Gameplay

No Mass Suicide Here

Shogun's big draw is definitely in the gameplay. How many games have you played which give you command of nearly 2000 men at one time? While they are in formations (companies of up to 120), each unit is a single entity with its own health, stamina and morale. When two companies class, it isn't arbitrary numbers that show 10 men dropping from one, 17 from another. Your men will die based on the situations they are in - if one gets surrounded, he'll die faster than those with single enemies. Your companies also have leaders (who will always be the last man to die), who may or may not lead in a situation. If your daimyo from the full campaign is with an army, then he will lead regardless. Otherwise, it's generally the most experienced leader from all the companies forming the army. If your Taisho (general) dies, then your troops will suffer a morale loss and lose any honor bonuses they got from being led by him. Taishos who have won many battles become famous and experienced, leading their men better and getting more out of each troop.

It's over for the old man

Another fine victory

In fact, honor is what a company can earn through many battles in the campaign, or it can be bought with the koku (money) you're given to create an army in a one-battle skirmish or multiplayer. Honor is a huge factor in determining a unit's success. A company of heavy cavalry who might get slaughtered by Yari Samurai (pikemen - their direct counter-unit) if they were green, can hold their own if they are battle-hardened veterans of great honor.

They flee!

Lord Hojo surveys the carnage

Combat!

Other factors in combat are weather and terrain. If it's raining heavily, your arquebusiers can't fire their guns and are useless. Similarly, rain and wind affect archer accuracy and range. Of course, your archers could make up for this bad weather by planting themselves on a hilltop and using the added elevation to their advantage. They can also better resist a charge if they hold the higher ground. However, their arrows will much less useful if their target is skulking through a forest.

Oh, we're sending him in?

They hope to outrun death

The tactical game is very, very deep in scope. Certain units are particularly good against some, and very weak against others. Archers will weaken all kinds of units from range and are particularly devastating against those that move slow. However they are weak in melee, especially against cavalry. To protect them use Yari units (spearmen) who are devastating to any mounted opponents. Yet these same spearmen aren't your troops of choice when facing No-Dachi or Warrior Monks. You're better off attacking those from great range. And so it goes, with each unit countering another.

There is one problem with it though - if even ONE enemy troop is still on the field, the battle can't end. If you choose to quit, with 1000+ of your men on the field, the game will still award victory to the enemy.