NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION: Sphere of Influence - Ascension / 信長の野望・創造 戦国立志伝 The newest release from the Historical Simulation Game landmark series, 'Nobunaga's Ambition!' In this release we include 'Officer Play' for the first time in the series, allowing players to advance from retainer to Castle Lord and then on to Daimyo.
- Nobunaga's Ambition Sphere Of Influence Ascension Manual
- Nobunaga's Ambition Ascension Manual 2017
- Nobunaga's Ambition Sphere Of Influence
Nobunaga's Ambition Sphere Of Influence Ascension Manual
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension [official site], a standalone follow-up to Koei Tecmo’s latest sim-o-strategy take on Japanese history, is now out in English. Technically it’s been on Steam since March but, y’know, it takes mighty ambition to play a game in a foreign language. Nobunaga’s Ambition is set during the Sengoku period of feudal Japan, having players duke it out for control of territory and resources – the usual war stuff. You know those historymen and their wars, they can’t get enough of ’em.Rob Zacny wasn’t wholly into Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence pre-Ascension when he told us Wot He Thought, though a fair few fans did pop up to defend it. So what’s new in Ascension? One of the big additions is ‘Officer Play’, where you get to be an officer climbing the ranks. Koei Tecmo explain:
“Players will be able to select from a massive array of over 2000 diverse characters, and a number of well-known individuals offer unique events, exclusive missions and tailor-made content, with special attention given to Yukimura Sanada, the famous Japanese samurai whom many of his time heralded as the strongest warrior in Japan.”
Ascension also introduces siege battles and naval battles, as well as expanding territory management with ‘Garden Politics’.
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension is a standalone game on Steam for £39.99/47,99€/$47.99, which includes a 20% relaunch discount until November 1st. Here, this trailer explains a lot about how the game works:
Nobunaga's Ambition is another solid Koei historical Simulation, but compared to the company's existing games it's by no means ambitious.
An Ode to Oda
Nobunaga's is based on the 100-year effort of various Japanese warlords, or 'Daimyos' (the most famous being Oda Nobunaga), to unite hundreds-of warring feudal states in ancient Japan. The game's four scenarios begin from 1467 to 1600.
ProTips:
- During battles, Ay to deploy your units to surround and 'double-team' individual enemy units.
- Build up your army as quickly as possible, especially during the volatile Scenario 1 Battle for the East.
- Train troops often. It costs only a turn, and builds battle stamina.
This game's great for brainiac number-crunchers, which makes it an acquired taste for everyone else. You pick a state and then 'build' a Daimyo by randomly generating five character values. You must enrich the economic base of your territory in order to build an army and conquer your neighbors. Of course, other, more powerful Daimyos' are after your assets, too.
Veteran Koei samurai know that you'd better have a head for numbers! The game tallies everything, including soldiers, gold, rice, loyalty and even productivity potential. As the digits rise and fall, so does your empire.
At least the swift computer blows the doors off other Koei games in terms of speed. However, Nobunaga's still requires a major time commitment. Games can span 40 years, and unlike other Koei games, you basically make one move per category per turn.
You use an efficient menu- driven, point-and-dick interface to run your statefrom four main menus-4 Military, ,D9mestic, Diplomatic, and Control (which manages vassal states). The individual options are too numerous to list, but among your activities you can deploy Ninjas to trash enemy states, propose a strategic marriage, sell rice for profit, and even take out a loan.
When it's time for war, Nobunaga's becomes an entertaining game of strategy and tactics. Cone are the cartoony, hokey graphics. Instead, you get an excellent grid combat system, where you merely maneuver icons representing five military units. Since every state features different terrain, you must plan attacks and defenses according to-the geography.
Nobunaga's Ambition Ascension Manual 2017
Nobunaga No-Nos
The graphics and sounds are in the Koei tradition: sparse but sharp. However, Nobunaga's contains even less animation and fewer graphics than usual. The sounds are similarly lean, dominated by crystal clear but repetitive Asian- sounding music.
Same As It Ever Was
Nobunaga's Ambition is another entertaining Koei recounting of Japanese history played by the numbers.
Nobunaga's Ambition Sphere Of Influence
Overall rating: 7