Eventually you’ll catch on to some of the mechanics through trial and error and find some success. Then it’s just a matter of learning the others. For example, violence is frowned upon and loses you honor usually, but then it’s about the easiest way to expand your empire. A double-edged deal to say the least.

Other technical things like graphics and sound are well done and it all looks and sounds good which keeps the game from being a massive disaster. It doesn’t redeem itself in any way, it just keeps it from looking like the whole thing was terribly thought out.

The multiplayer aspect of the game is a lot of work to get into, especially if you haven’t been able to get traction while playing the single player.

If you want to join an Internet game, you need the IP address, if you want to play on a LAN, well of course everyone needs the game and a rig. Sengoku offers up to 32-player games but clearly states that you could only ever get that many on a LAN, which sort of defeats the purpose of online multiplayer at that point. They say that Internet games are best kept to a dozen or fewer players.

Now there is a metaserver option that offers matchmaking for multiplayer. You only are connected to the metaserver for the initial match up then you are on a direct connection game with whomever is hosting.

The good thing about the online play is that Sengoku offers private player-to-player chat options so you can do more scheming in private without having to remain strictly in the confines of the plot options and diplomacy options available through the game which would severely limit what could be done.

Sengoku n. - A very long learning curve

No Sengoku does not actually mean a very long learning curve, it means a country in civil war which is a good description of the game’s premise. I think my definition is far better for the game itself. The lack of tutorial in such a complex strategy game means you will struggle to understand how it all works. If you are persistent, or a glutton for punishment, you might hang in there long enough to see some success and feel a small bit of satisfaction. At present, my fourth attempt to play the game with one of the easiest characters now sees me in possession of 13% of Japan. It is a far cry from the 50% I need to try and claim the title of Shogun, but it’s also better than being forced to commit Seppuku, traditional suicide. The game presents a good cohesive front but fails utterly in teaching you how to play which makes for some serious frustration. Other than that, it’s a good, complex, strategy game that has a lot of offer and could really be bolstered in the future with some expansion and updates to help gamers get into it. Until then, I imagine the majority of you will want to shy away from it.