Shogun 2: Total War

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The developers of Total War series have sweeping concepts in their hands numerous times for fans and followers of strategy games, but not capable of to use the qualities as expected. Now it's been ten years that Creative Assembly developers are thrilled with joy by laying formidable strategy games. Hence when they announced plans to renew the wonderful origin of the Total War series and push us again in feudal Japan, as saying that our salivary glands began to function at full capacity. And at present, the result of this noble desire is finally a mouse click away. Motivated by the developer’s vast experience and talent, Shogun 2: Total War finally proves too great and sharp as a katana wielded by a samurai before the battle. Total War is a fresh chapter that is modified, optimized and ready to become one of the best strategy games ever. Shogun 2 is a intention by Creative Assembly that has managed to fit the criticism for their poor and irregular past games, which despite all odds was not able to prove to be as expected. Shogun 2: Total War is the upcoming genre of many expectations.

In fact the first Shogun: Total War had put down the groundwork for a license quickly that became crucial to the middle of the strategy. The episodes are then followed, always putting out a well-oiled gameplay to immerse ourselves in very different historical eras. Thus we as well might take control of the Roman legions of European knights or Napoleonic Grunts. Hence, this new release offers us about the return to the Japanese archipelago in 1545, right in the Sengoku-jidai. A true interactive college courses, and exciting to boot.

As of the story, Shogun 2: Total War is based in the confused world of 16th century Japan. At that time, the shogun clans fighting for control of Nippon territories in fierce tribal fighting, leaving the country caught up in misery, and destroying territories all over the place. After the Onin War, where the country of the rising sun was almost completely destroyed, the most important and predominant political and military culture of Japan, shogun family decided to mobilize their forces to deal a final blow to size and weak enemy with the intention to control the future of the nation and the millions of Nipponese. People like Hojo, Takeda, Tokugawa, Uesugi, Shimazu, Mori, Oda or Chosokabe, will be the player who can choose at the beginning and that accordingly they will have their own alliances, and special territories or characteristics.

At the beginning of the campaign, therefore you must choose your side among the 9 major clans of the time, each based in a different corner of the archipelago and offer specific bonuses. The Shimazu clan, for example can recruit samurai cheaply while the famous Tokugawa receive diplomatic benefits, among others. But whatever your initial choice, your goal is simple: impose your authority over other factions by force, by trickery and by any other method you see fit to use, so that the emperor is literally forced to appoint you as the new Shogun. You can imagine that the other clan leaders pursuing exactly the same goals and they do not capitulate so easily. You are now engaged in a real war for power, rich, exciting and ruthless. With such fertile ground, The Creative Assembly has developed a title that is in line with the very strong Empire: Total War, and even more from its parent dedicated to Napoleon.

Obviously, none of the warlords wanted to give up their political or military aspirations, and hence they bitterly fought to exhaustion. Pacts, suicide strategies, wars and acts of the cruelest revenge ... bad times lay ahead. And right there is where we come into action. Like its all previous Total War series, Shogun 2 as well allows full freedom to the player. We will keep getting help and advice but we will not be trained by them. The user decides how to raise their game by developing their own strategies and stories. And in terms of our decision to choose a family or another, we have a completely different experience.

Each clan is different from another. As has been our choice, we find in different parts of Japan with resources along with very specific and diverse tasks (the location of each clan can even make the game's difficulty, and so we are warned before opt for a dynasty in particular). The main playable method, the core of the experience of our departure in the main mode (Shogun 2: Total War has several game modes discussed below), not unlike that seen in previous Total War franchise. That is, we have 2 classic views: turn-based strategy real-time, and overview maps of the territories. Both have their vital importance in our progress in the game but we want it or see it right, we can dispense with any of them. Dresses keep their own characteristics and style of play, which makes them different, yet complementary (especially if you enjoy the preparations for the fighting). In the main campaign map, we will have many outstanding parameters.

The gameplay of these phases (global map divided into zones to conquer) has not basically changed but there are some improvements that benefit us. To complete your quest for power out, you will first need to do with the initial conditions specific to each clan, some being more powerful than others, but most already maintaining great rivalries with their neighbors. In all cases, you should first make an army worthy of the name. Remember that the army is expensive to produce and maintain. You'll have to generate resources, develop your provinces, trade, raise taxes, etc to maintain the same. The problem is that like in real life, taxes, it's been unhappy, then it must ensure the well-being of the population ... Another element to consider is the Master of Arts, which serves as a tech tree and determines the units and buildings that will be possible to construct, since the 2 branches are moving towards each war and the other to the economy. In short, you'll understand that there are lot of parameters to manage in this part of the game but do not worry about all that, you can choose to enjoy permanent help.

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Overall Real-time battles have also been improved. Real-time battles have always been a hallmark of the franchise. The vision of battle is the most stunning as technically and graphically, it is where we will fight and fight our troops with all splendor, with thousands of units on screen. Its gameplay is very simple, just give the player the opportunity to select your troops, award them a specific mission (attack a specific enemy unit, for example) and see how fight looks in a glorious 3D. The fighting in this Shogun 2: Total War and tactics are harder than previous episodes (particularly in the most modern, where firearms were much more prevalent) and the emergence of new special units.

