SHOGUN: Total War™ - Collection | Game Brain

SHOGUN: Total War™ - Collection Game Cover

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Shogun: Total War Collection is a strategy game set in feudal Japan. Players must lead their clan to victory by managing resources, building armies, and engaging in turn-based and real-time tactical battles. The collection includes the original Shogun: Total War and its expansion, Mongol Invasion. Experience the epic battles and political intrigue of feudal Japan in this classic Total War game.

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SHOGUN: Total War™ - Collection screenshot

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,157 reviews

graphics22 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

A brilliant cornerstone of the Total War series, offering a solid turn-based strategy experience.
Timeless classic that still holds up as one of the best in the franchise, providing hours of fun and nostalgia.
The game features engaging gameplay mechanics, allowing for strategic depth and rewarding tactical decisions.

The game suffers from various technical issues, including crashes and unresponsive controls, particularly in battle mode.
Graphics and UI are dated, which may deter new players accustomed to modern standards.
The AI can be unbalanced, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in terms of diplomacy and unit management.

graphics
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The graphics of this game, being over 20 years old, are widely regarded as dated and simplistic compared to modern standards, often described as pixelated and basic. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and art style, many note that the visuals can hinder gameplay, particularly in large battles where unit identification becomes challenging. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress today, the game's mechanics and strategic depth compensate for its visual shortcomings.
- “The art style is evocative, and the simple, elegant board draws me in.”
- “The visuals are a bit dated but still really good to look at, and nothing feels cluttered.”
- “While its graphics definitely lack the quality we are used to in the past few years, its mechanics make up for everything.”
- “The game is over 20 years old now, so the graphics are not up to modern standards, and the controls and camera are very different from more modern Total War games.”
- “The graphics are so damn old it's kind of hurt the eyes.”
- “The game is way too old and I'm not one who cares much for graphics/animation, but everything about the game is just old and outdated.”
gameplay
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by its retro charm and mechanical complexity, offering a blend of strategic management and tactical battles that many players find enjoyable despite its dated graphics. While some mechanics may feel clunky or broken, leading to a lack of challenge, the overall experience is praised for its depth and engaging content, making it a worthwhile play for fans of classic RTS games. However, players should be prepared for potential performance issues on modern hardware and a learning curve associated with its older design.
- “Yes, it's more retro than the modern games but still has many unique gameplay elements compared to the rest of the series.”
- “The gameplay redeems all shortcomings, great in-depth strategy and management.”
- “Gameplay is simple and fun but with lots of content - managing your castles, building your armies, making alliances, sending out assassins and spies to get the drop on your enemies and of course the epic battles!”
- “Additionally, the battle gameplay runs very poorly on modern hardware.”
- “This is the second reason why I haven't put more time into this game; some of the gameplay mechanics are too broken, which renders large swathes of the game pointless.”
- “Gameplay is clunky as well as the camera, but it's what you expect from an old game.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively immersing players in the setting of feudal Japan. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as one of the greatest, noting its minimal yet impactful design that enhances the overall experience, despite some elements showing their age. The combination of rich audio and sound effects contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, making it a standout feature even years after its release.
- “The design, sound, and music really bring the setting of feudal Japan to life.”
- “However, the game more than makes up for these failings with its sheer atmosphere: from the ambient background soundtrack to the 'deep background' of the 'Way of the Daimyo' manual, the game and its setting pull you in every time.”
- “Music and some sound effects re-used in Shogun II; but units and buildings are totally different.”
- “The game is very enjoyable if you can get over the UI and movement, and the music makes up for that on its own. In short, I think the majority of readers would enjoy this game, and for £6.99 it is a real bargain.”
- “The music is minimal, but thoroughly effective in drawing players into the atmosphere the game seeks to set - that of a Japan torn apart, and a thoughtful leader trying to maneuver to best advantage among the chaos.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich and immersive audio score, effectively capturing the chaotic essence of a torn Japan. While some modern elements may detract from its authenticity, the overall presentation remains compelling, with ambient soundscapes and thoughtful design drawing players into its historical setting. Reviewers consistently highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place, making it a classic in atmospheric gaming.
- “The music is minimal, but thoroughly effective in drawing players into the atmosphere the game seeks to set - that of a Japan torn apart, and a thoughtful leader trying to maneuver to best advantage among the chaos.”
- “Great sound, great atmosphere, great game and the stone which made the Total War series even possible!”
- “Yes, it actually does, from gameplay to history, it only loses slightly in the oversaturated, overly romantic atmosphere and environment, arrow trails, etc., and other gamey aspects of the modern engines.”
- “However, the game more than makes up for these failings with its sheer atmosphere: from the ambient background soundtrack to the 'deep background' of the 'Way of the Daimyo' manual, the game and its setting pull you in every time.”
- “This takes away from the atmosphere of the original game.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various glitches, including sound issues and animation problems, particularly in the Steam version. While some players have experienced no significant technical problems in the past, others note ongoing bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many still regard the game highly, appreciating its graphics and gameplay.
- “Now, however, the company has had a long history of lying to their fanbase, insulting their fanbase, engaging in immoral business practices, failing to properly patch all their horribly buggy games and charging unreasonable prices for low content, low quality DLCs.”
- “I played it in the past and never had any technical problems with the game, but the Steam version seems to have a couple of glitches.”
- “Some sound glitches and derpy animations are present within the game.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
60%
30%
Despite its age, the game offers significant replayability due to its simplicity and nostalgic value, drawing players back repeatedly. However, some users note that the AI can limit the overall replay experience.
- “This game is replayable over and over despite its age.”
- “The only limiting factor on replayability is the AI.”
- “Just as the Montgomery Ward, this game is so outdated, but what it makes up for, besides the memories, is the replay value.”
- “I've played lots of games from each decade and genre, but I always come back to the start of the Total War series for its simplicity and replayability.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding involved in managing provinces and unit movement to be tedious, particularly in the turn-based strategy elements. However, many agree that the effort pays off significantly in enhancing the battlefield experience, making the initial grind worthwhile.
- “Unit movement on the campaign map, province management, battle controls, and a few other UI issues are tedious.”
- “The turn-based strategy aspects of running provinces can seem tedious at first, but the dividends they yield to the battlefield aspects of the game are marvelous.”
- “You upgrade farming and mining, which give you money.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game features a compelling narrative set in feudal Japan, highlighting the struggles and strategic challenges of the era. While many players appreciate the simplicity and depth of the story, some have noted significant errors that detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed recommendations.
- “Faithful recreations of the struggles of feudal Japan and intense strategizing are in store for you when you begin your quest to become the next shogunate.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its entertaining cutscenes, which feature amusing moments such as characters charging into battle and comically falling. Overall, players find the comedic elements to be a standout aspect of the experience.
- “The cutscenes are hilarious.”
- “It's funny to see your men charge at guns and then fall.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is notably poor on Windows 10, with frequent issues loading the main map, making it unplayable for users on that operating system. However, it performs well on older hardware, running smoothly even on five-year-old laptops.
- “It runs smoothly even on a five-year-old laptop.”
- “Do not buy this game if you run Windows 10. Despite being cheap, it's not optimized and consistently fails to load the main map when you start a new game.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express that the game evokes strong emotional responses, often leading to moments of deep reflection and sighs of sentiment. The emotional depth resonates with players, enhancing their overall experience.