Buy this game! (Shogun - Total War (PC))

Member Name: wocko99

Product:	Shogun - Total War (PC)
Date:	26/09/00 (180 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Top notch Real Time battles, excellent graphics

Disadvantages: It's far too addictive!

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 and kill them as they're trying to flee... but that's the exceptional battle side of the game.

The resource part of the game is played in turns (the battles are real time, albeit with a handy pause button!), where you can attack on a very Risk like map, or just hold back and build up your empire, of course total domination is the path to victory, but that's no reason to hurry the experience up. Along with standard fighting units you have Ninjas and Emissaries, with which to kill and spy on your opponents in turn, If you take out an enemygeneral just before a battle, his troops will be very easy to break and will flee at their first casualties.

All units in the game can increase their prowess, through killing enemies, or spying well, and this can make them truly fearsome to fight. These increases are shown as honour levels, and generals can also gain these bonusses, which then trickle thru to all their men.

Getting your character killed in battle may not even be the end of the game, as he sires heir every now and again, who mature after a certain amount of time, and then become available as generals, who are usually damn good!

Depending on the difficulty level, this game can be made very hard indeed.. you get not ime to rebuild your armies in between ata
cks at all, and it's not uncommon for the computer to gang up on you, but this si on the higher difficulty levels.

Summary: