Total War: Pharaoh Review
The series has returned to our history, and the new installment has taken us to Egypt to compete for the position of a pharaoh in a more complex experience than ever before.
Creative Assembly, the studio behind the Total War franchise, has explored various historical eras, from the Mongol invasion (Shogun: Total War) and Viking raids (Medieval: Total War) to Napoleon’s campaigns (Napoleon: Total War) and the Hunnic conquests (Total War: Attila). With the support of Games Workshop, they also took the series into the realm of fantasy with Total War: Warhammer 1–3.
For players who enjoyed episodes that delved into human history, recent years have left them somewhat disappointed. They felt that when the development team wasn’t focused on the Warhammer universe, historical accuracy was more of an optional game mode rather than a central development goal, as seen in titles like Three Kingdoms and Troy. Total War: Pharaoh is Creative Assembly’s response to these complaints.
Creative Assembly Sofia has chosen a time period that few video games have explored before: the end of the Bronze Age and the eastern Mediterranean. The game not only focuses on Egypt but also includes the region of Canaan (which today is shared by Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria) and parts of Anatolia. The campaign starts around 1200 BC when Pharaoh Merenptah is called to the heavens, triggering power struggles among his heirs. In addition to the contenders for the title, various factions of the Hittite Empire and two lords active in Canaan will also influence events, just scratching the surface of the complexities.
All of this culminates in what is known as the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations, a time when constant wars and disasters preceded the invasion of the sea peoples, a term used for warrior groups. Players will take on the role of one of the faction leaders and become participants or witnesses of these events. The state of the empire (prosperous, in crisis, or on the brink of collapse) affects gameplay, the intensity of the sea peoples’ invasion, and even the visuals: the worse the situation, the gloomier the sky.
One of Pharaoh’s strengths is the variety of options and features that ensure no two playthroughs are the same. Various mechanics can be adjusted at the start of the campaign, significantly altering gameplay (such as resource availability, the impact of terrain on soldiers, the role of gods, diplomatic variables, and much more). Even rebellions and the intensity of sea peoples’ invasions can be moderated or intensified. The developers do not limit players to basic difficulty settings, allowing a high degree of customization in the gaming experience, which, based on test runs, keeps the game engaging even on subsequent attempts.
It’s even possible to choose a different starting point by selecting a general or lord to lead your conquest. The emphasis isn’t so much on the leaders themselves but on their bodyguards. Their abilities and strength can be influenced through various items (armor, shields, weapons, relics) and buffs (competencies and titles), obtained through leveling up and battles. Bonuses can be earned by achieving significant milestones (such as becoming a pharaoh, or even higher), and by choosing a previous ruler to follow in their footsteps. The commander’s screen doesn’t offer as much complexity as RPG solutions, but it adds a little extra to the strategies in a clear and understandable way that integrates seamlessly into gameplay.
The same can be said for the map, which is noteworthy given that many journalists who had the opportunity to play the game before found it to be the most feature-rich and complex from Creative Assembly Sofia. Players who have experience with A Total War Saga: Troy, also developed by the studio, will find some familiar elements, such as the barter system, diplomacy, and user interface aesthetics.
The team has retained and refined proven elements and spiced up the overall experience with new additions, such as the alternating seasons affecting food sources, the ability to build outposts around cities providing various advantages, and the importance of religion (with multiple gods that grant bonuses). Choosing traditions (determining whether you compete for the title of Egyptian Pharaoh or Hittite Great King), introducing ambitions (setting short-term goals for resource acquisition), and the previously mentioned following of ancestors (focusing on conquest, trade, building wonders, and more) are also significant additions. For example, following Thutmose allows you to select a capital as a target and, each turn, gain reinforcements or cause destabilizing effects in exchange for gold.
It takes time to become familiar with all the mechanics, but even those who have never played a Total War game in their life will find it easy to get acquainted with them, as they are well-integrated and build upon each other. After approximately 10–15 hours of gameplay, players can confidently navigate the map, and the chaos of elements gradually clears, with events logically following each other. However, there are exceptions. The game includes a mechanic called The Royal Court, a vital part of the game consisting of six positions (Treasurer, Chief General, High Priest, Viceroy, and Vizier), where you can plot, threaten, blackmail, and more. To take advantage of these opportunities, you need to interact with individual members of the court, and you have only two actions per turn for all these possibilities.
This adds depth to the game, as you can scheme, request valuable favors, and even appoint your own people to these positions, but it has a drawback: no matter how much you blackmail or remove a court member, it seemingly has no impact on their faction’s relationship with you. It’s also odd that you can plot against someone and then ask them for support without consequences. In Total War: Pharaoh, the relationships between factions are crucial, and a separate system is built for this, which determines movement between territories and diplomacy (non-aggression pacts, trade agreements, military cooperation).
Pharaoh doesn’t disappoint when it comes to putting words into action and taking matters into your own hands. In addition to the faction leader you embody, you can hire generals in various cities and recruit different units each turn (including special units, which require more resources). The buildings that enable these actions can be developed just like any other, be it agricultural, commercial, or cultural, and you must constantly find the right balance between your needs and the available resources or the resources gained through development. You also need to pay attention to the morale of your population and the workforce, as they can easily rebel against you. There’s always something to do; there’s no downtime.
The real threat, however, comes not from peasants armed with pitchforks but from the armies of other factions and raiding nomads. You can monitor the balance of power through the diplomacy tab and plan your conquest accordingly. Depending on the required military operations, you can adjust your army’s stance (marching, preparing for ambush, raiding the region, or camping). The real fun begins when two armies meet or when a siege begins. In the former case, you can see an estimation of your chances on the start screen, and if conditions favor you, you can even entrust the AI to handle the battle automatically. In the case of a siege, you can either attack immediately with siege equipment or wait for the defenders to surrender due to starvation, which takes several turns. When transitioning from the map view to the battlefield, the tactical segment
