Total War: Shogun 2, widely regarded as one of the best entries in the long-running strategy series, has received a remaster. The Complete Edition brings updated visuals, modern unit controls, and full Japanese voice acting, along with 50 new minor factions. However, despite these enhancements, the remaster falls short of addressing numerous quality-of-life issues that could have significantly improved the player experience.
Starting with one of the newly added minor factions, Honma, it quickly became apparent that these new additions lack unique bonuses. This oversight diminishes their distinctiveness, as they offer little differentiation from existing minor factions unlocked through mods. Furthermore, the trade system has not been updated to accommodate single-region island factions, limiting Honma to trading with only one other faction for the entire campaign. Such a limitation, easily solvable with a minor adjustment, feels like a missed opportunity.
Campaign and Battlefield Enhancements
The most impactful additions to the campaign experience include new "Realm Divide" difficulty options, improved visuals and terrain, and reworked unit controls. The battlefield visuals are notably sharper than the original, though whether the new art style is preferred is subjective. However, other additions like the bird's-eye battle view and region overlay were found to be rarely used. The diplomatic quick deal feature also feels out of place in Shogun 2, as alliances and trade agreements are not formed frequently enough to warrant such a system, and it notably omits the "arrange marriage" option.
Other quality-of-life issues that persist include the inability to merge units, which would be beneficial in a game where unit upkeep is not affected by troop numbers. A numerical indicator for army units, to avoid manual counting, is also absent. Issues such as agents accompanying armies getting left behind in settlements or on ships, and enlisted generals always reappearing at the capital, remain unaddressed. Even persistent problems with siege pathfinding, which can lead to bizarre AI behavior like generals sitting idle at walls for extended periods, and the overly defensive naval AI, which forces players to manually engage enemy ships, have not been rectified.
A Familiar Experience, Lacking Essential Polish
Shogun 2 itself remains a strong game. The core experience of battling samurai to become shogun, or engaging in large-scale conflicts in Fall of the Samurai with rifle infantry and cannons, is as compelling as ever. However, these strengths are inherent to the original game and are not solely dependent on the remaster. The DLC factions, including the Christian Otomo, the religious Ikko-Ikki, and the Saga with their cannons, are now free for all owners, offering some of the most unique campaign experiences.
While any reason to return to Shogun 2 is welcome, the Complete Edition feels less essential than it could have been. Owners of the original Shogun 2 will receive a 75% discount on the Complete Edition for a month after its Steam launch on October 13, and will also receive all legacy faction DLC for free. Ultimately, Shogun 2's enduring quality deserved a more comprehensive overhaul than what has been provided in this remaster.