Rome 2: Total War might champion the name of the most powerful ancient civilization yet. I never really felt at home when taking up the eagle and enforcing the Pax Romana with sword and blood. Instead, I was always more of a Macedonian. With long pikes, disciplined phalanx formations, thundering cavalry and dressed for battle in the best colours you could find, Macedonia always made me enjoy the game to its fullest.

You can guess how much I had been anticipating any kind of news regarding my chosen civilization and Rome 2. In the previous game, Macedonia could only be unlocked by changing the playable factions within the installation folder or by installing the – in my opinion – obligatory Total Realism mod. Yet, I have finally been relieved and found Macedonia to be one of the playable factions in the next installment of the Total War series. If it hadn’t been, well a mod would have sorted that out but still, it's good that the only real nation worth playing has made it into the game as one of the primary factions.

Macedonia itself is a pretty organized and disciplined nation with a sovereign King wielding his power in the name of the people. Exactly, you will find none of the pathetic and self-possessed bickering so common in the Roman Senate in Pella. No, my friend, the Macedonians live a hardworking and orderly life, making money through trade and agriculture so that the treasury is near bursting level. As well as that, should one of the lesser neighboring states be in need of a good trashing, Macedonia will rise up and, clad in blazing colours, strike forth with foot and steed, smashing aside the puny armies of the foul enemy. You can see why I like them so much.

Overall, Macedonia is a near self-sufficient nation, good for players knowing their trade and prepared to go their own way even if that means smashing down the gates of Alexandria, Athens, Carthage, Rome, and, should they finally decide to build a wall – which they will if my army is on its way – Sparta!