Expertly combines grand strategy with storytelling in a way I hadn't seen before. I've played Nobunaga's Ambition since and still think Rance was better.
Essentially the game I imagined when I got my first companion in Morrowind as a kid. Fighting in real time but having an entire army to manage and siege towns with, it's great.
Enjoyed a single playthrough at release. Tried to come back multiple times since then but enjoyed installing mods more than actually playing the game in most cases.