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Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening — Everything We Know
If there’s any one particular subject that Koei Tecmo knows like the back of its own hand, it’s ancient history. Well, Chinese and Japanese history; the Han Dynasty and Warring States eras, to be precise. Besides Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, the studio is also responsible for Nobunaga’s Ambition, a turn-based strategy series that depicts the events surrounding—you guessed it—the Warring States period. Turns out, that forty-something year old saga is about to receive a new instalment in the US, and going by the dev’s word, the so-called Awakening will be heading to consoles and PC later this year.
Launched back in 1983, Nobunaga’s Ambition went on to lay the foundations for the turn-based strategy genre, with the first of its kind making headway on Japanese PCs. Since then, the series has spanned upwards of eighteen iterations and spin-offs, with the last entry, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taichi, releasing in 2017. And now, at long last, Awakening will grace the shelves across the globe on a multitude of platforms.
So, what more do you need to know about the latest instalment before getting your hands on it? How will it differ from its last fifteen of so chapters? And above all, will it be the final segment in the Sengoku-based anthology? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening?
To put you in the picture, Nobunaga’s Ambition is a series of turn-based grand strategy RPGs. Its latest chapter, aptly titled Awakening, is the culmination of forty year’s worth of material, all squelched down into a fully comprehensive product for modern hardware. Its premise, in a similar vein to the past iterations, revolves around the Warring States, otherwise known as the Sengoku period, in feudal Japan, and Oda Nobunaga’s quest to unify the land under one banner.
“NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening will include various features that befit the 40th Anniversary of the series, including landmarks and achievements that will affect the strategy,” Koei Tecmo adds. “Players will also enjoy a large variety of scenarios, events, policies, and more, as well as elements from the previous titles such as an editing function that will allows them to change officer status, background music and scenarios, or create new clans.”
Story
In case you missed out on the other instalments in the Nobunaga’s Ambition saga, one can only describe its story as being a love letter to Oda Nobunaga—the first-ever “Great Unifier” of Japan. Set during the Warring States era, each tale depicts the great battles and triumphs of not only the Oda clan, but the various daimyō rulers who fought to control feudal Japan during one of the most pivotal periods in history.
As it’s a role-playing game, and the fact that players are not forced to play under the same banner as Oda Nobunaga, Awakening does offer players the choice to venture out on a path of their own making. As the ruler of a clan, you must make crucial decisions that will effectively change the fate of the provinces you control, as well as the warring territories around you. But who’s to say two people can’t have an ambitious mindset? There’s a new fish in town — and it’s yours for the shaping.
Gameplay
Much like the previous entries in the series, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening features an extensive range of characters (2,200, to be exact), as well as an enormous palette of options, strategies, and extracurricular activities to explore. As well as its base-building and officer development elements, Awakening also includes riveting combat scenarios and theatrical events, all pertaining to the Warring States period in 15th and 16th century feudal Japan.
“As the head of their own clan, players will have to make the best decisions in in key areas ranging from the economy, to diplomacy, and military might in hopes of eventually unifying the country,” the blurb adds. “To do so, they will be supported by retainers, AI officers who think and act on their own judgement. Retainers will provide submissions to the players to help them plan their battle strategy.”
Think of it as a beefier version of Samurai Warriors 4: Empires, and you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect with Awakening. That’s really the best way we can describe it; its primary focus gravitates towards the strategic importance of the battles, but at the cost of losing the traditional hack-and-slash gameplay you’d find in, well, every other Warriors underling. Safe to say that, if you’re after something a bit more complex and thought-provoking, and are also wanting to witness the key events of the Sengoku era, then you’ve come to the right place.
Development
Technically, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening has already been on the market since July 20, 2022. However, due to it being exclusive to Japan, the devs recently fought tooth and nail to have it shipped to western audiences, hence the newly released westernised trailer that dropped in the Koei Tecmo of America streaming handle.
At the time of writing, there’s nothing to say Awakening will be the final chapter in the book. In fact, with Koei Tecmo having a history of retelling a lot of the same tales, chances are Nobunaga’s Ambition will receive another iteration at some point in the distant future. But that’s a bridge we’ll cross when we get to it.
Trailer
Koei Tecmo released a trailer for the western market earlier this year over on its chosen streaming handles. But don’t let us spoil it for you. You can catch a glimpse of what’s to come in Awakening in the video embedded above.
Release Date, Platforms & Editions
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening will be heading to the western regions on July 20, 2023. If all goes according to plan, then you’ll be able to find it on Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam. But as for whether or not it’ll be on next-gen consoles remains a mystery. At this point, though, it seems highly unlikely.
From an edition standpoint, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening will launch with just the two: Standard Edition, and the Digital Deluxe Edition. In addition to these, those who pre-order the game will also receive access to “Battle of Terigawa”, an additional in-game Scenario.
Digital Deluxe Edition
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening
- Digital Officer Artbook
- Digital 40th Anniversary Commemorative Book
- Digital Soundtrack
- “Muskets Arrive” Scenario
- “Officer Face Graphics and Additional Traits”
Interested in staying up to date with the series? If so, then be sure to check in with Koei Tecmo over on its official social feed for all the latest updates here. We’ll be sure to let you know if anything changes ahead of its July launch.
So, what’s your take? Will you be getting your hands on a copy of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening now that it’s leaving the Japanese shores? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.
