Ironclads 2: Boshin War Reviews

This is the third scenario of Ironclads 2, I played at all of them and have to say each scenario is different. Civil War feels very tensive because you have limit time to realize your advantage (when you have it or wait for it trying not to lose a fleet) otherwise when opponent gets advantage, you can lose the game. Pacific gives you not chanse to lose a ship because each side of the conflict can’t produce armored ships at all, so you have to be very careful. And now we have a Boshin War, Japanese Civil War with interesting alignment of forces, Imperial forces have army but not powerful fleet, Shogunate has a more powerful fleet but almost no army. I played Shogunate and started from destroying imperial fleet, in first battle using manual artillery mode (have to say with 5-6 guns battery it works very well) I was able to deal damage from far distances and at the end of hour 3 armored transports of imperial fleet was on the button of the ocean. Great! Other game time was tense to, but good start gave me a time to capture enough cities for 81% success rate. What can I say, game still needs a lot of improvements, for example sometimes you forgetting that your ship is ready to action - better show it somehow. Infantry part of the game could be better, right now it works like strategic element of gameplay but has lack of tactics. Even with that it plays very fast and interesting … of course when you already understand what you need to do and how to move and build.

Game about Samurais and Boshin War it is already good. I very much love Total War: Shogun 2 - Fall of the Samurai and therefore have bought this game without thinking. Very interesting period in the history of Japan. Naval battles in Fall of the Samurai were primitive and schematical. It seemed that they were done by indifferent people who don't understand naval tactics and strategy at all. Ironclads 2 series of games strange looks, and it is still difficult to understand how to play at once. But when you understands what needs to be done, to become clearly that it is the best game about battles of the Steam Navy!

I did not expect very much when I purchased this game. This game was a pleasant surprise. Although the genre is described as action, the requirements for success are sufficient to classify Boshin War as naval action/turned based strategy. The ability to control every ship a provides a variety of means to achieve the objectives. At the same time you can control all of the action and strategy with the use of the tactical map. You have plenty of options. I highly recommend this game.

This covers the Japanese civil conflict that ended the Tokugawa Shogunate and brought the Meiji Reformation into power. You might be familiar with it from Total War: Shogun 2’s Fall of the Samurai… or Tom Cruise’s movie The Last Samurai. Gameplay is not that intuitive, and without some guides likely to be frustrating at times. Still seems a decent enough game. Also, I got it for $1, so, I’m not too disappointed…

Overall, Ironclads 2 Boshin War offers a great simulation experience for military buffs and fans of the genre. Be warned: it's not everyone's cup of tea. But if it is, you may just find Boshin War a must-have for your collection. With the low price point, you cannot miss.

Very interesting game scenario. I played for the Army of the Shogun. It was very difficult, but I won. That was great! With the combat system, I figured out the past games from the Ironclads 2 series, and so it was easy for me. But I recommend reading the manual carefully before starting the game. Unfortunately, there is still no learning in the game. But for me this is no longer a problem. It seemed to me that the battles became faster and more interesting. As before, I recommend buying all games only if you really like the old school tablet naval war games.

I seldom buy a video game, I seldom play them. I prefer historical books and play board wargames. But I bought this game. And I am happy. In places it strange and unclear, but it transmits spirit of battles of an era of armor and steam.

For reasons I do not understand, it's more interesting to play this scenario than to play the scenario about the war of the North and the South. The game is not long and quite interesting. Of course, some obvious problems of the whole series come to mind, but I do not want to quibble. For such money in this genre, there is nothing better.

Having won a full victory by both Shogunate and Imperial court, I am updating the review. I assume the developers built the entire 48 turn till victory concept on the assumption that players will prefer skirmishing with 1-2 ships and not go all out in a single decisive battle. Regardless of the side you pick, if you can score a decisive victory as in sinking most of the higher tonnages ships and crippling the remainder, the game is over. AI simply cannot recover and from that point onwards it is either; -Blockade key provinces and carpet siege rest of the ports to deny Shogunate income and infantry recruitment, build additional infantry and storm the key provinces if you are Imperial court. -Blockade all Imperial provinces and build your forces. Consecutively occupy provinces before the Imperial ironclad finishes if you are Shogunate. Utilizing the concepts above usually results in total victory by turn 17-21. From that point onwards the game becomes a chore as the only thing left to be done is to press end turn and watch AI magically order ships from its embassy despite holding no provinces. Besides that the game is fine. Imperial gunboats are insanely overpowered with their 6 inch muzzle loaded rifled guns in primitive turrets that inflict very high damage and flooding in knife range. UI needs some serious rework. Combat feels realistic with the battles taking a long time and focusing primarily on formations. The developers in Subsim forum said that 1998 Phillippines War is a good starting point. I disagree. Boshin War with few ships and without supply mechanics is the perfect title for testing the waters and to whether if it is suitable to ones tastes or not.

What needs to be known about naval games from the Totem: Ironclads American Civil War - very bad game in all aspects Ironclads High Seas & Scenarios - very empty games in all aspects Victorian Admirals - absolutely unnecessary game Ironclads 2 American Civil War - very promising game Ironclads 2 Pacific War - one more step in the right direction Ironclads 2 Boshin War - at last good balanced game Guys, you make games better and better! Can be it is time to make them more friendly to beginners?