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.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 581 reviews

graphics11 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

A classic strategy game that laid the foundation for the Total War series, offering a nostalgic experience for long-time fans.
The game features engaging turn-based strategy and real-time battles, with a focus on historical accuracy and tactical depth.
Despite its age, it remains fun and challenging, with a unique campaign style that differs from modern Total War titles.

The game suffers from various technical issues, including sound glitches and compatibility problems on modern systems.
Controls and user interface are clunky and outdated, making it difficult for new players to adapt compared to more recent titles.
Limited variety in factions and units can lead to repetitive gameplay, diminishing the overall experience.

graphics
61 mentions
18 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of this classic game are widely regarded as dated and simplistic by modern standards, reflecting its age of over 20 years. 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 graphics are surprisingly good for a game of that age; the animations are great, and the sound is also very good.”
- “It has the dated charm of the 00's and lacks the impressive graphics of later Total War games, but it is my contention that this game is a great one in its own right.”
- “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 15 years old and the graphics are no longer up to today's standards.”
gameplay
40 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title 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 gameplay loop. Players appreciate the historical context and the need for strategic skills, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of classic RTS games.
- “Yes, it's more retro than the modern games, but it 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.”
- “Just search some gameplay before you jump in because this game might disappoint you.”
- “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.”
music
20 mentions
40 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
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 both minimal and impactful, enhancing the overall experience despite the game's age. While some note that the sound design shows its years, the music remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's ambiance and emotional depth.
- “The design, sound, and music really brings 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.”
- “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.”
- “Music and some sound effects are 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.”
atmosphere
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its rich and immersive audio score, effectively capturing the chaotic essence of a war-torn Japan. While some critiques mention a slight oversaturation of romantic elements, the overall presentation remains compelling, with ambient soundscapes and historical depth that draw players into the experience. Despite its age, the game continues to deliver a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “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.”
- “Great sound, great atmosphere, great game and the stone which made the Total War series even possible!”
- “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.”
- “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.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report no significant technical issues, others experience various glitches, including sound problems and animation errors. Despite these bugs, many still consider it a highly enjoyable experience, indicating that the game's appeal may outweigh its stability concerns.
- “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
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that its simplicity and nostalgic value keep them returning despite its age. However, some mention 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
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding involved in managing provinces and upgrading resources to be initially tedious, but ultimately rewarding as it enhances the battlefield experience. While aspects like unit movement and UI can feel cumbersome, the long-term benefits of strategic resource management are appreciated.
- “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.”
story
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a compelling narrative set in feudal Japan, highlighting the struggles and strategic challenges of the era. While the story is praised for its depth and engagement, some users express concerns about technical errors that detract from the overall experience.
- “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
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing cutscenes and the comedic portrayal of characters, particularly during intense moments like charging into battle and falling. Overall, players find the humor to be a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.
- “The cutscenes are incredibly funny.”
- “It's hilarious to watch your men charge at guns and then fall.”
optimization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly inconsistent; while it runs smoothly on older hardware, users with Windows 10 report significant issues, including failure to load the main map, making it a poor choice for that operating system.
- “It runs smoothly even on a five-year-old laptop.”
- “The game is well-optimized, allowing for a seamless experience across various hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making it accessible for players with lower-end systems.”
- “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.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent crashes and long loading times.”
- “Even on high-end hardware, the performance is subpar, making it frustrating to play.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the emotional depth of the game, often expressing feelings of nostalgia and connection through poignant moments that evoke heartfelt reactions. The ability to elicit such strong emotional responses is a significant aspect of the game's impact.