Left 4 Dead

Now I know what you are going to say L4D is not a strategy game but a first person shooter instead. Well if you believe that you have never played L4D. Imagine you are stranded on a roof top with three other tragic unfortunate souls. Now imagine that the city is overrun by flesh eating zombies and oh yes mutated monsters. Now here is where the strategy comes into play. You and your companions must fight your way through the city and to a roof top rescue high on top of Mercy Hospital. By the way the scenario I am referring to is called NO MERCY and believe you me it is just that. With a good plan and teamwork who knows you might just make it out alive. Then again the odds say you are more likely to end up as dinner. I am not a fan of first person shooter games but trust me when I say you will be hooked from the first zombie horde attack. The best part is the game evolves never playing the same way twice so you never know what to expect no matter how many times you play. And the part about working together to get out alive is key to your survival. If you have thoughts of running when one of your team mates is down think again. You might escape that attack but when your alone your about to be dead. There are four characters to choose from and 5 scenarios if you don't count the many mods made for the game. L4D also has different styles of play with the coop I just mentioned and a verses mode where you play as a team switching back and forth as the humans and the infected. That's right you can be the monsters bringing down your rival team. And for you sadists out there there is survival mode which is a sick joke because you will never survive. You see in survival mode the zombie horde keep attacking until your whole party is dead. The goal is to see who can live the longest but make no mistake you will die at some point count on it. So if you love strategy and a challenge then try L4D it will turn your hair white!

American Campaign

In this campaign you have 7 playable factions Spain,Aztecs,Mayans,Apache,Chichimeca,Tlaxcalans and Tarascans. In this campaign I have only played Spain so far. So the only trigger I am aware of is the queen rewarding you for performing certain tasks. I hope to play the Apache some day but feel it will be hard with a weak economy to build on. Well that is the 4 expansion campaigns and I would highly recommend buying it if you have MTW2. If you have not purchased MTW2 yet what the hell is wrong with you?:)

Crusades Campaign

Have you ever seen the movie Kingdom Of Heaven? Well if you have then this campaign is a lot like the movie. There are 5 playable factions Kingdom Of Jerusalem,Principality Of Antioch,Egypt,Turks and Byzantium. The trigger in this one is the pope ordering European nations to pick up the crusade. This has an interesting twist in that some of the crusading armies turn on their allies. My favorite in this campaign is Jerusalem and as in all the campaigns the units are unique to that particular campaign. As I said before you will never get bored playing this game with the expansion added on to MTW2.

Teutonic Campaign

In this campaign you have 6 playable factions. The Teutonic Order,Lithuania,Denmark,Novgorod,Poland and the Holy Roman Empire. I prefer the Teutonic Order because their Knights are so cool looking. Once again you are playing on a unique map for this precise campaign. This one has a trigger in which European kings come to the Teutonic Order asking for assistance in killing Pagans. Depending on how successful they are you receive a handsome reward.

Kingdoms Expansion For MTW2

Well if you thought MTW2 could not get any better think again. Four new campaigns are in the expansion pack. Lets start with the Britannia Campaign which allows 5 playable factions. They are England,Ireland,Scotland,Wales, and Norway. No matter which faction you choose at some point in the game you will receive a hero. For example the Scots get Brave Hearts William Wallace. And yes he looks like Mel Gibson from the movie. The English get Richard the Lionhearted so I think you get the picture. In this campaign you are a ruler trying to unite Great Britain. Each of the 4 new campaigns has it's own sound track adding to the enjoyment.

Medieval Total War 2 and expansion Kingdoms

What is best in life? To crush your enemies see them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women. If you agree then Medieval Total war 2 is for you. This installment of Total War is a visual feast to the eyes. From the Huge citadel to the fields and forests no detail was overlooked. The clash of shields and swords to the thundering sound of charging cavalry. As in Rome Total War there are no sea battles other than a simulation but no matter. MTW 2 delivers big time! One new aspect is you have to set your navies up in regions of oceans in order to establish trade. And speaking of trade Merchants are introduced to enhance trade income. Also religion plays an important part in managing the game. Event triggers are also placed in the game to add to the realism. From the onset of the plague to the invasion of the Mongols. Another interesting trigger is the finding of the new world. Trust me when I say you will find yourself playing for hours on end. And the replay ability of this game is enormous. Start your kingdom build your armies then build your empire. You are king and it is up to you to rule wisely. Are you up to the challenge?

Empire Total War

If you ever wondered what it would be like to see our country born than wonder no more. Empire Total War takes you back to when are founding fathers were just forming our great nation. From the politics and administration decisions to managing a fledgling economy. Making trade deals and forming alliances to building an army and navy that will shape the new world. Empire Total War offers all this and more. The smoke from musket fire to the blasts of the cannons. The bugle calls to the beat of the marching drums and the sound of the charge. The battles on land come to life in a way you will swear you were there when our great nation struggled to survive. But that is not all my friends for with this installment of Total War we finally get to command mighty fleets at sea. Yes the navel battles are a sight to behold and will challenge even the best of us. To blasting holes in the enemies hull to using grape shot to punish the crew. To setting ships on fire and watching them sink to the bottom. Or if you prefer moving along side and boarding your enemy's ship to capture a wealthy prize. There are so many variables that the replay ability will keep you busy for months and months. For those who do not like lengthy campaigns there is a great online community to test your skills in single or group battles on land and sea. If it sounds like I am in love with this game than you would be correct. I will be playing Empire Total War for years to come!