Sequels Ahoy! - The Sequel. Shogun 2: Total War Demo Preview

Continuing on my demo preview spree, and hoping this doesn't prove to be "the difficult 2nd sequel", I've just finished playing with the Shogun 2: Total War Demo. The Total War series has been one of my favourites for a long time, although I never really tried the original and instigator of the series so I was eager to give this one a whirl!

"We're wearing the same hat! Go home and change!"

Being full of reckless bravado (a great trait in a general I'm sure you'll agree) I decided to skip the "tutorial campaign" on offer and jump straight into the historic battle mode. This, for anyone not familiar with the series, throws you into the role of a general in charge of an army in a real battle plucked from the history books. As the game finished loading I'm presented with a battlefield that looks favourable with a river splitting me and the enemy. But my army that is split all over the map. 2 allies take up positions on my flanks. Feeling confident in my advantage I allow the enemy to cross the river and bring the fight to me. First mistake.
 The enemy flood over the river at every crossing point and because my army is spread so thinly across the field I struggle to contain them. Suddenly my advisor chirps up, my allies on my left flank refuse to engage after suffering an insult. Brilliant. So with my left flank weakened and my centre fully engaged my 2nd mistake became apparent. Not knowing what I was facing. As the enemy pulled out their matchlock rifles and opened fire I watched aghast as my forces turned and fled in terror. With the battle all but lost, insult was added to injury. My second ally on the right flank showed his true colours and went turncoat, storming down the hill to mop up my fleeing soldiers.

Ok. So that didn't go well, but now there are no more surprises. Lets fall back on some old trusted tactics. Control the river crossings and pick them off as they swim across! Then deal with the treacherous allies later. Such a plan can't fail! So the battle begins again, and I order my centre to charge the river. Unfortunately it's a fair run away, that river, and the enemy are a lot closer than I. Secondly, my forces are again spread so thinly I only have 1 group of units to cover each crossing. Inevitably I am swept from the field once again, with even more embarrassing ease than last time. So, where's that tutorial again?

Subtle, he will never expect the Ninjas cunning approach down the main road

Tail firmly between legs I made a tactical withdrawal to the safety of the campaign tutorial. This is where you'll see both sides of a common Total War game. Firstly you have the turn based 3D campaign map, this time based around Japan (and in the tutorial, based around the island of Shikoku). Secondly you have the battlefield maps in which your real time battles are won or in my case lost. The idea of course being to build and grow your armies and then to use them to conquer your neighbours territory and put yourself in line to become the next Shogun of Japan. All manner of side missions and distractions have been added to the series over it's span and they are all present here. The ocean trade system from Empire is on show early on, allowing you to open a trade route with China. As the tutorial continues you are shown the use of the other inhabitants of the campaign maps aside from your Generals, starting with the Ninja. An expert in assassination & sabotage the Ninja is the thorn in your enemies side. When sent on an assassination mission an excellent video clip is shown with often hilarious outcomes depending on your agents level of success. Secondly the Metsuke, a sort of secret police force with which you can control the flow of enemy agents around your territory. With powers of arrest you can send their agents packing or, more permanently, execute them. Lastly, the monk helps to spread Buddhism, can incite riots in enemy territories or even convince them to retire.

Rock, Paper...Horsey

As you can probably tell from my impassioned story telling earlier,  I really enjoy the real time battles, even if my tactics would make Field Marshal Haig proud. The battlefield creator works to ensure that the area you choose to attack on the campaign map is reflected correctly on the field. So if you attack with a river at your back and mountains to your right you should see this on the field, with all the drawbacks and benefits this may bring. All the usual rules of battle apply. Spears beat Cavalry, arrows beat light armour, Cavalry charges break infantry.  Later, those pesky Christians bring muskets and cannon into play which you can get your hands on, and all you have to do is sell your honour and tradition down the river.

The graphics are again outstanding. One tutorial battle takes place in the winter season and you can the snow drop around your troops as the killing starts. Zoom right down into the action for the best visuals you'll see. Each unit in the company is slightly different from the next whether it be a full face mask or moustaches. Brilliantly, as you zoom down close the din of battle builds into a steady, chaotic roar of clashing metal and screaming men. I must admit to a slight computer slowdown with battle in full flow and snow falling in the background but that is more to do with my machine than anything.

The major drawback of the Total War series for me has always been that period, quite far into the game when the campaign map has swung firmly in your favour. You are able to build vast armies quickly and it becomes a matter of when you win rather than if you will win. If the Total War team have managed to work on how to keep their campaigns fresh and exciting from start to finish then they'll be onto another sure fire winner with Shogun 2.