Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai

Total War Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai
Developer(s)	The Creative Assembly Feral Interactive (OS X)[1]
Publisher(s)	Sega Feral Interactive (OS X)[1]
Composer(s)	Jeff van Dyck
Series	Total War
Engine	Warscape
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows OS X
Release date(s)	23 March 2012 18 December 2014 (OS X)
Genre(s)	Turn-based strategy, real-time tactics
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai is a standalone expansion to the strategy video game Total War: Shogun 2, released on 23 March 2012. It is set during the mid 19th-century Bakumatsu era which also includes the Meiji Restoration, when the threat of Western powers forced Japan's government to modernize and eventually abolish its traditional samurai-based shogunate.

Gameplay

This standalone expansion focuses on the conflicts between the Imperialists and the Shogunists in the final years of Tokugawa Shogunate, which takes place 300 years after the events of the original game. Gameplay is a mix of traditional Samurai culture mainly seen in the original game and the power of modern weaponry which is seen more in this version. The general objective for the player is to guide ancient Japan into the modern age, as the arrival of America, Britain and France will start a horrific civil war, which will seal the future of a nation.

Railways make an appearance in the game, allowing for much faster troop movement on the campaign map. The Gatling gun appears in the game. Artillery units and ships can now bombard enemy units directly on the campaign map. Likewise, coastal guns can now be built to counter such bombardment. Since ships in the expansion are now steam-powered, there are significant changes in naval warfare and tactics from previous games.

Graphics-wise, the game utilises an improved Warscape engine, adding enhancements to the Campaign Map, improved water effects and more. This engine update has also added numerous performance improvements.

The player can choose to play on either the Imperial or the Shogunate's side. Including all of the Fall of the Samurai DLC, there are five Imperial and five Shogunate clans to choose from. It is possible to convert a clan's allegiance from Shogunate to Imperial, or vice versa, in the early (but not the later) stages of the campaign.

Similar to Total War: Shogun 2 is the realm divide system that is triggered when the player gains enough fame by capturing enough territories, though with a few differences. The player will have the option to side with the emperor/shogun or form a new republic. The latter option will result in all other computer surviving clans declaring war on the player one by one. The former will only result in clans of the opposing side declaring war on the player and forbids the player from declaring war on their allies.

Release

Downloadable content

• Imperial Clan: Tsu: Unlike many of the other great clans of Japan, the beginnings of the Todo clan, rulers of the Tsu domain, are actually rather humble: Todo Takatora was an ashigaru, a peasant footsoldier, during the great wars of the Sengoku Jidai. Todo Takatora sided with the Tokugawa clan at Sekigahara, and was rewarded with the fief of Tsu, comprising a significant portion of the provinces of Iga and Ise. Historically, the Tsu chose to play a "long game", apparently supporting the Shogunate until the very last moment. At the Battle of Toba-Fushimi they sided with the Choshu and Satsuma domains, and therefore with the Imperial forces. They then provided the Imperialists with a strategic position to continue the drive towards Kyoto. Their central position on the mainland, in what is now Mie Prefecture, lay between Edo and Kyoto, and this allowed them enviable flexibility and options in their loyalties. Such flexibility goes some way to explain why they have such excellent shinobi at their command.
• Imperial Clan: Saga: The Saga domain is ruled by Nabeshima Mochizuru, the latest in a line of daimyo who were given this territory after the Tokugawa won the vicious civil war of the Sengoku Jidai. The Nabeshima did well by being sensible enough to join the Tokugawa cause while there was still some doubt over the result. They did not wait until the Battle of Sekigahara to decide where their true loyalties lay. The domain includes the port of Nagasaki, a valuable resource for any daimyo. It is here that Japan has its only official trade with the West, and it is here that interesting ideas arrive in the country. Perhaps this knowledge of the harshness of the outside world is what has convinced the Nabeshima to throw their weight behind the Imperial Court rather than the Shogun. The Nabeshima clan can rely on a few advantages in the coming struggle: they have Western connections and trade that is far ahead of any other domain. In turn, this learning allows them to be artillery experts, and have good shipbuilding and industrial facilities. The modern world has much to offer to those who would embrace it. Interestingly, the historical Nabeshima Mochizuru eventually resigned his position and left Japan to study in England.
• Shogunate Clan: Obama: The Sakai clan, the rulers of Obama, are firm supporters of the Shogunate. The original Sakai lord of the domain, Sakai Tadakatsu, was one of the roju, or elders, under Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun. This was a hugely important post in the affairs of Japan, and Tadakatsu was correspondingly powerful within the Shogunate's administration. The Sakai clan could also claim to be related to the Minamoto clan, and to be cousins of both the Tokugawa and the Matsudaira clans. The town of Obama had been a prosperous trading port, but its importance declined as Japan closed itself off from the outside world. It did however remain an important link to Ezo, modern Hokkaido. Because of their long experience of government and administration, they are experts at managing the population of their lands. They receive a taxation bonus, and are highly efficient at repression. They also spend money wisely, and they pay less upkeep for land units. All their garrison troops are also of high quality.
• Shogunate Clan: Sendai: Date Yoshikuni, the lord of Sendai, is loyal to the Shogunate. His family have been loyal to the Tokugawa clan since the end of the wars of the Sengoku Jidai. Then, Date Masamune had proven himself worthy, and established the domain with the blessing of the first Shogun. Even before then, the Date had been a noble and notable family of samurai, beginning as the Isa clan under the Minamoto. Given control of the Date province, and taking the name as their own, they survived centuries of turmoil. They have done this by political guile, implacable enemies, and fierce warriors. Now, as lords of Sendai, they are still all of those, even after centuries of relative peace. In battle, Sendai armies have longer when attacking, and need to defend for less time, making victory less of a race to achieve. The Date clan also have a bonus to all diplomatic efforts, and are tolerant towards people with different allegiance.

Reception

References