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Nobunaga's Ambition

Nobunaga's Ambition (信長の野望, Nobunaga no Yabō) is a turn-based strategy video game series first released in Japan in 1983. It is a series of loosely adapted historical simulations produced by the Japanese video game developer Koei. It features a predominately Japanese voice track though English dubs appear during movie cutscenes. It debuted before Romance of the Three Kingdoms but it hasn't been localized as often.

OverviewEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition takes place during the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. As the title suggests, The player is tasked with achieving the ultimate goal of warlord Oda Nobunaga; the conquest and unification of Japan. Selecting Nobunaga is optional, however, as the player is also able to choose from a variety of other regional daimyo of the time.

The game plays in a similar manner as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series but has a few distinguishing differences. Unlike the former, the imperial court plays a greater role in deciding the damiyos' fate. If the court favors them, players have the option to name someone an enemy of the state, call a ceasefire, or promote their rank. Players can also raise and train ninja to guard a damiyo's envoy. Since the main map doesn't display the statistics for each general, ninja are used to spy on the enemy and report information on their progress. They can additionally reduce the order of their enemies' lands and disrupt relations between two other regional lords. Asking an officer to defect is a greater gamble than Romance of the Three Kingdoms as the player's envoys risk getting captured by the enemy and may face death if they can't escape. Employing officers may require a monetary fee for their services. Players can nominate their clan's Four Guardian Kings, arrange marriages, or choose to retire the clan's head and pass their leadership to another general.

Battles also take place in real time. Armies fight in a secluded area and are given the objective to defeat, siege, or defend. Storehouses and other fortifications can be taken to fortify the player's food supply. Officers can continue to use skills but performing them doesn't always pause the action on the field. The goal is to either fulfill the objectives given or end the battle within a set time limit. If neither side achieves victory, the battle is declared a draw. Iron Triangle continues the real time element but has battles take place on the overworld map, visually resembling the 3D map layout in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI. The newest title will also include options to reshape the landscape surrounding the player's cities and include "what if?" versions of certain characters. These versions play on theories and famous fictional interpretations known in Japan such as a female Kenshin and the Kagemusha Ieyasu.

Recently, games have also started to include Western settlers and various fictional figures who were said to be active during the time such as the Sanada Ten Braves. Other guest characters from past installments include figures from the Aynu culture, a few of the Forty-seven Ronin, Mongols from Genghis Khan's time, and figures from the Bakumatsu period. Characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms also crossover in select games. The online MMORPG includes magic for the players and mythological beasts for them to slay, one of which includes the snake beast, Yamata no Orochi.

Games in Series Edit

For Nintendo Entertainment SystemEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition
Nobunaga's Ambition II

For Sega Genesis / Mega DriveEdit

Nobunaga no Yabou: Zenkokuban (Japanese release date December 19th, 1991)
Nobunaga no Yabou: Bushou Fuuun Roku (Japanese release date September 15th, 1993)
Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (Japanese release date February 25th, 1994)
Nobunaga's Ambition (U.S. release date 1991)

For Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition
Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenshoki
Nobunaga's Ambition: Lord of Darkness

For Sega Mega CDEdit

Tenkafubu
Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden

For Sony PlayStationEdit

Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden
Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenshoki
Nobunaga no Yabou: Returns
Nobunaga no Yabou: Shouseiroku
Nobunaga no Yabou: Reppuuden

For Sony PlayStation 2Edit

Nobunaga no Yabou: Ranseiki
Nobunaga no Yabou: Soutenroku
Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power - US Release Date February 5, 2008
Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle - US Release Date January 28, 2009

For Sony PlayStation 3Edit

Nobunaga no Yabou Tendou - March 4, 2010 (Japan); Power Up Kit - May 25, 2011
Nobunaga no Yabou Online - December 22, 2010 (Japan)

For Xbox 360Edit

Nobunaga no Yabou Tendou - March 4, 2010 (Japan)

For WiiEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle (with Power Up kit)
Nobunaga no Yabou Zengokuban Virtual Console

For PCEdit

Nobunaga no Yabou: Returns
Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden
Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle
Nobunaga no Yabou Tendou - released in Japan on September 18, 2009; Power up kit; December 17, 2010 - announced with simultaneous release of original title (Japan). Free demo can be found here.
Nobunaga no Yabou Internet
Nobunaga no Yabou Online, newest update ~Shinsei~

For Game BoyEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition (based on Sengoku Gunyuden)

For Bandai WonderSwanEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition

For Game Boy ColorEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition (Sengoku Gunyuden conversion)

For Game Boy AdvanceEdit

Nobunaga's Ambition (Bushou Fuuun Roku conversion)

For PachinkoEdit

Image SongsEdit

Aoi no Asa - Nobunaga no Yabou: Zengokuban; Koei Vocal Collection track

Performed by Kumi Sano

Toki no Shirabe - Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden

Performed by Akino Arai

Tooi no Nakama he - Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden

Performed by Kira Shibusawa

Mou sugi ni... - Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden

Performed by Kira Shibusawa

Nishie no Hitomi - Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden

Performed by Akino Arai

Tooi Aoi Iro - Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden

Performed by Akino Arai

Soba ni iru - Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden

Performed by Akino Arai

Kagerou - Nobunaga no Yabou: Bushou Fuuun Roku

Performed by TETSU

Houki Hoshi - Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden

Performed by Akino Arai

Hoshi no Utai - Nobunaga no Yabou Online ~ Shinsei no Shou

Performed by Kalafina

Related MediaEdit

In 2007, players of the Online game could do a quest to claim a pet named "Hikonyan", a modern day mascot character seen around Hikone Castle. The producer as appeared as a guest on Hibiki Radio to talk about the game.
Like earlier Romance of the Three Kingdoms titles, some of the games in the series use real life actors to to express certain events.
The newest title, Tendou, has a tie-in with the film, Katen no Shiro and other media has been included into the game as downloadable content. A tie-in with 2012 live action film, Nobou no Shiro is included via a bonus scenario at Oshi Castle.