Shogun: Warlords Edition Preview

As for the graphics, we expected nothing less than perfect from the Creative Assembly. The 3D engine has been absolutely perfected: the textures and the models have been improved and look much smoother and more detailed. There will be a lot more new different terrains (for instance, the huge beaches in the scenario with the Mongolian invasion), and some older maps have been practically doubled in size. The units moving on terrain will raise dust-clouds (real Fog of War!!) and high grass can be used for hiding units.

The strategic map contains numerous improvements from tiny improvements in unit usage to small visual adjustments (for instance, the Generals will now show their rank and will be easier to distinguish from other Generals and normal units). You will be able to set a number of waypoints to each unit. The Shinobi and Ninja have been perfected. Shinobi can try to bribe the enemy general, and if he succeeds, his entire army will come to your side. If he fails, he dies. Ninja and the battlefield ninja will be able to perform assassinations and they will have a chance to try to unlock the doors of the enemy fortification. As for the religion, the Christian priests can now start rebellions, and the Shinobi can be used as diplomats. Another novelty is that building a church will bring you additional Koka.

Apart from this campaign with the Mongolian invasion, the game features three more campaigns based on historical figures like: Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and these will let you feel the atmosphere of some of the most famous battles in Japanese history. The campaigns will put you in the shoes of famous Warlords, and let you try to fulfill their destiny. The old campaigns from Total war will also be improved, but this will unfortunately mean that the save-games will be incompatible. The old campaigns have been made more challenging and faster and they too will feature the new units. Building and training units is now far better balanced, and you will have less difficulty controlling the tech-tree.

Apart from the enhanced AI, which should now act far more realistic, all the campaigns and scenarios will be accessible from the multiplayer mode. The aspect of having entire multiplayer campaigns sounds promising especially over LAN or Internet with a possibility to restrict moves from several minutes to several weeks. The game will ship with a map and campaign editor.

All the improvements in Warlords Edition/Mongol Invasion will bring new strategic challenges, mostly thanks to the Mongolian side, which acts in an absolutely specific manner on the battlefield, allowing you to employ many new tactical possibilities.