49 people found this review helpful
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Recommended
30.4 hrs last two weeks / 41.8 hrs on record (11.4 hrs at review time)
Posted: 12 Mar, 2023 @ 10:53pm
Product received for free

Total War: Warhammer III Review. The conclusion of the trilogy
Real time: 27 hours.
Note: The game was played for 11 hours on Steam and 16 on Game Pass. (Xbox ID: Nrhildija)
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Feel free to scroll down to the conclusion and score given to the game! :)

Introduction
Total War: Warhammer III is the final part of the trilogy of Total War: Warhammer games, bringing an epic finale that combines all three games into a massive scale. On its own is an impressive title, but it creates one kind of a titan when all three combine. New mechanics keep the campaign interesting, while a complete overhaul to its goals adds exciting divisions across multiple battlefronts. From keeping walls secure with ration to battling demons in another dimension, the expansive universe of Warhammer comes unleashed in this entry.



Discipline leads to Victory.
The primary campaign of Warhammer III comes into play with new armies and gameplay elements to explore. Suppose you choose to play as a demon of chaos. In that case, you can build your monster with different body parts, or if you go into the Cathay race, there is a need for balance to control the storm dragon. The game rewards long-term planning, for there are a lot of factions in play, and early aggressiveness can lead to losing territories to everyone. Building armies, focusing on a task at hand, and preparing for the unexpected are necessary for a commander to win and expand their domain.



With over 100 groups of enemies present, action is always taking place in the realm. From the scurrying Skavens to the divided humans, a good variety keeps you on your toes. Each faction has advantages that lead them to circumvent mechanics or bolster what they are good at. The story's premise is that Ursun, the Bear God of Kislev, is agonizing on the battlefield, and the factions want to be the first ones to get to him. From Kislev trying to save him to demons thirsty to make him into the ultimate offering, each run has its perspective that allows you to explore their setting.

I CONTROL TZEENTCH'S GIFTS TOO!
The demonic dimension features reshaped gameplay as it changes the layout of the field. There are now paths to take, obstructions blocking advancing on certain fronts, and points to control and hold to get ahead of the enemy. Furthermore, each faction will suffer in chaos as they can take damage or be hampered in other ways. There is a focus on the epic of Warhammer III tale as the cinematics deliver impact. The gameplay pressures the player: An army in the realm of demons cannot be in the overworld, and there is a race to see who can get to Ursun faster.

Armies have caveats, too, as Slaneesh demons can seduce enemies to his side in battle, Khorne can spam-free armies when razing, Cathay can deliver goods and have other heroes join them, or Tzeentch can manipulate everyone and create havoc. Tzeentch, in particular, is incredibly fun to play as you can troll other factions with the "Changing of the Ways." It allows the player to give settlements to another coalition, force rebellions, break alliances, or open the gates to a city. Warhammer III has the most variety in its gameplay compared to previous entries, which makes runs feel diverse and wondrous.

Strong Points
The game by itself is excellent, giving a lot to offer in all of its entirety. It is multiplayer, where players can face each other in dominion and land battles to ascertain who is the ultimate commander. If you own the previous games of Total War: Warhammer I and II, you will get the factions from those titles and any DLC faction acquired from them. Holding all of them give the option to play a vast arrange of characters, armies, and units to use in the world of Warhammer Fantasy. The prologue is an excellent way to get newcomers to understand the game in over five hours, while the customization of the Demons of Chaos adds an RPG element to an RTS title.



Sound, Replayability and Bugs
The sound is fantastic, featuring units making a lot of noise on the battlefield, some to an incredible extent (I am watching you, Nurgle!). The soundtrack, as always, makes the action and importance of battle resound through the lands. Characters are well-voice-acted, and I have to come clean here; I enjoy hearing explosive spells casting and Skavens speaking in their usual rat-men speech.

The game itself has a lot of replayability in it. If you combine it with the other two entries, that replayability becomes insane. Add to that the multiplayer and Mortal Empires mode, which features all factions in one campaign, and you will never run out of content. At the very least, it warrants two campaign runs to experience different perspectives between races or mechanics between demons.

There are minor bugs in the game, as sometimes visuals can be inconsistent when battles start, or a campaign might get stuck in turn. Thankfully auto-saving makes most of the issues not a problem, and they can be easily tolerable.

Pros
Cons
  • Great prologue to get newcomers started.
  • The trilogy finally comes together into a massive-scale game!
  • Demon realm battles and story quests are cinematic and exciting!
  • Tons of options and variety between the lord's and armies' mechanics.
  • A bit pricey if you don't own any of the entries and want them all.
  • AI intelligence on the map can sometimes be a bit confusing and erratic.


Conclusion
Total War: Warhammer III is a stunning conclusion to a series of games that all come together. It suffers from minor issues and a hefty price if one wants everything in one to go as a newcomer. Still, it is perfectly playable while keeping those inclusions as to buy later list. The entry adds a lot of new tones and flavor for veterans while being relatively friendly to newcomers, making it a good pick for those who love strategic and management games. Is it worth picking it up? If you own the previous entries, you must get this one and complete the set! If you are new to it, there has never been a perfect spot to get included in the Warhammer world!

9/10 AMAZING

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