Sphinx and you’ll miss it
In case you’re wondering, I’ve checked with the authorities and yes, PHARAOH should be written in all capitals, making a laughing stock ofall previous RPS reporting. If it feels unnatural, try to imagine that you’re bellowing the game’s title from the summit of a pyramid, so as to remind your embattled subjects of your magnificence. RPS boss Katharine behaves similarly in morning meetings. “EDITOR-IN-CHIEF,” she roars at us repeatedly, until somebody rushes her the daily traffic reports, a steaming goblet of sphinx eggs and a gif of a crafty kill in Shadow Gambit.
Total War: PHARAOH - Campaign Map FlyoverWatch on YouTube
Speaking of Katharine, she’s just published a piece aboutTotal War: PHARAOH’s brand new dedicated tutorial campaignand various other new strategic mechanics. These include “extensive religious strands and deity-related buffs”, plus “court-jostling” and the prospect of the collapse of the Bronze Age. It’s been a while since I’ve played historical Total War - there’s so much Warhammer to get through - but it all sounds enticing.
If you are overcome with daydreams of PHARAONIC opulence and just can’t resist, you can preorder the game to participate in an early access play session from 29th September to 2nd October. This features a couple of factions, “prestigious Ramesses and the barbaric Irsu”, and grants you 60 turns of strategic campaign gameplay, with no limit on replay within that period. Preordering also nabs you a couple of cosmetic packs, Avatar of the Gods and Heart of the Shardana.
There are unfortunatelyno plans to literalise Ancient Egyptian mythologywithin Total War: PHARAOH, though it sounds like the game’sfactionswill be quite eccentric enough without you enlisting e.g. an army of golden cobras. Look out for more Total War: PHARAOH news in - actually, I’m tired of writing it in all-caps now. It’s giving me little finger strain! How am I supposed to micro-manage my Hittite legions with a busted little finger, SEGA?
