“First, the wireless multiplayer mode is now only for two players rather than eight (it also requires each player to own a copy of the game). The multiplayer conquest mode plays out very similarly to the main mode, in which you will raise armies and try to conquer all of Japan (think Risk).

Secondly, one of our worries about the game was its length (Defender of the Crown, a very similar title, could be finished in under two hours). The Namco representative promised that Shogun Empires is six to eight hours long, thus almost four times as long as the classic Amiga title (later ported to Game Boy Advance).

Finally, a few more gameplay details. At the very beginning, you will choose one of two brothers to be your leader - one of the brothers is more diplomatic, while the other is more of a warmongerer. As you raise your army, you will have four types of troops - swordsmen (the fastest, but not too strong - mainly good for hit and run); spearmen (slow, but very strong); archer (good for range attacks, but pretty weak); and warlords (a bonus character: a warlord will ride on horseback and is very strong). The game ends when you conquer all of Japan - there is no big boss battle at the end (as with most games of this type).”