Shogun 2: Total War

Shogun 2: Total War is the upcoming game by The Creative Assembly. Going back to the series' roots, S2TW is set in feudal Japan, where nine rival warlords are vying for power over Japan.

Units and Generals
Toning down from previous games like Empire: Total War and Napoleon: Total war, the game will focus only on Japan, and the unit roster will be smaller, with only 30-40 units, although they will be upgradable in different ways.

The game will reintroduce features from previous games, such as rousing battle speeches and hero units, last seen in the original Shogun: Total War. Your generals will be more important, you will discover their loyalties, strengths, weaknesses, hates and fears and you will also define them. Now you can choose how your generals progress through life, rather than having traits randomly assigned to them.

Sieges
The siege mechanics of the game are also very different to the sieges in previous games. Whereas in European sieges, you essentially knocked a hole in the wall then piled into it, sieges in Shogun 2 will be more complicated, played out in five stages before your victory is assured. Castles also have five levels of development, each one bigger and tougher than the last.

Battlefields
The weather system will see an overhaul, with the four seasons being properly represented on the battlefield. Your Ashigaru Spearmen could be battling under the spring blossom, or trudging through the heavy snow. The AI will also recieve an overhaul, being programmed to act according to Sun Tzu's The Art of War, leading to more tactical encounters. The battlefield will also feature temples, which can be captured by your men to improve their morale. The hero units in the game will be strong warriors, able to fight many men at once, and also to engage in duels of honour with other heroes.

Naval battles will also feature, with land featuring in the battles for the first time. Ships will now be controlled by oars, making wind much less of a problem than it was in ETW and NTW. On the other hand, you are likely to be making sure you don't run your ships about too much, as the oarsmen have limited energy and will tire.

Graphics
The graphics engine will recieve a new look as well, with more bones per model, which allows them you have much more realistic animations while fighting and marching. The marching has also been recorded for real in the footwear of the day on different ground types, to give a much more realistic sound.

This page will be updated when more news becomes available, but for now, why not pop over to our Shogun 2: Total War Discussion Forum and join in on the speculation!