynasties expansion, which adds value. However, some players feel that the Dynasties version is superior and recommend waiting for it instead.
- Wait for mods (weight 0.03): Some players suggest waiting for mods to improve the game, indicating that the current version may not fully meet expectations.

Other player notes:
- High initial price (weight 0.04): Complaints about the high initial price of the game.
- Bulk-delete savegames removed (weight 0.04): Users are upset about the removal of the bulk-delete feature for savegames.
- Price reduction after boycott (weight 0.04): Mentions of a price reduction following a boycott.
- Free factions added in January 2024 (weight 0.04): Announcement of free factions being added to the game in January 2024.
- Dynasties feature in Pharaoh (weight 0.04): Players are discussing the dynasties feature in Total War: Pharaoh.
- Playtime and refund concerns (weight 0.04): There are mentions of playtime and concerns regarding the refund policy.
- Future content and monetization (weight 0.04): Discussions about future content and concerns regarding monetization.
- Pre-order and future purchases (weight 0.03): Discussions about pre-ordering the game and considerations for future purchases.
- Blood DLC and optional content (weight 0.03): Mentions of the Blood DLC and other optional content available for the game.
- Personal sentiment and historical context (weight 0.03): Players are sharing their personal sentiments and discussing the historical context of the game.
- Preference for older Total War games (weight 0.03): Some players express a preference for older games in the Total War series.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.32): Players are disappointed due to the game's lack of depth, poor performance, and numerous gameplay issues. The game is criticized for feeling like a reskin of previous titles, lacking innovation, and having a high price for the content offered.
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated with the game's steep learning curve, unbalanced mechanics, and frequent crashes. The game's high difficulty, poor AI behavior, and unresolved performance issues contribute to this frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players are satisfied with the game's graphics, unique setting, and solid battle fundamentals. The game offers good value for money, especially with free add-ons and positive updates.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's historical setting, ambition, and improvements in historical accuracy. The game's historical context and content are well-received, especially at a sale price.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Players find the game boring due to repetitive gameplay mechanics and lack of excitement. The repetitive soundtrack and unengaging gameplay contribute to this boredom.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players are excited about the game's depth, cinematic qualities, and engaging gameplay. The quest for the Egyptian throne and the overall positive gameplay experience contribute to this excitement.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players are angry due to the game's poor performance, lack of innovation, and focus on political mechanics over warfare. Multiplayer issues and performance problems add to this anger.
- Disappointment (weight 0.02): Players express disappointment with the game's small scale, lack of unit diversity, and various gameplay issues. The high price and lack of content contribute to this deception.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoy the game's historical atmosphere and large-scale wars. The game becomes enjoyable once mechanics are understood, offering a rich and interesting experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's positive experience and historical flavor. The game's features and historical context generate excitement and recommendations.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Players are interested in the game's innovative historical legacy elements. The game sparks interest in history, offering unique and engaging content.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the positive experience despite negative reviews. The game's fascinating historical period and unexpected enjoyment contribute to this surprise.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's detailed and innovative gameplay mechanics. The stable performance compared to other games adds to this satisfaction.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the game's confusing interface and shift in focus from battles to administration. The game feels abandoned and lacks depth.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players express joy with the game's beautiful graphics, great battles, and well-balanced diplomacy. The rich history and pleasant soundtrack contribute to this joy.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's new and interesting mechanics. The customization options in the campaign spark this curiosity.
- Frustration (weight 0.01): Players are frustrated with the game's reused elements from TW Troy, broken siege battles, and frequent crashes. The terrible UI and broken economy system add to this frustration.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's high-level art and design, interesting resources, and changes in character progression. The incredible graphics and well-made campaign map contribute to this appreciation.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgia for a true Total War experience. The game evokes memories of previous Total War titles, generating a sense of nostalgia.
- Upset (weight 0.01): Players are upset due to feeling like they wasted money on the game. The lack of value and poor gameplay experience contribute to this upset.}