The original Rome: Total War is preferred to a more recent version because later mechanics pursue constant interaction at the expense of historical logic. A player should have to control the city that can raise a particular body of troops before recruiting it. The brief comparison connects military recruitment to territorial control rather than treating forces as available everywhere.
Notable Point · 1:57:31-1:57:56
Why city control should shape recruitment in historical games
The original Rome: Total War ties recruitment to control of the city that can raise those troops.