Total War Shogun: A B-Grade RTS with Unexpected Legacy
Creative Assembly's Total War: Shogun began as a quick and cheerful attempt to fund a dream RPG based on Monkey: Journey to the West. The retrospective reveals the studio's bold pivot from sports games to RTS, a gamble that paid off significantly. Despite its humble inception, Shogun's success defined a new direction for Creative Assembly, leading to the iconic Total War series. It’s fascinating how early experiences with sports games informed the tech for depicting epic battles. However, the lingering question remains: what if the RPG had materialized? While the series thrived, the lost opportunity of an RPG adaptation is a missed gem. Would a modern take by Creative Assembly fulfill that dream? The legacy of Shogun showcases the unpredictable nature of game development. In the end, it’s a testament to creativity born from necessity. One can only wonder how it would feel to return to that original vision.