Rating: 
Summary: Not worth 5 stars, but nearer 5 than 4
Review: Firstly, I just can`t understand why people are crying out that the manual and turtorial is so horrible. Well, I was firstly dissapointed when I read the manual. But the tturtorial, if not bringing inn more advanced combat tactics like the no-daici samurai`s, it is a very good way to learn the game. Further, stopp the ... bugging about ME, at me it worked in ME without any problems.'The main game screen (the Samurai Swords part) is the part with the settling, raisings of armies and intrigue. There is two tings I would like be better here. 1: The enemies never use priests at diploamcy, and the diplomacy is a little to easy (at least comlexity like Civ 2 whould have done the trick). Else, it is a great "game". You have the risk feelin`, ... just much more, for the first time on your computer in 3d. I just love playing the Uesegi. Further, the battles are even more impressive, with landscapes as far as the eye can see (could have been a little larger, maybee the players choice), and with hills, rivers and forests like never seen before. This is just great. I just can`t understand why so many hate this game. Some people just don`t have sense for tactics...
Rating: 
Summary: WARNING: DO NOT BUY THIS GAME
Review: This is not such a bad game, it has some good intentions but the bugs and incompatibility problems make it unplayable for some people, plus there are quite a few good games to buy out there today so dont waste your money on this one. To add some credibility to my statement I'll say that I'm 23 years old and I've played games all my life from board games, pc nes, super nes, nes 64 and playstation and even dominoes. This is not a good one, I returned it the next day and got AOEII, and this one is good (microsoft should stop making os's and office and take game making seriously). I don't value a pc game for its graphics and sound, and specially today, where all new games have great graphics (I would give shogun 4 stars in graphics and 5 in sound), if you dont agree, try playing again final fantasy (1) or quest for glory or pool of radiance or even your old version of tie fighter (one of the best ever made). Well, enough talking for now and lets go to the game review: 1) incompatibility: it will not work for half of the people who bought it, although it did "work" in my computer, a 500 pentium with 8mb accelerator that is very decent machine for a third world country like mine. 2) heavyness: as I said the game loaded in my computer, but unless you have 500mb memory and 100mb accelerator the game will SLOW if you control an army over 400 men (about battle number 10 in "easy" mode), or if you have more than two other programs installed in your computer (this is mostly a windows problem) 3) interface and gameplay: now who said civilization call to power had a clumsy interface? this one is 10 times worse, it is only good if you command 1-3 units (or armies, whatever). I got the "mouse move bug" which means that when you ordered your men to move to a spot they'll actually move 2 or 3 times further, this made all VERY complicated and frustrating. Selecting armies was a little complicated, you only need to click once but then you'll realize that the army you selected is a totally different one, of course, you can always check which banner is "moving", this will take you aprox one minute, and your men will probably be slaughtered when you discover it, since the computer reacts very well. Some people say that the AI is tough, this is only true to defending AI, when you are defending all you have to do is place an army in a hill and the enemy will rush to you and get killed in an arrow rain... If you are attacking a bridge, you'll need an army 10 times bigger to win, unless you dont handle the attack yourself, its just better to let the computer handle it, there's probably a trick to this, but it'll take you a few months to learn, and since the game isn't fun, you'll probably just wont do it. The turn to turn part of the game is pointless, there's very little economy and politics to handle, all you have to do is move your armies from the place they are created to the front you are attacking, the stealth units suck, and as a matter of fact, the whole turn to turn system sucks too. I would like to keep on going but I think I may have convinced you already. 4) graphics and sound and historical setting: very good, the only thing that saves this game from a zero star. 5)replayability: I dont know since I did not finish the game, actually I didn't get to the middle of the game (or quarter). Well. That is "most" of the bad things I have to say about this one, and the designers need to take their time before launching another fiasco sequel. I advise you not to buy or rent this game, you'll lose money either way, get aoe II if you want a RTS game or just play cac again for that matter (i wouldnt get tiberian sun either). Or if you have them both or have played enough of them just buy a good scotch whiskey bottle and invite a girl home :).
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding But Not Quite There
Review: Electronic Arts' games are usually strong in action and detailed graphics and Shogun: Total War is no exception. I would only look at this game as only half a strategy game because, after all, most of the management you can do is in military controls. There is almost no micromanagement or whatsoever to speak of that would give you the satisfaction of building an empire. As mentioned by other reviewers, the battle scenes are great and different from all other real-time strategy games. At last, we have a game that really takes human emotions into account. It's no longer the simple and mindless hitpoint calculation that would decide a battle. A horde of superior units would no longer guarantee a victory. I have to say this is one element of this game that really separate itself from the others. The background setting of ancient Japan also gives seasoned gamers a refreshing feel. There can be more improvements in the campaign mode. Throwing in a few more controls over political and economic policies should bring this game to the very top of its category. As we all know, wars are not limited to on the battlefields. In conclusion, Total War is a fun game that really stands out. My suggestion is that if you can wait, check out the sequel that is coming up in a couple of months first. If you are stuck in the boredom of playing too many Age of Empires-like games and looking for a break, get Total War now.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite strategy/tactics game ever
Review: I have played a few strategy games and many tactical games and this one is the best of both. The game designers made a ferocious AI (though you can learn to beat it after a few months) and really attempted to simulate large scale battles in ancient Japan. The game focuses on combat so you do not have to waste time gathering resources. There are only a few games worth playing over and over again and this is one.
