Total War: Shogun 2 is currently the pinnacle of RTS and turn-based strategy games, and by far the best in the Total War franchise. Hearkening back to the series' origins in Feudal Japan, Shogun 2 does more than just improve upon the formula used in previous installments, but instead innovates in all areas. Fans of Total War are in two groups with this game: those who love it, and those who haven't played it yet.

Pros:
- Excellent RTS tactical gameplay with a huge variety of units and abilities available to suit a number of playstyles. Combined with interesting and at many times challenging terrain in order to prevent battles from devolving into melee moshpits, and you have a strategy game in which you truly feel like a Sengoku general.
- Gorgeous graphics. Whilst not the most "photo-realistic" in this genre, they are wonderfully styalised and highly cinematic, making replays a joy to behold.
- Expertly crafted map of Japan and surrounding islands, combined with multiple starting points and clans provide a huge amount of replayability.
- Well-balanced Multiplayer and brilliantly implemented "Avatar Conquest" modes that make online play even more enjoyable thanks to clan systems and (once again) near endless replayability.
- Detailed Encyclopedia and Historical Battles for those who wish to delve deeper into the history of the Sengoku Jidai period.
- Easy modding capabilities for even further refinement (if deemed appropriate).

Cons:
- Lack of truly meaningful variety between clan units.
- AI suffers from the same below average quality of other installments in the franchise, with Diplomacy sometimes becoming impossible due to overly aggressive AI clans.
- Apart from the two major DLCs (Rise of the Samurai and Fall of the Samurai) many parts of the game seem "lopped off" in an effort to make more money (I'm looking squarely at you Blood Pack).

All in all, Shogun 2 is a definite recommendation for any fans of strategy games, and it may even be the greatest example of the genre.

Total War: Shogun 2 is currently the pinnacle of RTS and turn-based strategy games, and by far the best in the Total War franchise. Hearkening back to the series' origins in Feudal Japan, Shogun 2 does more than just improve upon the formula used in previous installments, but instead innovates in all areas. Fans of Total War are in two groups with this game: those who love it, and those who haven't played it yet. Pros: - Excellent RTS tactical gameplay with a huge variety of units and abilities available to suit a number of playstyles. Combined with interesting and at many times challenging terrain in order to prevent battles from devolving into melee moshpits, and you have a strategy game in which you truly feel like a Sengoku general. - Gorgeous graphics. Whilst not the most "photo-realistic" in this genre, they are wonderfully styalised and highly cinematic, making replays a joy to behold. - Expertly crafted map of Japan and surrounding islands, combined with multiple starting points and clans provide a huge amount of replayability. - Well-balanced Multiplayer and brilliantly implemented "Avatar Conquest" modes that make online play even more enjoyable thanks to clan systems and (once again) near endless replayability. - Detailed Encyclopedia and Historical Battles for those who wish to delve deeper into the history of the Sengoku Jidai period. - Easy modding capabilities for even further refinement (if deemed appropriate). Cons: - Lack of truly meaningful variety between clan units. - AI suffers from the same below average quality of other installments in the franchise, with Diplomacy sometimes becoming impossible due to overly aggressive AI clans. - Apart from the two major DLCs (Rise of the Samurai and Fall of the Samurai) many parts of the game seem "lopped off" in an effort to make more money (I'm looking squarely at you Blood Pack). All in all, Shogun 2 is a definite recommendation for any fans of strategy games, and it may even be the greatest example of the genre.