Well, I for one am purely ecstatic about this game! I used to be a huge fan of Total War.
Used to be. Shogun was amazing, Medieval was good, and Rome was... well... it needed Europa Barbarorum. Medieval 2 disappointed and was only good with the Chivalry 2 mod, but even that was limited by stupid hard-coded problems with the engine (like unrealistic inheritance). Empire was perhaps the most disappointing waste of $50 in my life. Napoleon, never got it. Shogun 2, I am wary, plus I probably won't have a computer that could run it beautifully until Gabriel blows his horn!
Paradox, on the other hand, has only gained my trust as games come out. With the exception of Hearts of Iron III (about which I still remain optimistic), I've been thoroughly impressed with everything they have made that I have purchased, and I've spent exponentially more time in Paradox games than any other company's PC games since I discovered them in 2005. I've logged more hours individually in either EU2, CK, HOI2, and EU3 than all Total War games combined (except for maybe the original Shogun. That game was amazing and I clocked a bloody lot of hours on it!). I am very much looking forward to Sengoku. I've been needing a game like this for a long time! Shogun 1 won't run on my computer for some reason, keeps crashing, and Shogun 2 is WAY too powerful for my computer. Besides, Sengoku is more the sort of game I like to play, anyways. Especially these days. I've grown very fond of the RPG style (which, by the way, I owe to two primary sources: Crusader Kings, for introducing me to the concept, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, for getting me addicted). So an RPG style grand strategy game set in Medieval Japan just about rocks my socks!
Also, did I mention that, unlike Total War, Paradox games can be modded by even the average computer layman such as myself? THAT alone wins them more points than every wonderfully shiny gizmo and gadget that Total War throws into their graphically stunning, but (lately, not so in the older games) strategically depressing, games.
Keep it coming, Paradox! This is why I love you guys!