Calling it “Japan’s most intricate strategy game,” Koei Tecmo has announced that Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC on September 1 in North America and September 4 in Europe. It will be a retail/digital title on PS4, with PS3 and PC getting it digital-only.
Having recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, Nobunaga’s Ambition series producer Kenichi Ogasawara talked about the new installment to this strategy/historical simulation franchise:
It is my distinct pleasure to be able to present the newest installment of Nobunaga’s Ambition to our western audience. I hope gamers will enjoy this one-of-a-kind strategy game that has been refined through 30 years of experience. Don’t miss it!
Here’s what Koei Tecmo has to say about Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence:
Hailed as one of the best instalments in the franchise’s history, this extremely intricate, deep, and meticulous strategy game is set against a backdrop of a fragmented nation and asks the player to take up the mantle of a Daimyo, a feudal lord of the Sengoku era (15th – 16th century Japan), who will fight for the great ideal of uniting the war-ridden country under one rule, thus becoming the first Shogun.
This title, centering around creating a realistic, dynamic, and dramatic playing experience, requires a high level of concentration and skill as players will need to master three key verticals in order to become a well-rounded ruler and successfully beat the game: Creation, Diplomacy and War.
- In ‘Creation’ they are called to build up their clan’s standing, deal with everyday issues like building farms & roads, growing the economy, entering trade agreements with neighbouring fiefs etc.
- ‘Diplomacy’ is a playground for cultivating diplomatic relationships, employing spies, creating alliances, gaining the loyalty of subordinate officers and growing in strength via marriage, oaths of fealty and treaties.
- Finally to succeed in ‘War’ players must train troops, level up officers according to the clan’s needs, fortify defences, strategically position armies and attack (or defend) to further their goals and grow their dominion.
Choosing to play either as a historical personality or a uniquely edited character, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence is both a full scale historical simulation and a bona fide strategy title and it offers an extremely wide pallet of choice for the player to shape the world as they please.
As Koei Tecmo Europe added on Twitter, “Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence will have both Japanese and English audio” and “Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence is equal to Nobunaga Souzou with PK in Japan, the updated version with a lot of content.”
[Source: Koei Tecmo Europe (Twitter 1, 2), Koei Tecmo (Facebook)]
