Back when we first got our hands on the Nintendo DS, we quickly realized that the system's unique touch-screen interface would be perfect for a portable real-time strategy game. So we were thrilled to get to see Shogun Warrior: Real Time Conflict at Namco's pre-E3 event, since it seems like exactly the sort of game that could only be possible on Nintendo's handheld gaming system. In development at UK-based Box Clever, the game will let you assume the role of one of two bitter brothers fighting to take control over a divided Japan. A strategic Risk-style overview map, tactical battles between diverse samurai armies, as well as minigames featuring castle sieges, duels, sea battles, and more should give Shogun Warrior a good amount of variety. And two different characters and four-player multiplayer support should ensure that Shogun Warrior has plenty of lasting value, too.
What we played of Shogun Warrior was really early and didn't provide us with a good feel for how the game would eventually be. Still, we were able to get the gist of the controls, as well as an impression of how the game will eventually look and how the action will pan out. One of the nice things about Shogun Warrior's presentation is how it makes use of both screens. It's one of the first DS titles we've seen that cranks out 3D graphics on both screens simultaneously, pretty much at all times. The tactical battles we saw and tried already featured what looked like a good couple of dozen units clashing weapons onscreen. And the minigames, many of which featured up-close-and-personal action, looked pretty good, too. The touch screen offered an intuitive interface that felt a lot like a mouse-driven computer RTS game. We were able to select and move troops around, and also guide our armies on the strategic map.
