Total War: Pharaoh takes you all the way back to 1,200 BCE, a time when Egypt asserted its dominance over North Africa, while Canaanites and Hittites vied for control in the Levant and Anatolia, respectively. This would, eventually, lead to a period known as the Bronze Age Collapse, where constant wars and disasters preceded the invasion of warriors known as the Sea Peoples.
Previously, we detailed how you engage in combat in our Total War: Pharaoh hands-on battle preview. Now, I was able to try the first 50 turns of Ramesses III’s campaign. Indeed, as someone who has played every Total War game since the original Rome, I can say that this might be the most feature-rich offering in the franchise, at least among the historical titles. However, I also noticed several issues, as well as potential mechanics that can cause rather artificial, “gamey” situations, though there is still time before release for these to be addressed.
Prior to starting the campaign, there is a full assortment of options that meaningfully change the way you play. You can tweak various mechanics, such as the availability of resources, the inclusion of deities for each culture, attrition damage, the frequency of disasters, increased campaign movement, diplomatic opinion thresholds, and more. There are even toggles for maxed-out general levels, rebellions, and Sea People invasions (more on this mechanic later). You’re no longer limited to the basic difficulty settings, as there are a plethora of options to fully customize your experience.