A good first foray into RTS gaming on the DS
RTS: This is everything that an RTS should be command wise. You use L to toggle the minimap from the action and use it to flash around the map. It is crisp, clean, and easy to use. I have had no problems controlling my people with the stylus, and I hope StarCraft and Age of Empires copy this format (there was no toolbar though for creating new units, as this is a Shogun: Total War type game, so it remains to be seen how that will be added). Think Total War when commanding troops. Each troop engages in combat with an enemy, but you only command squads. Telling each squad where to go and kill is flawless, after that not so much in depth. Its a good start for where you want to see the RTS genre to go on the DS.
Story: Extremely detailed backstory and plot, with some cool text dialouges about how the sun god be shining on you after you win a territory. Basically you are two brothers who are out to inherit this Kingdom from your dying father/shogun. He also has a magical sword (go figure). After that its all about the campaign, but it keeps you going with updates. Unfortunately you only get these updates if you actually fight the battle and not have it simulated by the computer.
Gameplay: This is where the game falls on a solid 7 rating, instead of a 8 or 9. There are two things you do, you move armies to provinces and then fight the battles. If you move an army to a castle province you have a castle siege. This is a DS mini-game where you use your stylus to aim your archers at the archers on the castle walls. The idea is to kill them before they kill all your catapult workers. Ideally you kill enough of them so your catapult has enough time to break through the game. This can be hit or miss though you get better at it as you go along.
Usually you will fight in a ground battle where squadrons of either Spearman, Swordsman, or Arhcers (the last are the most useful) square off. The AI is not too difficult, but you can get slaughtered if you don't pay attention. Once its obvious you will win, the battle is declared in your favor and you play the 'Hunt the General' minigame. You basically chase him down on a horse using your stylus and the R and L buttons to pump his ass full of arrows. I haven't found out what happens if you let him escape, but if you kill him you always seem to gain an extra army. Speaking of which, don't lose these as you can't make more. Finally there are sea battles fought on port towns, these are like the 'Siege the Castle' minigames except you each have a boat. You aim your crowssbowman and try to kill the enemy archers before they kill yours. Pretty simple.
Through any of these battles you can choose to fight them yourself or choose the simulate battle option. If you go with simulate battle, you don't get story updates and there is literally 50% chance you lose no matter what. You can upgrade your army with your honor points all you want, it makes no difference unless you actually fight the battle. Also casualities have no bearing on the army after the battle is over, as long as you win it. If you lose it, the army disappears. Once your lose all your armies its all over. You can hire Ninjas too for assassinations, I accidently hit simulate so I am not sure how that mini-game works, but from the status report its a duel between two ninjas when going for the other side's head honcho.
Edit: There are also heroes in the land battles. If you hit select your Prince/Shogun/General comes out to whip some ass. If he dies the game is over completely though.
Overall: Its a solid RTS/Total War game, and a good show for a first try. It will start to wear on you the 2nd or 3rd time you play it as the AI is really not too bright. Multiplayer will probably be very fun, as its Total War sped up x10, but it needs two carts to play it so. Get the game if you want a Total War experience on your handheld, or just like Ninja Duels. Otherwise you probably want to wait for a more fleshed out RTS.