I don't know whether I love or loathe this game, I know the missus certainly hates it though. I never played Shogun II after the disaster that was post-launch Empire Total War so was a little sceptical that one of my favourite games of all time, RTW I, was getting the makeover treatment. RTW II will never be as good as the original because it has been modified to Hell and a lot of folk, including myself, view things with rose tinted glasses. Furthermore, I couldn't tell you the last time I played Vanilla RTW as I had downloaded the likes of Roma Surrectum etc.
All in all, however, it's a decent enough game if you download some of the mods from the Steam Workshop. I played a campaign with the Romans, but they then launched Ver 1.5 so had to start again. Started a decent campaign with the Icenii before they launched 1.7. At the moment, now, I'm playing as Carthage and thoroughly enjoying it. I particularly like the fact that Navy/Army battles can take place on the same map, there's something satisfying about waiting for enemy ships to beach while you've got the landing area completely and utterly covered.