Medieval first total war was quite fail in means of graphic. Even the soil looked like a pile of sand with green spices on it. So no one expected any water graphics from that game. Then came rome total war. Which had decent graphics at least, but still, maybe it would be boring to command fleets of those times, since most of the thing was about two ships getting close to each other, their crew jumping on either deck and start fighting. Who wins, that the gods know only. So there were no room for much naval tactics, as there were no actually naval warfare, but melee warfare made on ships, if it makes this naval warfare, so be it. Then came medieval second total war. Most of the people expected naval battles to be able to fought by the player itself, commanding the fleet. However, most disappointing news were that you still could not fight a naval battle on your own. Even that in those times there were ships with guns or at least ballistas or manaogels. End likely after half period of the game time, ship guns, cannons. Even that the graphics were quite cool, and it was by any means, possible to make sea battles. However, still disappointment. At last, maybe the best part of the naval warfare, maybe it was just because it is so, that total war included naval battles this time, in Empire total war. Age of exporation and ships, firing on to each other, with all their cannons, broadsides flashing! There sure must have been naval battling in the game otherwise, the player would no longer stand this ridicule. It was nice and good, realistic. However, Napoleon Total war came, and did shut every mouth by its awesome naval tactics, realism and brilliant graphics.
The reflections, glints, water effects, distortion effect, depth of field, lightnings blooms and dust, smoke, shadows all were awesome! In one word, awesome, splendid, sublime, brilliant, gorgeous, astonishing, stunning and what ever that can be said as the synonyms of these. There are no words to describe how good the naval battles in Napoleon Total War is. The smoke, emerging from the cannons no longer became invisible like a second after firing them, as it were in Empire total war. However, were still visible for quite some minutes, especially longer if the wind is not strong at that time at that particular place of the sea. Furthermore, the ships were suffering a knock back effect when they received broadsides, or too many cannon shots all together. There are even minor knock backs suffered from slight cannon shots. The sails were now getting damaged properly, which means only if either the ships were attacking them or the cannonballs accidentally going through them.
I really have nothing to say how good work total war team made out of the naval battle system in Napoleon total war. It is really worth admiring and every singleplayer who have played any of the previous total war games , and whined about lack of naval battles, should play this game, play a naval battle in it. Select spain's mighty ship, santissima trinidad and give hell to their enemies!