Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition Review – Return of the Samurai

Total War: Shogun 2 isn’t just one of the best Total War titles, but one of the best strategy games, period. I remember losing hours of sleep playing the original on my aging PC, with a smile on my face the entire time. Its timeless presentation and wealth of content across its many campaigns made it an incredibly easy game to get lost in. Creative Assembly has now updated the classic with some notable quality-of-life and technical improvements, but is this new paid edition really worth the asking price? Let’s find out.

Since the Complete Edition doesn’t fundamentally change the game itself, this review will focus primarily on the new additions, technical improvements, and how the package compares to the original release.

A Mostly Welcome Upgrade for a Classic

Brass tacks: what’s actually new in the Complete Edition? For starters, it’s been upgraded to 64-bit architecture, making it more compatible with modern systems and improving performance overall. It also uses the rendering pipeline from more recent Total War titles, bringing several graphical improvements. Most of these are subtle, but some are more noticeable than others.

Personally, I’m a bit mixed on how the campaign map looks now. Despite the improved rendering, I think the original had a greater sense of realism and a more consistent art style, with its almost misty look. The new rendition feels overly saturated at times, with an almost fantastical look that makes it feel a little too different from the original. The battle maps, on the other hand, are largely an improvement. The weather effects, terrain, and shading look far more realistic, making battles feel more visceral. However, the lighting can sometimes make the game look overly dark, which also makes units harder to see.

The team has also updated the in-game cinematics with brand-new optional animated cutscenes inspired by Japanese woodblock art, which I found to be an excellent addition. They perfectly fit the game’s artistic identity, and the original in-engine cutscenes feel a little dated by comparison. If the new animations aren’t to your taste, you can always switch back to the original presentation, which is a welcome option.

There are plenty of other improvements, too. The Complete Edition introduces native UI scaling for higher resolutions, including 1440p and 4K, alongside additional control options that have become standard in more recent entries. You can now drag out formations, access a quick menu with various UI modifiers, and use a tactical view when fully zoomed out. There’s also quick-deal diplomacy, an auto-army button for custom battles, and more.

Most of these additions are welcome improvements that make Shogun 2 feel less dated without changing what makes it special. You can even disable or adjust Realm Divide, which is great because, let’s be honest, it was never the most enjoyable mechanic to deal with.

A Strategy Classic That Still Holds Up

Shogun 2 is still an incredible game and, for my money, one of the best historical entries in the series. Its relatively contained scope, combined with a hostile AI, captures the era’s war-torn political landscape exceptionally well. The diverse factions, limited but memorable unit roster, timeless presentation, and excellent battles make it an essential experience for any fan of the series.

I think the idea behind the Complete Edition is to introduce newer Total War fans to Shogun 2 while making the transition from more recent entries feel smoother. The technical improvements and quality-of-life additions go a long way toward achieving that goal.

The Cost of Replacing the Original

The problem is how Creative Assembly has chosen to sell it. The Complete Edition replaces the original as the default purchase on Steam, with the original release delisted and included as a separate title for anyone who buys the new edition.

Existing owners can take advantage of a month-long discount, but once that offer expires, the Complete Edition costs $40 and includes the original game as an additional title. That makes the new edition a somewhat awkward proposition for returning players who already own Shogun 2 and simply want to benefit from the improvements. I don’t really have a problem with the price itself, but rather the delisting aspect.

Personally, I think the Complete Edition is the way to go, especially if you’re new to Shogun 2. The quality-of-life additions, improved compatibility, and consolidated package are well put together and accomplish exactly what they’re intended to do. Outside of my minor reservations about the campaign map’s revised art direction, I have very few complaints about the release itself.

However, I don’t think delisting the original release was a smart move. Beyond removing the option to purchase the classic version separately, the Complete Edition’s reliance on mod.io means existing mods are incompatible with the new release. For a game with such a dedicated community and a long history of mod support, that’s a significant drawback, particularly for returning players who have spent years building their experience around the original version.

Verdict

Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition is a great way to experience one of the best strategy games ever made, with meaningful quality-of-life improvements and better compatibility making it more accessible on modern systems. The updated battle visuals and optional animated cutscenes are nice touches, even if I’m not entirely sold on the new campaign map’s art direction. The ability to adjust and even disable Realm Divide, alongside the interface and control improvements, makes an already excellent strategy game feel more in line with modern entries. However, delisting the original release and leaving existing mods incompatible with the new edition are disappointing decisions that make this a harder sell for returning players. Despite these shortcomings, Shogun 2 remains a timeless classic, and the Complete Edition is a solid way to experience it.