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Releases: Shogun: Total War - Warlord Edition
Posted by happyhip on Tuesday, August 28 @ 00:33:59 CDT
Contributed by Tex8503
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Game Type: Strategy
System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/2000, DirectX8, PII 300 with 64 Mbytes RAM
Game Homepage: The Creative Assembly Ltd. / EA
Order: Shogun: Total War - Warlord Edition
Game Notes:
 ????When games try to cross generas it can be dangerous. More often than not we get something that doesn't do either genera justice, such as X-com intercepter where they tried to take the base building strategy and combine it with a flight simulator engine. However, where intercepter failed, Shogun succeeds. While taking turn based global warfare in the style of risk and combining it with detailed real-time troop movements and battles on gigantic scales it is able to maintain the balance between the 2 and make it a great amount of fun.
Gameplay:
????Shogun: Warlord Edition takes Shogun : Total war to the next step by packaging the Mongol Invasion Expansion pack with it. In the full campaign mode you choose from one of 7 different clans. Each clan has their own different starting position and has their own bonuses to certain troop types. When you start the game in campaign mode, you can choose from a few different victory conditions and try to meet one, a few , or all of them. On the map of japan, you'll need to decide what territories should build what buildings in order for those territories to train units. You also have to keep an eye on your "Koku" or basically your money. It allows you to build and train units, but the more units and buildings you have the more is costs to maintain them. As you gain territory you also gain land that is used for farming that can bring you more Koku. The main map of Japan is organized well and didn't feel clunky or functionless, in fact, when I started out it seemed a little over whelming. However, there is a tutorial to help you get started that can ease that learning curve, which is quite steep without the tutorial. As you build units you'll have to learn to manage your armies, you can combine and split them up however you like. You can also choose to garrison units in your castles to provide defense should that territory be invaded without a standing army. You also have units that can go to enemy territories and buy over another clan's army's, or make cease-fire agreements or alliances with other clans. You also get ninjas which are very fun to use. Ninjas can assassinate your generals, your alliance maker units, or even your own character in the game ! That brings me to another interesting point in the game, you have control over a unit representing you , the daimyo of your clan. Should your daimyo be killed in battle, you lose the game, unless you can produce a son who can take your place at 16 year of age. Your notified as soon as you have a son and then 16 years from that point your notified that your son is of age, and should you die he takes over. In the real time combat mode you have control over all of the units in the battle , you can choose formations and such to try and outsmart or out maneuver your enemy on the terrain. You also need to keep an eye on your general, for should he die, your men may become scared and fleet the battle. Once you become bored with the open ended full campaign you can take your hand at one of the historical campaigns or battles of Japan, The Mongol Invasion expansion pack even adds the ability to play a fantasy mode where the Mongols launch a full scale invasion of Japan. Also another feature to give you more play time is the game's map editor which can be fairly easy to used and will allow you to setup your own real-time battle levels. If your still bored you can take your hand at the real time strategy battle part of the game online via EA.com's gaming servers or through a LAN. While this may seem like all you could ever hope for in a game, its inspired gameplay can't save this game's confused real-time AI and its confusing real-time battle interface. I also have yet to see why alliances mean so much, I've aligned many times with other armies only to have them watch as I get trounced by enemy forces. Better gameplay then most, but you may want to just let the computer decide the real-time battles for you after a while.
+'s : Inspired turn-based gameplay, some fun real-time battles, interesting honor/general system, Map editor
-'s : Sometimes confused real-time AI, meaningless Alliances, big learning curve
Gameplay gets 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Graphics:
????Shogun's graphics are dated as the game has been out for about a year. Having not seen it when it was first released, I can't comment on the claimed graphical enhancements that were made. However, the graphics for the for the battle turn based map and the videos for the different in game events (assinations, your heir coming of age, and foreigners visiting) are very well done and appear clean and detailed. Unfortunately, the real-time game was not so lucky. Textures on the ground appear muddy and blurry and are lacking in detail. The game's units (while boasting to be able to have battles with unit counts in the thousands) are only 2d sprites and look ok and do their job so you can distinguish between units, but are not very nice to look at. The game's modes support up to 1600x1200 resolutions and also has a software render incase you don't have a 3d card. Don't expect any eye candy or great graphics to show off your new GeForce 3.
+'s - high resolutions, high unit counts, 3d terrain, excellent 2d interface graphics
-'s - 2d sprite units, muddy blurry ground textures
Graphics get 3 out of 5 stars
Sound:
????Shogun's sound and music are also not bad, not great, but ok. The sounds of the battles are done well and have the typical war cries of your men as well as the sounds of horses for your Calvary and the clashes of metal for your foot solider's swords, they are nothing inspired and are not really anything noticeable. They supply atmosphere but it basically ends there. The most interesting thing about the sound in the game is how you can have your adviser speak in Japanese or English. The game's music is also really mediocre and sounds like what you'd imagine music fitting imperial japan to sound like, but again is not really inspired.
+'s - well done battle sound effects, useful bi-lingual adviser, atmospheric music
-'s - nothing really all that memorable
Sound gets 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Overall:
????Shogun provides an enjoyable experience. While it can be somewhat frustrating while learning it, if you use the tutorial it shouldn't take you long to get past the complexities of the game. Intresting game design is somewhat hampered by AI that can get confused, and graphics that serve their purpose but not much more. Overall, if your looking for a game that balances both Risk type game play with C&C type game play, Shogun should give you a lot of bang for your buck. If your mostly interested in the real-time part or are a newbie to the whole PC strategy thing, you will probably want to pass on Shogun.
+'s - inspired gameplay design, lots of replay value
-'s - dated graphics, non-memorable sound and music, minor gameplay glitches
Overall gets 3 out of 5 stars
ScreenShots: (Click To Enlarge)
     
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