Your task is to work your way up the social ladder to become Shogun. Some of the game's best features include: exciting duels (designed by Sid Meier), lots of branching choices (later used in Darklands to great effect), and an authentic medieval Japanese setting, complete with beautiful woodcut graphics and ambient music in the appropriate style. Gameplay is a masterful blend of action, strategy, and adventure. Similar to medieval Europe, you have a fiefdom and a number of men under your command. The difference, however, is that here you must pay heed to your honor, quantified and of paramount importance. If you try to assassinate a rival and fail, for instance, your honor will decline precipitously, prompting your men to desert you. Lose enough honor, and you will have no choice but to commit seppuku (ritual suicide). With authentic Japanese premise, strong gameplay based on real Samurai culture, and great graphics, Sword of Samurai belongs in every strategy gamer's collection. Definitely not to be missed!