Many of you will have missed the news as it's been surprisingly kept under wraps, but Total War: TROY Steam is happening. Given that the game originally launched almost exactly a year back, you're probably wondering just what is up with that, but the answer is actually pretty simple - A Total War Saga: TROY launched as an Epic Store exclusive.

Given everything that we've learned since, SEGA and Creative Assembly were tied up with an exclusivity contract that's running out in under two weeks' time, and now the game is finally coming out on Steam. Chances are - of course - that some of you will have already played it. This article is primarily designed to get everyone else up-to-speed, however.

Total War: TROY Steam version is coming out on September 2nd, 2021. Before that comes to pass, we'd like to tell you a little something-something about the game, and explain what makes it exciting and interesting in our book. Let's get to it!

Pre-purchase Total War: TROY Steam key today and save money!

3 Reasons to Play Total War: TROY Steam on Launch-Day

The thing about this particular entry in the Total War Saga is that it does a fair few things differently. Some TW classics - such as cavalry - are gone, replaced with different takes on the gameplay mechanics we've come to know and love over the years.

Naturally, the Saga games are perfect for this sort of experimentation. TROY, in particular, is not afraid of taking some big chances. The payoff - as you're about to find out - is pretty awesome.

#3 - It's the Illiad like You've never seen before

This is something that really caught us off-guard. Considering that Creative Assembly - the Total War developers - very clearly can do both fantasy and grounded historical combat well, we weren't sure which direction TROY might take. When we saw that TROY turns Minotaurs, Centaurs, and Giants into regular-ish human troops, we thought that surely this would be a more historically accurate representation of what might've gone down. Alas, no. There are deities present in Total War: TROY, but it's all strangely believable.

The way Creative Assembly went about doing this is actually pretty ingenious. Sure, the "Minotaur" is now a massive, muscled-out ax-wielding maniac that wears an oxen skull on his hood, but you'll also need to appease, say, Aphrodite so that she doesn't turn your generals' families against them. It's utterly unique, truly, and introduces a wealth of new options to the usual theatre of war we're used to seeing.

For example, one of the ways in which you can cozy up with gods is that you can sacrifice animals in their name. Animals which are - naturally - a very valuable source of food out in the field. So, which do you choose? Your troops or your gods? It's a full additional layer of management to keep in mind, but it's a hoot. Overall, the game sets up its mythology very well, and historians may be particularly intrigued by the narrative.

#2 - It's a brisk, yet complex kind of Total War

Total War: Saga games are always somewhat different from the mainline series. Whereas TROY's predecessor - Thrones of Britannia - did away with a number of keystone features and options, this game brings the majority of them back in a big way. The majority of the focus is still on combat, of course, and it's a more streamlined sort of gameplay experience than you'll see in, say, Total War: Warhammer 2. Regardless, lack of complexity is a total non-issue.

We've mentioned gods and sacrificial animals already, but that's not where resources end. You'll need to supply your army with Wood, Stone, Gold, and Bronze in order to keep it operational. Not to mention the necessity of always pushing onwards toward the next capital to conquer, or towards the next resource node to harvest. Having a deficit in one area isn't a major issue, but it does present the player with a clear point of contention before the victory.

With numerous factions vying for resources, the early and mid-game phases of any given match have heaps of momentum. There's always something to work on, always something to be dealing with. Best of all, it all makes perfect sense and engages the player in just the right way.

Further, once you've progressed far enough, you'll be assigned an antagonistic force to fight against. This is going to be a similarly competent faction that has something of a grudge with you. With there being no diplomacy, there's only one way out of that shindig. Trust us - it's a lot of fun.

#1  - It's got the most competent Total War combat AI yet

Another interesting tidbit about TROY is that it's got a surprisingly competent combat AI. Now, don't get us wrong - it's hardly perfect. It has, however, proven to be significantly more agile than what we're used to seeing. It makes sense, too, because combat in TROY leans more heavily towards micromanagement, too. So, the AI won't stick to a rigid tactical approach anymore. If you try something new and, perhaps, a bit ridiculous, the AI will react accordingly.

On that note, this development is almost certainly tied up with the game's unique unit roster. The cavalry, for one, is gone. There are chariots and Centaurs (horseback infantry), for sure, but that's pretty much it. Instead, you'll recruit a wide variety of infantry that fit into different combat roles: Chargers and Defenders. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it all makes perfect sense, given the setting.

Terrain, too, plays a major role mid-combat. You'll need to take into account whether your units will be marching on solid ground or trudging through the mud. Will you bear the brunt of the attack with heavily armored shield-bearers, or will you forego defense to lean towards stealthy flanking assaults, instead?

Now, the heroes are all there, too. You'll be able to choose between a variety of Illiad characters, such as Odysseus, Paris, Achilles, and Hector, but they aren't as pronounced in combat as the heroes of Three Kingdoms were. Sure, in the world map, they're the primary influence on how the world develops, but they're easier to deal with in combat.

Total War: TROY Steam is going to be a real treat for strategists

Overall, Total War: TROY on Steam is a very competent grand strategy that won't leave the fans hanging. The game is jam-packed with features Total War fans have wanted for a very long while, and the subject matter is just stellar. Last year's reviews generally do still apply of course, if you'd like to check those out. Do keep in mind, however, that those of you who get a Steam key for The Total War Saga: TROY will enjoy a fully patched-up and polished build of the game.

It's the best of all worlds, really. You're getting awesome combat AI, a hell of a streamlined joyride focusing on a very prominent historical clash, and - perhaps - a bit of a taste of what to expect in Total War: Warhammer 3. Neat stuff all around, isn't it?

Speaking of neat stuff, just this last Friday we had a cool little overview of the best SEGA games on PC. Time will tell if A Total War Saga: TROY will make its way onto that particular list, but it's a lovely piece. You may even learn a few things about SEGA, who knows! We'll have more TROY-related content come up over the next two weeks. In the meantime, though, you may find that we've got another major SEGA strategy game on our docket...