Shogun 2 does not feel historic

[Fireatwill]

When I played Rome, I actually felt like i was playing history, it felt real and thus it was exciting... Shogun 2 feels like just another RTS, especially the way it looks and it lacks that sense of history.

In battles the AI does not move in formation, they just charge in a group with flanks exposed. The building tree is rather boring and does not feel like you're actually building something. The landscape does not look realistic, it looks like anime films...

As a history buff and someone who's interested in Japanese history I'm disappointed.

[BunnyPoopCereal]

thats because its not, CA has confirmed that they would rather do fun.

[GODzilla]

You mean it felt real to lit pigs on fire, see englishmen hurl heads and hear german women cry.

Sorry, but in it's unmodded state Rome had more fanatasy units than any of its successors. Plus the hideous color scheme...

[D.B. Cooper]

Plus the hideous color scheme...

The Parthians were the worst, those capes...

[Dodge]

Shogun 1 and Medieval 1 had a certain atmosphere, Rome, Medieval 2 and Empire/Napoleon did not have it. Shogun 2 brings it back a bit though.

[Shabby_Ronin]

/sigh

[BunnyPoopCereal]

When Ca makes a decision of historical vs fun. we all know what comes out

[Fireatwill]

I think atmosphere is a better word. Historical atmosphere.

There were some fun aspects in Rome but overall it just felt right. Every faction had certain characteristics and the units looked distinct on the ground. I also think the music in Rome was fantastic.

[themoob]

CA makes the game marketable. If you want proper historical accuracy, that's what mods are for. Have patience!

[Googoo24]

As a history buff and someone who's interested in Japanese history I'm disappointed.

Really? Did the Egyptians continue to dress the same for 2000 years leading up to RTW? Did roman legionnaires do ridiculous air-stabs ( taken from a movie) in actual history? Did actual Roman armies distinguish themselves by Red, Blue and Green?

And don't even get me started on the laughable BAI (especially in sieges).

Every faction had certain characteristics and the units looked distinct on the ground

I recall most of the factions being clones of each other. At least in Shogun, it makes sense.

[ReignTerror]

Parthian pajama party



if you can tell me how this is remotely historic...



need i continue...

people are so blinded by the fantastic mods for RTW that they forget how awful this game was in terms of historic accuracy and smooth play... by no means a bad game... but not the best imo...

now if you talk about mods... hands down RTW/M2TW are awesome!!!!!!!

[Omar Nelson B.]

And not only but also, it seems some wear their games like a comfortable pair of slippers and are reluctant to acknowledge, that simply put, modding was supported by the developers for years,talking about RTW and Med TW with the advent of Empire TW, less so.
Lets not kid ourselves here, for the time the older games were made,(RTW MedII etc) they were a step forward in gaming, nothing can ever take that away,and some of the mods are breathtaking! however, even an old duffer such as myself, has to accept that events move on, lessons learned from the former releases, until we arrive at what we have now..Shogun 2 and in the Vanilla state.Good God, Shogun 2 has me writing bally poetry for heavens sake? thats progress for you!
I currently have no complaints, I was going to harp on about the dx9 cacophony, however to my utter dismay and surprise, I find myself accepting the developers explanation.
Just my tuppenny-halfpenny opinion.
and all that malarkey!

It mystifies me how you stay in character

It's a game and CA is a company and companies are out for one thing, money So I don't blame them for taking some detours in the historical arena.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

When I played Rome, I actually felt like i was playing history, it felt real and thus it was exciting... Shogun 2 feels like just another RTS, especially the way it looks and it lacks that sense of history.

In battles the AI does not move in formation, they just charge in a group with flanks exposed. The building tree is rather boring and does not feel like you're actually building something. The landscape does not look realistic, it looks like anime films...

As a history buff and someone who's interested in Japanese history I'm disappointed.

Purely a matter of opinion. With Original Shogun and Medieval I felt entirely drawn in with a sense of history. Contrary to the OP, Rome did not feel historically immersive for me, nor Medieval 2. I had to rely on my love of history to get involved with them. Empire, Napoleon and Shogun 2 have more historical depth, or feel, to me. Artwork, theme layout and music play a big roll. Rome and Med 2 lacked them compared to other titles in the series.

[Pesticide]

Maybe that partially explained because we know so little of japanese history of this timeperiod ? Im sure nobody here ever had to learn japanese history of that period in their normal classes.

[Darth_Revan]

Maybe that partially explained because we know so little of japanese history of this timeperiod ? Im sure nobody here ever had to learn japanese history of that period in their normal classes.

No never learned of it in my normal classes. But I am currently taking a class on it . Only thing I really care about is the accurate is historical names of the leaders of clans and great generals.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

Oh come on folks, the Napoleonic wars and the seven year's war is hardly taught in North American schools at all any more, same for Ancient and Medieval history.
Most people think they 'identify' with the timeframes, but the same people who are post this complaint don't seem to come across as actually knowing much about Roman or Medieval history. In reality it's their steady diet of hollywood that feeds a 'familiarity' with the timeframe.

[underworld965]

Well. My biggest problem with the game is the readily available samurai. You could NOT recruit armies of them, they were essentially the same thing as medieval knights. having the AI spam armies of them at me ruins my game.

Im sorry Rome has more fantasy units? true some were silly, but based of off reality. The British DID throw heads at the invading romans; the German women did scream encouragement for their men in battle (although I frankly found that one stupid). But I am seeing hordes of naginata warrior monks, monk bowmen, and katana heroes ect. I doubt most of those were real either so don't bag on rome.

[M3stro0]

As a huge historian, this is probably the most historic game that CA has made besides Napoleon. All the clan leaders are historcially accurate for the time period that they start,they are dead on, on most of the clans real life strengths in wekanesses, for example the Hojo were the best castle and siegers at the time, Nobunaga argubaly had the best Mathlocks and peaseantry, Shingen's calvary pretty much raped anything that wasn't behind a Bamboo barricade with spear walls between them in southeastern Mikawa. The Mori were great Shipbuilder, and the Shimazu were great all around warriors, although Shogun II specifically goes into their sword mastery.

The only thing I don't agree with is the Imagawa not being a major faction, they were a HUGE force with most of western-central Japan under their control, this included the Ashina and Tokugawa and a few other clans as vassals. They were hardly insignifacnt ants. The other thing I don't like is that their isn't a huge female presence in the game, some women like Ginchiyo Tachibana controlled regions and commanded armies.

I also don't like the fact that they didn't include Musashi Miyamoto and Kojiro Sasaki.

[Ringeck]

I was greatly disappointed over RTW and MTW2's approach to historicity. My in-depth knowledge of the Sengoku Jidai does not go beyond a youthful fascination and a dozen books (varying quality) I have read on the period, but I do appreciate the athmosphere they have created in STW2. It was sorely lacking in the other second-generation TW games. Plus, it actually runs on my rig, so I don't have to upgrade until ME3 and/or SOTS2 comes out in autummn. Great success.

As a huge historian

Sometimes I also feel like I am becoming a huge historian, but keeping to a reasonable diet and exercising keeps that belly fat at arm's length.

[Googoo24]

Oh, God......I forgot how hideous Parthia's colors were.