Rating:
Summary: Almost incredible
Review: This is the first game that I can say replaces Lords of the Realm 2. It mixes the turn-based overarching strategy of resource-management with the real-time tactical combat. The graphics are amazing (with my voodoo5 and Hitachi 814 21' monitor) and the music in battle is pretty cool. The only reason I didn't give this game 5 stars (and I play all the time) is that the alliance system offers nothing to the game. In Lords 2, you could at least ask your ally to help you attack people. In Shogun the ally system basically consists of allying yourself with as many parties as possible, getting nothing from any of them, then attacking them/being attacked. There is no point to the current system. Please please add to this!! Other than that the game rules. The replayability is great (every 2-4 weeks I feel like beating it again), especially because there are 4 difficulty settings that can make the game really intense.
Rating:
Summary: Sengoku Jidai - The age of the country at war
Review: Welcome to 16th century feudal Japan, a beautiful, heavily wooded land of green, rolling, mist covered hills and wide rivers. A land of castles, peasant farmers and samurai warriors. That's the only welcome there is though because it's also the age of the country at war and as one of six competing Daimyo or warlords, your job in this game is to hold off your competition,defeat your enemies and unite Japan under your banner and thus claim the title of Shogun. Easier said than done, but in achieving it therein lies the fun. The game is a well balanced mix of 3D real time strategy (RTS) and a turn based system. There are three game modes - custom battle, historical battle and where you'll probably spend most time, the heart of the game - the campaign. All three have the 3D RTS 'Battle View' in common. In Battle View you are pitted against other daimyo and their samurai armies on lush beautifully depicted terrain. The terrain and weather effects are not simply pretty, they affect battle. Learn fast their secrets or die. Elevation allows warriors with ranged weapons (musketeers and archers) to rain death on those below. Woods will protect you from this aerial assault and those foolish enough to send cavalry charging into the close confines of the forests will suffer accordingly. River assaults can be bloody affairs. The weather changes with the seasons. Snow slows and tires both footsoldiers and cavalry and rain dampens your bowstrings and rifle flintlocks making ranged weapons almost useless. Mist and the occasional rolling fogs of spring and summer affect visibility for all concerned. To succeed you must field armies of mixed types. The armored Naginata and Heavy cavalry are what you need to assault those bridges or castle strongholds. Defend with your Yari (spear) warriors and ranged units to give the onrushing cavalry something to think about. Found a weakpoint! - attack with your shock troops - the fanatical warrior monks and the devasting No Dachi (two-handed sword) samurai. Your tactical situation is not solely a function of terrain and weather. You can adjust your army formations as needed. Loose formations help when the enemy is raining arrows down on you while a wedge formation provides the power to break those defensive lines. The turned based element is a feature of the campaign game. You, as one of the daimyo's have access to a boardgame style map of Japan showing all the provinces and your game pieces. Decide what you wish to move where, sliding your pieces across the map like chess pieces. Build structures, train armies, see to your income generating activities and generally look after your territories, while plotting where to invade next. End your turn and see how the other daimyos respond. It won't be long before their response will be War, and then it's back to the 3D battleview again for some more beautifully rendered mayhem.
Rating: 
Summary: READ THIS BEFORE BUYING
Review: Shogun is an EXCELLENT game, BUT IS UNPLAYABLE ON MOST OF THE BRAND NEW SYSTEMS OUT TODAY. Due to terrible EA techinical support, and horrible compatibility issues, Shogun doesn't work on my BRAND NEW 900mhz computer. I know for a fact that most people with an Nvidia graphics card CANNOT play Shogun. Electronic Arts (manufacterer of shogun) neglects the problem and refuses to patch their game to work with Nvidia drivers. The game also does not work on Windows Millenium computers. PLEASE keep this in mind before buying ANY game from Electronic Arts. The company obviously neglects to give their customers honest tech support and neglects to make sure their games even work!
Rating:
Summary: New model of complex role of dipolomacy & ancient warfare.
Review: EA has struck a balance, which many games have tried, between the strategic and the tactical. The strategic game is loaded with dipolomacy, and grand management of your resources and men. The tactical battles, played in real time on a beautiful 3D world, gives the feel of commanding an army from horse back with all the benefits and troubles that come along with that! This game is a high end demand on CPU speed and graphics, but one of those games that drives us to upgrade! Would like to see other games on the same model--Napoleanics, Revolutionary & Civil War! Can't wait for the expansion/update!
Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware! STW won't work with Ge Force Drivers!! Read--
Review: Nice game, but I've just upgraded my PC to a Ge Force video card, and STW will not run if you have Ge Force drivers! Check ea.com and under technical support this is all thoroughly documented. There doesn't seem to be any patch or fix forthcoming according to what I'm reading there. And that's a shame because it's a fine game. Check Ea.com's website for an official announcement about this problem being fixed before buying.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: Happily, I didn't buy this game, but had a look when my brother brought it to my house. The highlight that most people talk about (brilliant 3D terrain) just did not happen. I have a pretty new computer (PIII 550Mhz, Windows 98), and even after updating my monitor drivers, the battle sequences just display a pile of rubbish! When you use the 'software' drivers the terrain appears, but the response is SLOW - completely unusable. From a game my brother raved about, I got only disappointment
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