Sneak Peek: Total War: Shogun 2

STOCKHOLM (Gamer.no): There is talk more about the PC's position as a gaming platform is weakened, and that the big ugly consoles take bigger and bigger chunk of the market pie. Still have a PC-exclusive franchises that constantly blows from critics and players alike on the chair. The traditional Total War series is among them.

To fight classic, gigantic battle between thousands of soldiers are more popular than ever, and Shogun 2 takes up the baton for his twelve years older predecessor with a roar. Here, everything in fact larger and more detailed than anything the series has offered before.

* See also: Total War-studio set in exclusive online meeting

Teachers constantly

You'd think the British developers The Creative Assembly has made strategy games since the dawn of time. They share a style that puts the security among the cream of the strategy game studios. During our initial presentation, it was revealed that their first project actually called Monkey, and was an action adventure based on a martial arts series from TV.

Instead of giving out the project, an idea the gang laughed in retrospect, they chose to start with the best elements and build a strategy around the game. This was their first independent games - Shogun: Total War, which came out in 1999. They developed the game before this, but then it was talking about sports games on the license for Electronic Arts.

There are several reasons why Shogun was the game that got a sequel. The fans of the series has steadily drooling after a trip back to feudal Japan is obviously the most important. More unexpectedly, perhaps, there has been such a major revision of Japanese history since then, that an interpretation in 2011 would be completely different.

The sequel is certainly on the way, and it is obvious that the developers have learned much since the turn of the millennium. Everything indicates namely that Shogun 2 is a smooth collection of the most successful mechanisms from the previous games in the series.
All against a

Total War: Shogun 2 starts in 1545 and shows us a fragmented Japan. A power vacuum has occurred, and nine warlords vie to be the absolute. It is one of those you wish to control, all with different strengths and weaknesses. It may be mentioned that you have access to an additional clan if you buy a special edition of the game.

The overall objective is to occupy Kyoto was the capital at this time. This of course requires that you fight lots of varied kinds. There will be fighting on the big plains, the snow-capped mountains and sea. At the same time one must also take over the fortresses of the various warlords, which has more complicated sieges of castles.

The Japanese castles from this period had in fact several levels, a point which matches reasonably different from the ones we've seen in other games in the series. Here we find because large castle houses at different heights. Therefore, a siege in practice have a number of different phases. It presents new challenges. Castles are also far different climate, all of which affect the efficient retention of troops.

If you only manage to conquer the yolk of the egg, Kyoto, and produces a new challenge. Before this point, one might form alliances and collaborate with other warlords, or at least declare a truce with someone so you get some peace. Once one becomes Shogun eneherserker and then get another whistle sound. There's no one who likes to be beaten at the finish line, and in the capital city will all turn against you.

This gives the game two very different stages with different pace, and developers emphasize that it is important to have a real ram army before volunteering to fight against røkla.
Focusing on multiplayer

The Creative Assembly has received much training in developing these games now, including where they have visited Napoleon Bonaparte's many sprawling, medieval and Roman Empire. Many of the most successful mechanisms has naturally been carried over, especially in relation to the multiplayer part of the game. In fact, it seems that this aspect is some of what they have invested the most energy in.

Empire: Total War, for example, introduced the concept of "drop-in battles," which means that the computer controlled opponents are being replaced by real players if any are available. This was popular enough to be taken further. Multiplayer stick still much deeper than this, and Shogun 2 comes with a completely separate cooperative campaign where you control each clan.

Part of what makes the latter so exciting is that you can actually cooperate directly. That is, if you fight a battle then a buddy control certain parts of your army. Should this be an inappropriate or go bad so you could be denying access and reduce him / her to a mere witnessed.

In the general multiplayer section applies also to play their cards right, for an automated feature system provides you with different symbols according to how you behave. These range from viewing the devices you prefer to label you as a æresløs tufts if you have a tendency to leave before the game session is over. So you can get some idea of the people you meet until you have drawn as much as a sword from its sheath.

It should also be mentioned that the fighting between clans and other predetermined play groups have been sanitized. Internet component of the game is also divided into a number of regions, and every second week, those who occupy the highest throne on top of a ranking list. In addition to the prestige of this should offer unique rewards.
Very flexible

Furthermore, you will be able to give your army a personal character to a greater extent than previously. Everything from the different units, to castles and your general can be tailored. New armor parts lock up, for example by completing various objectives, so-called "achievements". Are you skilled enough to collect all the armor sets you will be rewarded with a set of bonuses and special abilities.

These properties can also unlock by plowing their way through the campaign. The 65 regions (plus 12 clean sea area) namely alternate between giving you access to new units and certain special characteristics. It is unclear whether these can range, but some examples will be attack and defense bonuses to various devices. Every little bit helps when you can have up to 65 000 units on a battlefield simultaneously.

Furthermore, your success is rewarded in kind with experience points, which in turn helps to increase the skill level of your general. A comprehensive ferdighetstre lets you customize both passive and active properties, and ultimately will all originate in a greatly improved military leader. Here one could end up as a sniper, and it allows a general in the position and effectively pick down large amounts of enemies from the safety distance.
Conclusion

The Creative Assembly have received good training the twelve years that have elapsed since the first Shogun and the Total War game. For many thrones studio's first strategy game that is still the favorite, and there is little evidence to suggest that little brother does dishonor on the company's breakthrough title. It may in fact appear that most of it is improved.

The battles are bigger and more complex than ever, and you can tailor your forces to a greater extent than previously. Meanwhile, successful elements that battle and the ability to jump into battles against other players become seamlessly continued.

* Also read: Have a question for The Creative Assembly?

In single-player portion, you take on the formidable task of collecting many regions of Japan to one, and then show you capable of retaining power when everyone turns to you. On top of offering the game on a co-op among other things lets you and a friend co-operate directly, in addition to the usual "divide and conquer" hysteria.

Such a profound and extensive experience as a game in this series can never be summed up in the course of an hour-long session, but what we've seen have definitely given me a taste. The British team behind major release seems to have steel control, and there will be a lot for the fans of the series thrive with the upcoming trip to feudal Japan.