As someone who has dedicated a significant amount of time to studying virtual maps, my actual geography skills leave much to be desired. While I may not confuse Africa with a country, I certainly wouldn’t be the first choice for a pub quiz team when it comes to geographical knowledge. Despite my lack of navigational skills, I do find joy in manipulating maps in strategy games like Total War, with Total War: Pharaoh’s being a prime example. The game is now introducing new, distinctly Mesopotamia and Aegea-shaped areas as part of a broader campaign rework. These additions also bring 80 new units spread across four factions, along with enhancements to 70 existing units that have been reworked for the newly introduced Mycenae and Troy factions from A Total War Saga: TROY.
The official press release states, “Players can also expect further improvements to the strategic campaign layer such as the Dynasty system which adds mortality and succession to your faction leaders’ quest to leave behind a legacy that will survive the ages.” Furthermore, the battle layer will see the arrival of over 80 new units for the Mesopotamian factions, in addition to more than 70 reworked units for Mycenae and Troy. This expansion of the game is reminiscent of the speculated ‘Immortal Empires’ concept from Total War: Warhammer, where different game maps are combined into a mega map. It seems like a logical step to utilize existing content and enhance it with new elements to provide players with fresh and engaging gameplay experiences.
It is noteworthy that the ‘Saga’ branding has been dropped for Pharaoh’s expansion, a move that initially caused some controversy as players felt the game was being priced as a smaller-scale ‘Saga’ title. However, this perception has been addressed, and the update is being offered to players completely free of charge. This signifies a positive trend in the redemption of the Total War franchise, as the developers continue to listen to feedback and make improvements to enhance the overall gaming experience. Personally, I have always respected Pharaoh’s as a game, although I believe it could have been even better with additional development time.
Reflections and Apologies
Looking back, I am reminded of my year nine geography teacher who bore a resemblance to Jesus and the Jeepers Creepers monster. In our teenage ignorance, we affectionately referred to him as ‘Jesus Creepers’ instead of paying attention to his lessons. To that teacher, I offer my sincere apologies. Geography, including maps, is undeniably fascinating, and I now wish I had paid more attention to it earlier. The expansion of Total War: Pharaoh’s map serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of gaming and the importance of continuous growth and improvement for both developers and players alike.
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