The strategy map is gorgeous, of course, because Greece is gorgeous. They aren't locked into those fights, but it's a cool excuse to show some smart battle animations. There's no duelling in Troy, but if two heroes run into each other on the battlefield they'll start scrapping one-on-one. You can level up your hero and unlock decent new abilities on their bespoke skill tree. That's optional though, you can still shake off your hero's destiny and play Troy as a sandbox.

Famous figures of the Iliad can go on epic adventures to unlock their true heroic potential and follow their path through The Iliad and the Epic Cycle. Heroes are back, though they aren't as massively important as they were in Three Kingdoms. Elite spearmen can change stance to unhook the shield on their back and boost frontal defence. Some units are specialised at taking on particular classes of infantry, so arranging the right matchups is an important tactical concern. I found that the infantry focus meant infantry battles tend to end up as one huge scrum, which looks great, but can be tricky to manage once all your forces are embroiled. If you can surround a unit they can go down very quickly. Flanking effects are more pronounced in Troy. Light infantry can hide in tall grass and move much faster on the battlefield. Heavy units struggle to move through new tough terrain types like deep mud, but once they hit the line they are almost immovable.

As with most units in Troy, they are footsoldiers with a particular role to play.

They are hard to get, but worth the effort to recruit a unit of Cyclops', who are enormous dudes covered in bones. Mythical units continue the 'truth behind the myth' theme. The Seer can gain you favour with the gods, and the Satyr, er, sings so beautifully buildings build themselves instantly. She can't turn people to stone, but she can terrify an army and reduce their strength. The Gorgon is a scary woman who has woven snakes into her hair. There are also new Epic Agents, which try to present a realistic take on the legendary mythical heroes of the era.

Ancient wars sparta mod