Shogun: Total War
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| Shogun: Total War | |
| Missing image Shogun_Total_War.jpg PC Box cover | |
| Developer(s) | Creative Assembly |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Release date(s) | 2000 |
| Genre | Real-time strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player, 2 to 8 Multiplayer over TCP/IP |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen |
| Platform(s) | PC |
Shogun: Total War is the first of Creative Assembly's "Total War" series. It is a history-based grand strategy computer game that combines turn-based provincial development with real-time battles. The player assumes the role of one of eight daimyos attempting to unite feudal Japan during the Sengoku period ("The Age of the Country at War") and become shogun. Sun Tzu's The Art of War is central to the game; its precepts are quoted often and its strategies recommended.
The play involves a strategic phase building up armies and moving them into provinces followed by a real time battle phase. The three dimensional battles are notable for including aspects such as morale that had up to its publication usually been ignored by computer war games and are more typical of table top gaming.
It has a key weakness in that the computer players do not understand the balance of power so a human player will become unstoppable once reasonably powerful because the computer players do not see the need to gang up against the human player.
It was followed by the Mongol Invasion expansion pack which added a Mongol campaign, played as either the invaders or as Japan. The Total War series has been continued with Medieval: Total War and Rome: Total War.
Unit Types
(The following are combat units useable in the campaign mode on the original Shogun-total war)
Yari Ashigaru- The standard peasant forces which make up the mainstay of most armies (though this is just according to the game as in personal experience most people prefer to use the slighty more expensive Yari Samurai for this task), their main task is to fight en masse, they should not be expected to last long, they are best used to support more powerful units in a large combat, or to attack archers (note- if the latter is in use "loose formation" is advised, as otherwise the arrors will slice through them incredibly quickly and due to their relatively low morale this is highly undesirable
Yari Samurai- These are essentially the more expensive of the two types of basic infantrymen, their spears are useful against cavalry when used in sufficiant numbers, they are incredibly versatile and no matter how advanced an army is, it will not last long without a horde of these warriors nearby. They are reasonably sturdy though of course they will break under excessive pressure, if enough can be amassed a unit or two can be used to attack a ballistic unit which may be harassing your ranks. Charging an oncoming infantry horde (particularly if you are uphill) with them also gives them a reasoanble advantage and allows time for your superior units to arrive, or just gives you those extra numbers you need to add weight to your assault, they are also excellent for mopping up fleeing troops.
Samurai Archers- The core of most ballistics based armies they are the only ballistics unit available right from the beginning of the game, and whether you use them in your own army or not (and there is no reason you shouldn't use them)you end up aqquainted with them due to some clans sheer dependency on them. They are your best friend and your worst enemy, depending on whose side they are on. When you are attacking make sure to place your troops in loose formation, otherwise these warriors will decimate them with clouds of wooden fury, when you get near enough switch to either close or wedge (depending on the unit) and charge, or, if the archers are unsupported stay in loose formation as they are relatively weak and even Ashigaru can slaughter them with ease. If you find yourself on the defensive against a rivals incursion place these men on a hill facing the other side of the field with the rest of your forces behind (unless a pre-emptive cavalry flank attack is on the cards), as the enemy gets close (note your archers should be in loose formation as the enemies will return fire) you should be able to pepper his army, causing casualties in many units due to fire at will (or of course focusing your fire on a particular unti you deem a threat(. As they ascend the hill sweep your own combat forces down onto them, this not only gives you a combat bonus, but the archers can then fire into the frenzy and further support your units.
Warrior Monks- Extremely powerful, highly devoted warriors of death. These men carry scythes with which they slaughter pretty much anything which stands before them, this is the finest argument not to convert to Christianity as you lose the ability to construct anymore buddhist temples. These units can tear through other units with ease as Buddhist armies don't like facing them due to their zeal and purity. They are a perfect assualt unit and you should use them whenever possible, they are suited to most combat situations. However, despair not, for these men while strong are far from immortal, volleys of accurate archer fire combined with a quick assualt can break them, thus they can be slain as they flee.
No-Dachi Samurai- The most sophisticated samurai infantry unit. Effective against practically all other ground units.
Naginata Infantry- The finest infantry based deterrant to cavalry, their main weakness is the fact that they are very slow-moving in battlefield. Also, they are quite high in the building level, and as such you will not aquire them for quite some time. (you also need an armoury in the region).
Arbesquers- The basic musket unit, reasonably effective against weaker enemy units at range, but likely to be annihilated in close combat. They can be trained after establishing a trading post with western nations.
Musketeers- More powerful and advanced musket units.
Yari Cavalry- The mainstay of the mounted forces, very effective in charging routing or low-moral ground units and/or missile units.
Cavalry Archers- Capable of launching a swift and devastating strike on an unsupport enemy unit.
Naginata Cavalry- The most powerful cavalry unit available in large numbers
Heavy Cavalry- A rarely seen unit which is more often than not the retinue of a Diamyo
External links
- Official website (http://www.totalwar.com/community/warlord.htm)
- Totalwar (http://www.totalwar.org)