Graphics

Mythgun?

While Shogun is by no means a Myth clone. the similarities between it and Myth cannot be overlooked. Both games feature a 3D terrain engine which is then spruced up with two- and three-dimensional objects (buildings, trees, etc.) Finally, the units themselves are all 2D sprites.

The similarities continue. The player has the same view options as he did before - everything is shown from a 2/3rds, fully controllable view. The camera will pan, move forward and back, all the while staying a set elevation above the terrain. The view interface has been improved with a cool right-click and drag feature that lets the player select a point on the map and from which angle he'd like to view it.

The melee begins!

Enemy archers are keeping a distance

That said, the terrain is spectacular. The endless hills, valleys and mountains of Honshu are portrayed in stunning detail. Trees cover mountainsides providing cover for enemy archers or maybe a band of cavalry ready to charge down the hillside and break your ranks.

Da Troops

Shogun's troops are all 2D sprites on a very small scale. Each and every single character is displayed on screen, and each standard unit group is 60 units. These unit groups aren't static either - not only can they change formations, but when engaged in combat they will eventually break up. Individual troops will be fighting one another in single combat. This all combines for a very unique and believable display of a medieval battlefield.

They're going to stay here until the last

Stunning terrain

Archers fire arrows together in volleys, these arch through the sky, reaching their apogee before taking a deadly dive at their targets below. Cavalry all have horses drawn though these do seem a bit crude at the current stage.

The unfortunate thing about 2D graphics is that they don't scale well when zoomed in. It might be all nice and pretty from a distance, but up close they aren't so hot. Of course, if they were 3D, system requirements on the box would go something like "Required: SGI Origin 2000".