Blacksmith Features
April 25, 2002 by Thunder

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The Shogun – Tokugawa Ieyusa

By The Vampire Slayer

For this week’s Blacksmith feature we have a relatively new campaign,and a very new addition to our Best of AOK listing. It got high marks fromreviewer veteran BrandNewCar, and with good reason. Let’s get to it:

The Shogun – Tokugawa Ieyusa – This creation by The Vampire Slayer isquite an adventure, obviously set in Japan. The two scenarios put you incontrol of two important figures in Japan at different times. The story isvery engaging, and may sound familiar as The Vampire Slayer points out:”This campaign takes place in Japan from the late 16th Century to the early17th Century and is based on the the history of Tokugawa Ieyusa. In the firstscenario, you play as Tokugawa Ieyusa through his journey as he rose to power.In the second scenario you start off playing as an English man named WilliamAdams, who arrived in the Japans. Then in the last chapter of the scenario,you take command of Tokugawa Ieyusa in the final battle to become Shogun. Ifyou’ve seen the mini-series Shogun, or read Clarvel’s [Clavell] novel Shogun,the story to the second scenario will be relitively simular.”

Along with the campaign zip file, there are some optional music files thatyou can get that really add to the atmosphere. In fact, this campaign makesgreat use of asian sounds to set the scene. This combined with lovely mapdesign and the great looking asian buildings are a feast for the senses.

In both scenarios, the story is quite complex and the objectives varygreatly. You are often in control of one unit, Tokugawa Ieyusa or WilliamAdams in the second scenario, but it’s not uncommon to control a squad orarmy of other units. With the varying objectives come varying difficulties.Some may have you simple move from point A to B, but others are verychallenging attacks. To be sure, there is plenty here to keep youinterested.

In BrandNewCar’s review, he gave this campaign a 4.6 overall, withperfect fives in playability, creativity, and map design. I must agreethat this is an epic campaign drive by an epic story. Well worth thedownload! …you can download the optional music files from thedescription page… ; )