I'm probably going to pick up the gold version of this game from the Steam sales. Does it still hold up?

I also noticed that there was some sort of Lord of the Rings mod for it, are there any other good ones?

It dosnt look amazing, but it plays great still, I love how the Calvary feels over all the other Total War games.

@Demmetje: I think the best mod for Rome: Total War is Europa Barbarorum (http://www.europabarbarorum.com/) which is basically a huge realism overhaul.

I'd say the game definitely holds up, too. I put so many hours into the campaign of the game, it's probably my all-time favorite Total War game.

Darthmod

Holy fucking shit, a Gods and Fighting Men mod. I'm gonna buy the fuck out of this.

I also have a feeling that I'll be the only one remotely interested in that mod. :(

Europa Barborum and Roma Surrectum 2. The second is my favorite because of the variety of legions.

Rome Total Realism mod is pretty fantastic. I think that Rome: Total War feels the best out of all the ones I've played, and cavalry feels appropriately nimble and fast.

Thanks for the answers! I'm definitely going to get it and try out some mods :)

On another note: is the Alexander expansion any good?

I highly recommend that you play it with Europa Barborum.

There is certainly a camp of tactics/strategy game players who think Rome is the worst of the Total War series. to them every game is a slow walk to an inevitable victory that requires no real skill or understanding of every game system.

They are crazy, Rome is a great game and this gentler difficulty provides great accessibility to let everyone enjoy the game and actually learn as they play rather than having to come into the thing as an expert. I haven't played it in a few years but it always held up for me and the above mod recommendations are solid.

@Shivoa: Do you also know if the Alexander expansion is any good?

@Demmetje: Unfortunately I never played with it. For under $2 on Steam right now I'm tempted to say it's probably worth buying it just in case (the advertising spiel on Steam also say the videos for the campaign mission are voiced by Brian Blessed, which sounds like it might be worth the price of admission alone).

It's my favorite game and it certainly holds up! Though maybe not for long once Rome II comes out.