Unleashing the Epic Power of Pharaoh: A Game Changer in Total War

Total War: Pharaoh transports you back to 1,200 BCE, a time when Egypt asserted its dominance over North Africa. Meanwhile, Canaanites and Hittites competed for control in the Levant and Anatolia. This era eventually culminated in the Bronze Age Collapse, characterized by incessant warfare and calamities preceding the invasion of the Sea Peoples.

In a previous article, we discussed the combat mechanics in our hands-on battle preview of Total War: Pharaoh. Now, I had the opportunity to experience the first 50 turns of Ramesses III's campaign. Having played all the Total War games since the original Rome, I can confidently state that this installment may be the most content-rich offering among the historical titles. However, I also observed a few issues and potential game mechanics that could lead to contrived situations, although there is still time for these to be resolved prior to the game's release.

There are numerous options available before starting the campaign that significantly alter gameplay. You have the ability to modify mechanics such as resource availability, inclusion of deities for different cultures, attrition damage, frequency of disasters, campaign movement, diplomatic opinion thresholds, and more. Additionally, there are toggles for maxed-out general levels, rebellions, and Sea People invasions. The basic difficulty settings are no longer restrictive, as there is a wide range of options to fully customize your experience.

From there, I initiated my conquest by defeating neighboring factions using Ramesses' elite Medjay troops. It is important to mention that Pharaoh, set in the Bronze Age, does not feature flaming catapults, cannonfire, or mounted cavalry. Warfare primarily revolves around melee infantry and ranged units such as archers and slingers. Chariots are not available in the early stages due to their high maintenance cost.

As a result, combat tends to slow down, with troops continuously engaging in melee until one side retreats. Additionally, as the battle progresses, changing weather conditions can impact your forces. Excessive heat can fatigue your troops, and sandstorms can cause reduced visibility and casualties. Furthermore, the durability of armor diminishes over time, so it is important to be mindful of units engaged in prolonged fighting.

You can experience battles under the scorching Saharan sun or in the damp marshlands of the Nile. Unlike the dazzling commander or legendary lord abilities seen in games like Warhammer or Three Kingdoms, Pharaoh takes us back to an earlier era where generals were solely surrounded by their bodyguards. There are no fancy features, not even an Aristeia-like activation similar to Total War Saga: Troy. Best case scenario, there are abilities that offer buffs and debuffs. For me, this created a more realistic experience but it may vary for other Total War veterans.

Skills have been streamlined, with the introduction of three distinct "lines" (Presence/red, Fortitude/green, and Ardor/blue), each offering their own buffs. And as you reach certain milestones, you'll have the ability to add titles, which are buffs that can be interchanged. For instance, Ramesses' Shield of the Medjay provides bonuses to melee defense and recruitment rank for his Medjay units. Additionally, the Sand Walker title grants his army immunity to desert attrition, which is incredibly valuable considering the frequent traversing of the Saharan and Arabian deserts.

Players familiar with Troy's barter system and aesthetics will immediately feel comfortable in Pharaoh, which makes sense as both titles were developed by Creative Assembly Sofia. Diplomatic negotiations can be enhanced by offering food, wood, marble, bronze, and gold. Furthermore, players will be treated to visually stunning distant horizons and a campaign map dotted with iconic landmarks and cultural symbolism.

The map, too, undergoes transformations with each harvest or flood season, significantly impacting your food resources in the long term. In addition to these elements, you establish outposts: smaller non-settlements that have various effects on the region, such as enhanced favor for a deity, increased resource production, additional legitimacy, or even a fort that automatically reinforces a besieged settlement. Similarly, religion plays a crucial role as faction leaders can select from a wide range of gods to worship, including those from different cultures.

Total War: Pharaoh's campaign map is visually stunning, featuring ever-changing landscapes with each passing season. Speaking of cycles, Total War: Pharaoh notifies you of the Shemsu Hor event every five turns. This event serves to utilize your actions in court and provides campaign buffs. In the case of Ramesses, this allows his army to launch an attack while in march stance, with all soldiers fully rejuvenated for battle. Overall, I discovered that the modifications to existing mechanics and the introduction of new elements added strategic depth, creating a highly dynamic campaign experience during the initial portion that I played.

Furthermore, this game introduces exciting new gameplay mechanics, such as Royal Traditions that determine whether you will compete for the prestigious role of Pharaoh of Egypt or the esteemed title of Great King of the Hittites. Additionally, Ambitions are now available, which are similar to missions but offer a selection of three or more options that can align with your immediate plans.

