Total War: Shogun 2
Shogun 2: Total War is the next Total War title that is scheduled to be released by Sega and the Creative Assembly in 2011. As in the original Shogun: Total War, the game will take place in fuedal Japan during the Sengoku Jidai, or Warring States era, when various clans competed for control of Japan. The game is currently in a Pre-Alpha stage, and as such there is not much definite information about the game. A recent article from IGN hints at a smaller number of units than previous total war titles(around 20 per faction), more focus on the story and characters, the return of pre-battle speeches, upgradable generals, and (more) sea battles including a rock-paper-scissors system.
Features
The Hero System
A highly controversial new Hero System has been announced, whereupon each faction shall have a Hero that can sway the tide of battle, almost unstoppable. IGN reports that 'hero units are a nearly unstoppable force on the battlefield, capable of holding bridge crossings against entire armies, or smashing through a battle line to engage the enemy general'. This may seem overpowered, however The Creative Assembly has reported that they are simply 'Highly ranked elite units' and 'available at the top of the tech tree'. Creative Assembly employees have also posted in the official total war forums that they will not be able to take on an entire army. This new system is receiving mixed reactions and mixed reports from IGN and The Creative Assembly.
New Artificial Intelligence
The battle AI of Empire: Total War was looked down on by many people as a comlete failure on the part of The Creative Assembly to create a competent AI which could match up to veteran total war players. The Creative Assembly has claimed to have redone Shogun 2: Total War's artificial intelligence. The game's AI, like the original total Shogun: Total War, is supposedly programmed according to Sun Tzu's The Art of War. This is fitting, as the game mechanics demand an AI capable of both ranged and melee warfare.
Music
Jeff Van Dyke will be returning to compose the music for Shogun 2: Total War. He was the original composer of the music for Rome: Total War, Medieval 2: Total War, Medieval: Total War, and Shogun: Total War. Many senior total war fans have embraced this news as the best hope for Shogun 2: Total War, as Jeff Van Dyke has received many awards for his music scores, including BAFTA awards for the music of Rome: Total War and the original Shogun: Total War. However, some people want to keep the composer of the Napoleon: Total War score for this new title.
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