The history geeks at Creative Assembly decided to explore their own history for the next Total War. The result is Total War: Rome Remastered, complete with 4K upgrades, 16 new factions, and several other modern features.

Rome is perhaps the oldest Total War worth remastering. It was the first major leap forward in the series and is the most recognizable of the original trio, thanks to its 3D units and extensive campaign map; nearly 20 years later, there are still many commonalities from Rome to all its successors. [says Rob Bartholomew, Chief Product Officer of Creative Assembly. The original "Rome" holds a special moment for us as our first big breakout title. It's great to have the opportunity to remaster it with our friends at Feral.

Described by David Stephen, managing director of Feral, as "like re-cutting the crown jewels," the remastered version does not alter much of the fundamentals. However, diplomacy has been redesigned, along with the UI, camera, and controls. Tactical maps are now available for combat, and heat maps and icon overlays appear in the campaign. The campaign will allow for camera rotation and wider zoom levels, and if you get tired of fighting the AI, you can also enjoy cross-platform multiplayer on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Sixteen previously unplayable factions will be brought into the war, bringing the total to 38. Spain, Scythia, Thrace, Numedia, Armenia, Pontus, Macedon, and Dacia are included in the main game. The Berbers, Burgundians, Celts, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Romano-British, Loxolani, and Slavs will be playable in Barbarian Invasion. but the number of factions will remain the same.

Instead of looking like "Rome 2," the remaster retains the visual identity of the original "Rome," but is lavished with 4K upgrades and overhauls to models and battlefields. Lighting and reflections also seem to have been improved, and isn't that shiny shield a nice touch? As far as screenshots go, this is the version of Rome that matches my rosy memories.

Along with "Three Kingdoms" and "Warhammer," I feel that "Total War" is the best yet. Nevertheless, nostalgia is a powerful force, and the opportunity to play what was once my favorite strategy game with a fresh coat of paint is too tempting to pass up.

"Total War: Rome Remastered" will be released on April 29.