These mechanics lead to captivating Ancient Legacies, where you can endeavor to follow in the footsteps of renowned historical rulers. By embracing the Egyptian Royal Tradition, you can aspire to be the next Thutmose by focusing on military conquests, Hatshepsut by exploring commerce and trade, Akhenaten by establishing the worship of Aten, or Khufu by constructing magnificent wonders. In my playthrough, I chose to emulate Thutmose the Conqueror as Ramesses, allowing me to select a designated capital as my target. Each turn, I had the opportunity to spend gold to bolster my forces or inflict destabilizing effects.

This was my initial encounter with a potential "gamey" mechanic: I found myself able to complete various preparations prior to conquering a faction's capital, yet that faction never showed resistance. It's worth noting that I was playing on normal difficulty and did not adjust the AI's aggressiveness. It almost seemed as if I was clearing my path to victory, while the opposing force simply watched and waited for the inevitable outcome.

By following in the footsteps of Thutmose the Conqueror, you can weaken a city and reinforce your own troops. Furthermore, I observed a similar situation when utilizing the Pharaoh's Royal Court feature. Within this feature, you'll encounter six lords who hold important positions. What ensues is a plot system reminiscent of Crusader Kings, where you engage in gossip, discredit, blackmail, and threats to remove individuals from power, all with the aim of occupying their seat on the council. This grants additional benefits, such as the Viceroy of Kush gaining access to Kushite Mercenaries or the High Priest of Amun earning greater favor with deities.

Surprisingly, I managed to initiate three plots against a council member, and cleverly incorporated them into my own conspiracy, thus ensuring their involvement in their own downfall. This situation seems unlikely to occur and is likely to be rectified soon. Additionally, I discovered ways to exploit the system, such as engaging in casual gossip with the Viceroy of Kush and then effortlessly requesting 250 gold from them every Shemsu Hor, with minimal restrictions. I utilized this gold to strengthen my conquests and acquire any resources I lacked. It is important to note that, similar to Thutmose's conquest method, your plots and schemes operate independently from diplomatic relations. Consequently, even if another warlord uncovers your attempts to discredit or remove them from power, it will not result in any diplomatic penalties. I found this peculiar since there should be consequences for my political maneuvering and military buildup.

As a result, my Total War: Pharaoh campaign descended into a highly chaotic situation. Although Pharaoh Merneptah initially held the title at the beginning of the game, the legitimacy of other lords progressively increased as the game continued. Eventually, this led to a full-fledged civil war among all claimants to the throne.

I was surprised when Merneptah was eliminated around turn 30. However, by turn 40, more pretenders emerged despite Ramesses' comfortable legitimacy of over 100, prolonging the civil war. As the turn 50 limit approached, it seemed like every leader in Egypt, and possibly their mothers, also became pretenders. It reminded me of playing Crusader Kings III as the Byzantine Empire, with a multitude of claimants seeking bloodshed. Unfortunately, this prevented me from consolidating my realm as Pharaoh within the allotted turns. Maybe I'll give it another try in a different playthrough.

I would also compare it to Total War: Attila since you have to confront the Sea Peoples. It's like witnessing the fall of the Western Roman Empire, as numerous barbarian hordes breach the gates. The invasion of the Sea Peoples is linked to the Pillars of Civilization mechanic, representing the overall development of your realm, including provincial capitals and other factors. If your civilization thrives, you'll only face a few raids from weaker armies. However, as it stagnates, you'll witness the arrival of terrifying forces from across the seas, bringing doom and destruction. Since reasoning or bargaining with the Sea Peoples is futile, you must be prepared when they sail down the Nile, to prevent them from ravaging and pillaging your lands.

At the time of writing, it remains uncertain whether this mechanic is influenced by the actions of other Egyptian lords. Personally, I do not believe it is, which inadvertently made me appear as the only ray of hope amidst the impending collapse. While this may sound heroic, it is important to note that I also had to contend with numerous challengers, all while dealing with relentless raiders.

In summary, I stand by my previous statement that Total War: Pharaoh could possibly be the most comprehensive historical title in the franchise. Right from the beginning, I felt overwhelmed by the multitude of options available for customization and fine-tuning, as well as the intricate mechanics I had to grasp. Consequently, a Ramesses campaign following a specific path would yield significantly diverse outcomes compared to taking an alternative route, such as attaining the esteemed position of the Great King of the Hittites or embarking on the Khufu Ancient Legacy, which requires the construction of wonders.