Shogun: Total War

Shogun: Total War is a real-time strategy game in which you play as a Daimyo, one of the warlords battling for the right to be called Shogun, ruler of a united Japan. The game is roughly split into two sections: a map-based planning stage and a 3D battle stage.

The map stage is where you build buildings in the territories that you own, organize forces, plan campaigns and generally deal with the running of your conquests. You can also research new technologies and train troops here, so it is very important.

When a conflict arises, you turn to the battle stage. Unlike almost all other real-time strategy games, Shogun's battles take place on a 3D battlefield with realistic terrain. Hills roll gently into the distance, scattered trees break up the horizon and your troops lie dead in a pile on the floor. Because in Shogun your men don't just disappear when they die, they lie there, bleeding. Up to 6 armies, each containing thousands of troops, can be displayed on screen at the same time. You can zoom in to individual companies of 100 (the smallest unit) or zoom out to view the battlefield as a whole.