Sengoku Jidai: Shadow of the Shogun
- May 19, 2016
- Byzantine Games
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamSengoku Jidai: Shadow of the Shogun is a turn-based strategy game set in feudal Japan. Command your armies across historical battles, managing resources and territories to unify Japan under your rule. With a focus on historical accuracy and tactical depth, fans of strategy games will enjoy leading their clans to victory in this brutal period of Japanese history.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an incredible art style that resembles a moving ukiyo-e painting, providing a relaxing and immersive experience.
- Gameplay is strategic and allows for experimentation with different difficulty levels, making it accessible and enjoyable for various players.
- The game accurately portrays historical battles of Asian militaries, offering a unique experience compared to other wargames.
- The AI is often criticized for being weak and predictable, leading to unchallenging gameplay on certain maps.
- The pursuit mechanic can disrupt strategic planning, as units may chase routed enemies uncontrollably, leading to frustrating situations.
- There are significant historical inaccuracies in unit representations and mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience for history enthusiasts.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its strategic depth and slow-paced, stress-free mechanics, allowing players to experiment with various difficulty levels for a tailored experience. While many appreciate the historical accuracy and tactical challenges, some criticize the pursuit mechanic and limited unit diversity, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game offers engaging skirmish modes and fluid battle mechanics, appealing to fans of tactical gameplay reminiscent of the Total War series.
“The gameplay is awesome, very strategic, slow-paced, no stress, and you can experiment with 6 different difficulty levels to see what suits you best and makes your game sufficiently challenging and fun!”
“Campaign is alright but I am not a totally good judge as I rarely consider game campaigns as my priority; skirmish, sandbox, freeplay, etc. are my favorite mechanics and this game has fairly exciting skirmish mode battles which feature many historically accurate armies and unit types.”
“Great mechanics that really capture what one presumes would be the feeling of commanding a battle in 16th and 17th century East Asia.”
“Until the pursuit mechanic can be toggled off in the settings menu, I'll have to look elsewhere.”
“The only real gameplay is at the very beginning where you plan your battle and place your troops.”
“What I don't like is having control of the game ripped away from me by the game mechanics, and not the cunning tactics of the enemy.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and immersive aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. However, some players criticize the graphics for being outdated and not user-friendly, particularly in terms of the UI, which can detract from gameplay. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they contribute to a relaxing and engaging atmosphere.
“The art style is incredible and very relaxing!”
“Because the water color aesthetic is so wonderful, I get lost in contemplating the graphics.”
“The period artwork is gorgeous, and along with the great music, really provides an immersive experience.”
“Yes, the graphics, while their style is pleasing, are hardly up to date.”
“The new graphic style and UI is not very clear to read though and detracts from the gameplay.”
“While the graphics don't have to be really pretty to me in a strategy game, I do want to say that my eyes felt tired after some 2 hours of gameplay.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players recommending turning it off in favor of traditional Japanese music for a more authentic experience. However, many others praise the soundtrack as magnificent and fitting, enhancing the game's atmosphere and immersion. Overall, while some find the in-game music lacking, others appreciate its contribution to the game's artistic and thematic elements.
“I love the setting and the choice of music.”
“The art work of the game is marvelous and fits well into the theme; also, the music adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
“The period artwork is gorgeous, and along with the great music, really provides an immersive experience.”
“I can't play this game because of the so-called 'music'.”
“Type the game name and soundtrack into YouTube before you buy this game.”
“Also, I have one recommendation for anyone who wants to experience this game fully: turn off the in-game music and just search YouTube for 'traditional Japanese koto music' or 'traditional Japanese shamisen/shakuhachi music' and choose the video that you like best!”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game offers excellent replayability, particularly for fans of the genre, thanks to its enjoyable mechanics and features like pbem++ (play by email), which significantly enhance the experience. Players appreciate the fluid battle mechanics and the overall engaging gameplay that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“Because of this, there is plenty of replay value; the battle mechanics are fluid.”
“All in all, it's a wonderful game with lots of replayability if you are into the genre.”
“I want to add that the game has pbem++ (play by email with Slitherine server) like many recent turn-based strategy games by Slitherine, and you must try it; this is where the replayability of the game increases drastically.”
“Because of this, there is plenty of replay value.”
“I want to add that the game has PBEM++ (play by email with Slitherine server) like many recent turn-based strategy games by Slitherine, and you must try it; this is where the replayability of the game increases drastically.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning artwork that complements the theme, while the music significantly enhances the overall experience.
“The artwork of the game is marvelous and fits well into the theme; the music adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
“The immersive environment and attention to detail create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The combination of stunning visuals and haunting sound design truly enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is not a primary focus, with users primarily drawing comparisons to the Total War series rather than highlighting comedic elements. While some players appreciate the lighthearted moments, the overall tone leans more towards strategy and historical themes than humor.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the random rallying of units outside command range, which complicates efforts to re-engage them effectively.
“Other units have rallied at random points outside of command range, and even getting them back into action is going to be a tedious chore.”