Total War presents many configuration options and game modes to enjoy, as we want to control our experience with the title. For example, in campaign mode we can change the game duration, choosing between short or long world domination and the difficulty level. Possibly the main improvement in Total War from Creative Assembly is the inclusion of a series of interesting multiplayer modes. For example, at one place we can survive Total War experience as an online multiplayer game with customization and creation of an avatar or character including where we live in a persistent world set in the turbulent feudal Japan. Apart from fighting in combat typical of the series, we can progress and improve our character or general, defeat new territories or unify areas in collaboration with the clans and characters of other players. With each battle or successful operation, we can gain some valuable experience points that can be invested for improvements to our troops or avatars.

Besides the fact that the title does not hesitate to deploy cards, menus and illustrations all created on the model of sublime etchings; especially it invites us to keep in mind that at the base of each clan is a family. To ensure stability of your clan, you will spare your brothers and finally marry girls from neighbors to strengthen your ties. Every male member of your family, and the generals appointed by you, have a weigh of loyalty to you, a gauge based on official charges that you give them.

Anyway, you will not escape the absolute need to go through the weapons to impose your will. Thus, if an option to automatically resolve battles, we recommend that you book as it battles won in advance, when you have such an overwhelming numerical superiority. In case of battle more balanced, better off to take direct command of your troops on the ground to avoid disappointment. Like Empire, the battles in real time are the backbone of the software. It starts first and foremost by the placement of troops during the deployment. We must try to take advantage, to anticipate the position and movements of the opponent. Then, during the assault itself, we must use all our brainpower to defeat the enemy and hold on like hell because despite a few risky behaviors, we must admit that the AI makes life especially when twisting the difficulty. You must therefore learn to make best use of your Ashigaru Yari (Lancers) against cavalry by posting near the archers - the limited ammunition - or owners matchlocks (more powerful and have better range than archers traditional). We will also use samurai and monks as shock troops and cavalry charges decisive or harassment if it is equipped with bows.

As per the graphics , no doubt about it. If you want to skip the paragraph on the technical side, you can do it by reading the following sentence: Shogun 2: Total War has a creative and perfect graphic style. Creative Assembly has developed one of the most attractive games in the visual so far this year. You may get less interest in other games graphics, more focused on gimmicky tricks and impress by sounding, but is that Shogun 2: Total War not needed. It is a strategy game, do not forget. Beyond its impressive 3D engine, Shogun 2 is worth especially for its high artistic qualities. An interface between inspired prints and fighters modeled in detail, it enjoys a superb coating. On the ground, it seems to be a real battle lines with thousands of fighters mix together where they collapse into a deafening roar.

Get fully access of the Japanese culture through a careful and elegant interface, full of Asian designs (the loading screens are filled with poems and quotes) and a font and color according to the setting (real-time processing of the map with ink drawings that gradually creates 3D contours and shapes is something really worth seeing). The contrast to live with regard to our Western condition is such that we do not doubt that more than one will be fully amazed to discover the delights and mysteries of a way of living and thinking so different from ours. If you get that, in the words of Assembly, will have done a good job.

The graphic style permeates every facet of the game. As previously mentioned, the environments set in the game are wonderful. We will see before our eyes as the map in two dimensions on paper, it becomes tangible and real field as we move forward with our troops. Find constructions according to the writings and documents kept at the time and natural sites themselves Nipponese, with the omnipresent mountains, forests and rivers. The units have also seen great progress, with modeling and animation worthy of being used as examples in future titles in the genre. Each unit has their own behavior and appearance, as well as a series of special animations. View different armies clash, with their own weapons and armor in one of the magnificent and mysterious landscapes Nippon is one of the most beautiful spectacles ever seen in a recent game.

To finish, the final element to be considered is the change of the weather depending on the season. Fighting in extreme cold winter have an effect on morale and may even cause epidemics or desertion. At the same field, blizzard or fog interfere with visibility and sometimes hide some units until they melt on your archers, which will then only to protect their underpants. The generals will also be notified to take advantage of bypassing the enemy by surprise and melt on war machines. In short, with all this, and although once engaged in melee there remains only to observe the combatants usually superbly modeled with more conviction than ever, we can say that Shogun II appears as most successful episode of the series till date

Indeed, the achievement is no exception and offers a pretty impressive record, with a high-flying graphics. We should also mention that it has the complete fun for multiplayer, to create own clan from scratch that will evolve over time. We also appreciate the opportunity to invite another player to take control of another clan in your campaign. In short, with all this, Shogun 2: Total War appeared as a monster of its kind, able to keep us stick to our screen for months.

Conclusion:

We are really surprised. As announced by its developers, Shogun 2 is a true return to the series, a stunning tribute to the best of Total War. It is one of the best strategy games we've ever seen. Very logical and expected, the concept of Total War seen in the veteran franchise. The Creative Assembly have managed to express a sense that time was not felt. They have just corrected their magnum piece, and has adapted to changing times. The graphics, as well as creative section, lift up the visual quality of the game that was already attractive. If you like strategy, you want to enjoy a full and historic recreation with the new technologies, do not hesitate. Shogun 2: Total War is more than simple strategy title above the average, a masterpiece of the genre that should be used as a new paradigm of dozens of studies with the ambition to go a step further in creating games.