Total War: Pharaoh is coming soon, on October 11th, and will boast a host of features that players can dive into at launch.
Creative Assembly and Sega announced Total War: Pharaoh in May. The next historical Total War game will take players back to 1200 BC, the beginning of the Bronze Age collapse. The next century will see the decline of Egypt and the fall of the once mighty Hittite Empire. But it was also a period of technological development, with the rapid spread of ironworking throughout the ancient world.
From October 11th, Total War: Pharaoh players can rewrite history as they lead their nation to victory.
Creative Assembly has unveiled a good sneak peek of the game, including an extended look at the alpha gameplay of the various factions.
These include a host of new features coming to the game. Here’s a quick recap of everything Creative Assembly has revealed so far about Total War: Pharaoh.
Total War: Pharaoh – here are the main features of the gameplay:
- Turn-based grand strategy and real-time battles
- Map stretching from Anatolia to Nubia
- Three Cultures: Egyptian, Canaanite, and Hittite
- Eight playable factions with unique perks
- Dynamic weather
- Dynamic fires
- Gods that provide buffs to factions that worship them
- Late-game Sea People invasion
- Egyptian and Hittite Court positions
- Occupy Sacred Land to build Legitimacy and become Egyptian Pharaoh or Hittite King
- Throne claimants can equip different crowns, providing unique benefits
- “Pillars of Civilization” Mechanics representing the Bronze Age Collapse
- Extensive Campaign Customization options
- Players can construct Outposts outside of Cities
- Garrison Outposts provide reinforcements in battle
- “Royal Decrees” tech tree unlocking various bonuses
- Leader Skill Trees
- Night-Day Cycle
- Changing seasons affect resource production
The map for Total War: Pharaoh’s Campaign spans the ancient Middle East, from the Egyptian province of Kush in modern-day Sudan to Anatolia in modern-day Turkey. In the south, four Egyptian factions dominated the war for the throne. Meanwhile, two playable Hittite factions are fighting for Anatolia. And two Canaanite factions are caught between the crumbling empires to the north and south.
But invading Sea People and the impending Bronze Age collapse threaten to bring them all to their knees.
The game’s mascot is the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, although he is not the only one vying for the Egyptian throne. Princes Amenmesse and Seti are actively vying for the title of Pharaoh. While Seti’s wife, Tausret, is preparing to capitalize on the deadlock. In the north, Hittite leaders Kurunta and Suppiluliuma are fighting for control of Anatolia. Meanwhile, the Canaanite factions are led by the brutal warlord Irsu and the scheming manipulator Bay. Both seek to profit from the empire’s civil wars. Each of the eight leaders has unique skills and units, encouraging a radically different style of play.
Inevitable decline or triumphant return?
But players are not just fighting against other factions. Sea nations are on their way to plunder destabilized empires. Players can try to take them on alone. But they may be better off seeking allies among the other factions. The “Sea People Invasion” is also linked to Total War: Pharaoh’s “Pillers of Civilization” mechanic, which simulates the rapid onset of the Bronze Age collapse.
Scattered across the map are 19 significant cities representing the centres of Bronze Age civilization. War, plague, famine and other disasters can permanently damage these settlements. Thus weakening all three societies. Higher levels of collapse increase the frequency of disasters and make attacks by the Sea People more dangerous.
But players can work to reverse the decline or even prevent it altogether.
Another major new feature of Total War: Pharaoh is the dynamic weather system. Battlefields can be obscured by sandstorms. Or they can be drenched by sudden heavy rain. Some units handle different weather conditions better than others. Players must adapt their strategy accordingly.
The new historical Total War game also introduces fire as a game mechanic. Once lit, fire can spread through grass, trees and buildings. It threatens to overwhelm units and destroy settlements. Players can use this to their advantage, burning siege equipment to the ground and setting forests ablaze to engulf enemies.
However, they should be careful when playing with fire, as the flames can be unpredictable and don’t care who they burn.
Another new feature of Total War: Pharaoh is that players will have a wide range of options for how they customize their campaigns. For example, players who feel the game becomes too predictable can choose to randomize the starting location of each faction. Players can also change things like resource abilities, starting money, AI personality, natural disasters, character movement and more.
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