Shogun 2: Total War Pre-Alpha Footage Thoughts and Assassination Trailer

Creative Assembly just released a new video profiling the assassinations in the upcoming Shogun 2: Total War. I actually met with the lead designer, James Russel, yesterday at a SEGA PR event, and can certainty tell you that this game is shaping up to be the much larger in scale, from the battles to the size of the campaign map, than any previous editions.

From the pre-alpha gameplay and footage I got to check out, it was very clear that the game was more focused and portrays something that is uniquely 16th Century Japanese. While the setting is obviously more contained, the battle size is enormous. The battles can now potentially allow 50,000 soldiers on screen at any given time. The battle animations are also entirely authentic, as they were captured using members of the British Kendo Association. The AI itself is also vastly more intelligent. For example, in the battle I got to check out, the enemy archers switched to fire arrows to slaughter some horseman, only to counter charge them with their own cavalry once they attacked.

The campaign map is vastly improved as well. You can now zoom in on anything, and each region of Japan is now as big as a country was in previous installments. The map is actually so authentic, that James Russel told me that upon showing the current developments in the game to the current heir of the Tokugawa Shogunate, who is currently a Japanese Aristocracy, he marveled at the accurate portrayal of the various clans and their territories.

The character system has also been streamlined in the best possible sense. Instead of your character developing random traits, he can now be leveled up in an character tree very much like an MMO. Generals and family members can also be appointed to various minister positions, such as the Minister of War, Supplies, or Economics that will affect their development as a character. This traits system also applies to agents, such as Ninjas, Geisha, and Diplomats as you can specialize them in specific types of stealth, assassination or diplomatic skills using their experience. This allows you to get a more intimate feel for your characters and agents, instead of just pumping them out and using them only until they are useful.

The navel combat and the landscape have been changed drastically. Naval combat is no longer about who brings the biggest and best ships. There are land sections in each naval map, that can be used for archers, and ships specifically built for boarding actions. It's now all about having the right combination of forces to combat your enemy rather than the bigger and more powerful ones. A smaller lighter naval force could now potentially take down a larger and more ponderous one if played right. The landscapes also distinctly affect Japanese Feudal culture in the architecture, landscape and weather elements from rain sliding off the top of a house to cherry blossoms blooming in a beautiful but deadly setting.

The online multiplayer is also something that Creative Assembly has been working torward improving. Although it wasn't available yet, James Russel mentioned that the development team was working toward creating a Co-Op campaign experience, building on the multi player campaign platform from Napoleon: Total War.

Check out the brand new trailer for Shogun 2 below: