Total War: Shogun 2 features some impressive graphics, starting with the massive battles the series is famous for.

Has the series run its course, or is there still some strategic and tactical life left in the aged carcass of Total War? Now it’s time for the Total War series to go back to its roots (because, frankly, there are only so many countries in Europe), Japan, accompanied by flashier graphics, more robust multiplayer, and an inane name change. Thankfully, the very British folks at The Creative Assembly have provided exactly that over the past ten years, visiting such exotic locations as Japan, Europe, Rome, Europe again, the World (but mostly Europe), and France, and allowing you to meet interesting and stimulating people of an ancient culture, and kill them.

What say you? Enhanced multiplayer accompanies the usual mix of strategic and tactical gaming with streamlined gameplay and usually interesting decisions: 7/8 The Not So Good: Simple chaotic combat, one campaign objective, superficial economics and province morale calculations, only four historical battles, recycled tactical maps, all clans forced to declare war on you when victory is near, multiplayer connections can't be canceled once established as you wait for more players, no earned experience if opponent quits while losing

The Good: Large tactical battles, persistent multiplayer supporting strategic campaigns and clan competitions with new items and abilities unlocked through quick tactical battles, online human players can replace AI opponents in single player campaigns, ten clans with varied bonuses and difficulties, comprehensive selection of province improvements, agents and units gain experience and unlock new skills, delegate family members to specific roles, conduct believable diplomacy and trade with other clans, intermediate missions give subtle direction, AI not completely terrible, interactive tutorial, looks very nice Total War: Shogun 2, developed by The Creative Assembly and published by SEGA.

Shogun 2 bows sound like guns