Don't let the Total War part fool you. There's a lot more to Medieval II than commanding armies. Players will still be able to march hundreds of soldiers across large battlefields in sun, rain or snow. The game engine and graphics that powered Rome: Total War spices up this sequel, and the steel clad soldiers have never looked better.

However, the Medieval Age was about more than clashing swords. War included plenty of politics. Players will have to delve into every aspect, including strategic marriages to improve relations between nations and making a good impression on the Pope.

The Medieval Age defines power in two ways: Land ownership and religion. Territory is easy enough to obtain, generally players take a substantial army to a city and wiping out anything that stands in the way. Keeping those new territories, on the other hand, is a different story. The turn-based side of Total War bears a strong resemblance to games like Civilization. Players look out onto a world map and manage their cities, making sure all the inhabitants are happy. Cities need to be developed to accommodate larger populations and discourage rebellion. Marriages need to be established to birth a worthy heir to the throne. A healthy economy, complete with trade, needs to be established. Even economics becomes a form of warfare, since merchants can destroy rivals by running them out of business and stealing their assets. Most of all, armies need to be raised and put into battle so that generals gain experience. Generals then elevated by becoming spiritual leaders and give their soldiers moral boosts, or tyrants who instill fear in both their enemies and citizens.

Keeping the faith can be even harder than building an empire. At this point in history, the Catholic Church is at the height of its power. Most kings didn't have the power to stand against the might of the Pope. In addition to keeping the coffers full and an army at the ready, churches will have to be built so that priests can be sent out into the world and spread the word of religion. Heretics and witches will need to be denounced, otherwise the Church may send an Inquisitor in who will remove the "undesireables," but might also put a general or even a faction leader on trial for heresy.

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