Medieval: Total War

If there's one game unlikely to join your mobile snugly at your hip, it's Total War. On the PC, the high-end strategy series consists of episodes that are both vastly in-depth and hugely demanding on even the most muscular of monitor-side power towers, so you'd be forgiven for being a little sceptical about the possibility of squeezing such a licence onto a diminutive phone.

You'd also be well within your rights to expect the worst, as Total War falls into a hit-and-miss strategy genre sadly defined by regular appearances from disappointing PC-to-mobile ports, as proven most recently by the distinctly mediocre Settlers.

So it's a pleasure to announce that Medieval: Total War is generally very enjoyable to play. It has certainly suffered the inevitably substantial streamlining required of such a conversion, but happily the soul of the original game is still present.

The focus here is almost entirely on combat, and anyone familiar with a late nights spent playing the classic board game Risk will feel on fairly familiar ground. Starting out by choosing your home territory in Europe, you must spread your armies across the map, taking enemy strongholds as you progress.

With 40 sizeable battles across seven territories to tackle, Medieval: Total War is a mobile game of some substance, and it's no walkover either, giving you a sizeable chunk of gameplay for your money.

While the turn-based battles might initially appear repetitive, there's enough variation in the goals of each conflict to keep the action taut and the strategies necessary to win them diverse. Some, for example, insist you overwhelm an enemy force, while others concentrate your efforts on evasion, pitching you against a far superior army with objectives that require you to survive a certain amount of turns.

The melees themselves are based on a proven formula, enabling you to move each unit and command them in battle before giving the stage to your rival and nervously watching as they act out their own scene in the matchbox-sized theatre of conflict.

For many, of course, that formula is very similar to chess. And if the idea of thoughtful, methodical progress leaves you feeling dull and empty, Medieval: Total War will be about as fun as playing football with bricks.

Fans of the genre, on the other hand, will likely appreciate the nuances that have made the original PC games so popular. From the battlefield generals that, depending on their alliance, have certain powers in-game, to the system for building trust and gaining allies, Medieval: Total War constantly reveals simple, intuitive features that turn a basic turn-based strategy game into something distinct.

Multiplayer and solo quick battles also bring a well-needed dose of less involved gaming to the equation, offering a comprehensive package for your money.

There are also several control systems, meaning you can quickly develop your own favoured input. Whether using a tiny nub thumbstick or the numeric keys, the controls are simple, though a lot of clicking is required for even the simplest task.

Meanwhile, some competent sound backs up fairly decent visuals that are necessarily a little pedestrian and functional, making this release look like a rather rough diamond. Still, when it comes to strategy, a rugged gem is of far greater value than a worthless rhinestone. Despite the odds, then, Medieval in miniature is a great success.