Shogun - Total War (PC)

Unless you're a really big fan of C&C, as this game actually requires tactics to win, you can't simply base your attacks on having more people than the enemy, and sometimes you can win with virtually no one on your side, if you strike first, and make it count possibly by killing the opposing leader. You see, Morale is an integral part of this game, set as it is in Japan. Althouhg you can have thousands of people on your side, and it's a pleasure to see that!, you can only win by having a good general involved in the fight, or another tactical advantage, such as high ground or extensive cover, it's even possible to go around the back of the enemy ...  Read the complete review

Shogun: Total War (hereafter referred to as STW) is set during the period of Japanese history known as 'The age of the country at war' - roughly the 16th century. It's split into two sections - the turn based strategy map (although all moves are resolved simultaneously) and the real-time battles. It's in the latter of these that most people will have heard of STW. You can command an army of up to 16 units on screen at any one time, and each unit can have up to 120 in them... so 16x120= 1920 per side, almost 4000 men meeting on the field of battle at once! Of course, most battles, particularly your early ones, will involve much less per side ...  Read the complete review

“Shogun – Total War” is a welcome change from the horde of “Command and Conquer” clones that have almost come to define Real-Time Strategy games in recent years. “Shogun” is set in sixteenth-century Japan, when seven rival clans battled it out for control of the island, using any means at their disposal (including ninja assassination) to achieve domination. Though generally placed in the RTS genre of PC games, “Shogun” is actually a combination of turn-based and real-time strategy elements. This works surprisingly well: whereas overall diplomacy and strategy are determined with a Risk-style map and ...  Read the complete review

Japanese medieval politics may not be everyone's cup of tea but I was surprised at how much time I have spent recently playing this epic from Electronic Arts. There is a lot more to it than just politics as there is the economic and military side to take into consideration too. You play the part of Daimyo to a major Japanese clan in the 1560's with the aim of conquering the rest of the country thus creating a Dynasty to stand the test of time. The main screen of the game so to speak, is a large map of Japan which is split into about 60 'counties' or regions. You start with about half a dozen of these under you control with the ...  Read the complete review

I have not had this game that long but it has got me hooked. It is set in Japan several centuries ago and the ultimate aim is to become Shogun. To do this you must manage and expand your territory, make alliances, train your army, fight battles etc etc - there really is a lot to do but it is clearly explained in the handbook and there is a tutorial which explains things. This tutorial has the advantage that you can choose which "bit" to learn and each section is fairly concise therefore you do not get bogged down in it. If you do not want to spend all that time building up your power there is an option to fight one of several historical battles. This is ...  Read the complete review