Shogun vs. Medieval

After a long time of procrastination, I have finally gotten around to taking a picture of my Shogun CDs to prove my legal purchase of the game (and all of you thought I downloaded a warez version with my 56k modem). I didn’t think the game was going to match Medieval, maybe only run a little bit better, but I was really surprised. Here are my thoughts:

One of the things that struck me right away was how dull the strategy map was, kudos to the developers for this improvement. The strategy map in shogun is dull and white making it rather hard to distinguish as to what is what and just makes it unsatisfying to be in campaign mode in general. I also found the buildings a bit weird, not surprising since their supposed to be Japanese, but I still think that ‘Dojo’ is a stupid name. Diplomacy was also a noticeable improvement in Medieval, though not a very significant change. The Tactical battles, I thought, were much better in Shogun. Not only did the whole thing run smoother, but also the map looked better (whether this is due to more polygons in the terrain itself or the more creative use of color and texture, the battlefield undoubtedly looks superior to that of Medieval). The weather effects also seem more pronounced, especially thunderstorms. As far as the sprite soldiers go, they are a mixed bag. They look a bit worse than the troops in Medieval, mounted troops are the best example, but I ended up liking them more. Even though the campaign map is dull, as I mentioned above, it has many features that are missing from Medieval (including in-game movies and the throne room) that help brighten up the game a little. Even though Medieval has many improvements such as Virtues/Vices (a mixed blessing), more diverse troops/factions, improved diplomacy (though marginally), etc… I think I still came out liking Shogun better. Just my opinion.

In some ways shogun is better but i think MTW pulls out in first by a tad.

It's a difficult one.

I did initially think Shogun was better but the more I play Medieval the more I prefer it.

Personally I play both - they are head and shoulders above any other similar RTS

In many ways, Shogun has more chrome and flavour, but I just find MTW has much richer gameplay. Once I'd played each faction, I found it difficult to get the enthusiasm to re-play - I would end up fighting seemingly endless repeat battles at the same bridge or on the same hill. With MTW, I feel factions have more grand strategic options, the relative power of rival factions varies more from game to game and I love the glorious achievements rather than conquer the map goals.
Come back after a month of playing Shogun (not 7/24 of course!) and see how you feel. It's a great game but IMHO not so replayable.

MTW is by far a much better game. Shogun has a certain flavor and is the first TW game, but it's strategical part is abstract at best. MTW is more complicated, challenging, tough and has much, much, much higher replay value. Yeah, it's much harder but that comes with complexity as well.

There is not even a way to compare those two games. MTW is just soooo much better.

MTW is much better than Shogun in all aspects. And IMHO it has very very much better graphics. Hey, you can even see the faces of your warriors now. The only thing that MWT is inferior to STW is the fact that you cannot have 1900+(120 X 16) troops at the same time, but instead 980

MTW wins hands down now the patch is out! STW was great as a first but we move on!! What's next I ask myself............Waterloo TW?

It is too soon to think about TW3, but I would vote for Ancient:TW. You know, Rome, Athens, Sparta, Cartarge, Persia, Gauls, Indians and Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal, Leonidas and Xerxes.

What Shogun has over Medieval is actually a quite marvelously historical cultural difference.

Shogun, like Medieval Japan is quite austere on the most part, with splashes of beauty in just the right places.

Medieval, like Medieval Europe has detail and intrigue everywhere in an overwhelming confluence of people and cultures.

Hi guys,

I do consider MTW as an abvious improvement from STW, both in strategy and tactical aspects, but mostly for its much wider scenario possibilities.

Now, when dreaming about TW 3, i think that all ingredients are there (canons,smoke,rifles, cav etc...) for hoping to get a late 18th century background game. Can u imagine the potential of such era with TotalWar engine ?!

But i can wait till this happens, Medieval is already a fantastic achievement.

C U All, Frog.

I've gotta go with MTW for the sheer size & depth of the game. But there's nothing like STW for a fast slaughter hit, & although I know they must of had reasons, I miss the assassin & alliance movies.

I do still play both games, but get kinda freaked every time I load STW now & see how bleak the map is.

On the way home from the store after buying MTW, I couldnt wait to get home and see the new assassin video clips.
I am still very disapointed that CA left them out.
I wish they would add a few in a future patch.

I agree that Medieval does have allot more depth, but I personally think that the battle are much more impressive in Shogun not because the units look better (which they do not) but because the terrain and weather effects are superior. In Medieval the maps are not as vivid and not as pleasant to look at (I have gotten tired of the bland grasslands of Western Europe, and the slightly improved though equally bland plains of Eastern Europe). But I have to admit; that Medieval does have deeper diplomacy, factions, unit types, etc. and that is one of the things I miss about Medieval already. I can sympathize with how you people feel, replaying the same battles with the same factions on the same uninteresting campaign map while waiting for Medieval to come out. But I simply cannot stand fighting on the same stupid green European grass for the 57th time. I wish there was a way to mix the best features of the two games.

There is and always will be only one....
THE Total War.....
SHOGUN.
For the cultural feel of the game, the honour, the code of Bushido. Bleak maps? Yes! Does the sun always shine on a fine day? Do we not get overcast, grim looking skies?

Comparing the battlefields of Shogun to those in Mediaeval is like comparing Kurosawa and Looney Tunes. I plain detest the cartoon qualities of the Mediaeval infantry units and as for the new detail I will say that I am not interested in seeing my mens' faces, I would much prefer to be viewing the battlefield. I also think that the actual fighting is better in Shogun.

If one of them had to go it would be Mediaeval without a doubt and no second thoughts.

As for the next in the series........
I don't think there will be

.....Orda

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" Send us your ambassadors and thus we shall judge whether you wish to be at peace with us or at war..if you make war on us the Everlasting God, who makes easy what was difficult and makes near what was far, knows that we know what our power is."

STW had blood. MTW no blood. I'm mature enough to handle it. STW wins in the gore/realism feel department.

I was hoping that MTW would be a much more visceral than STW but it was actually a small step back. The more carnage that we are allowed to see (make it a selectable setting) the more it is a plus for those who desire a realistic looking battlefield.

Orda, you are a reactionary.

You turn your back on better graphics, better terrain, more variable weather, wider unit selection, FAR more challenging and interesting campaign and overall improved gameplay just because you like medieval Japan?

Why not do something for the commmunity and creat a MTW Japanese mod? Think of the things you could do that were completely impossible under the limitations of STW!

[This message has been edited by Soapyfrog (edited 11-08-2002).]