It’s a month until Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening launches, and the press seems to be ramping up for the tactical strategy game, the 16th in the historical simulation franchise. Today, pre-orders opened up for the PC and PlayStation 4 versions of the game; Nintendo Switch pre-orders will open on June 29. In addition, a new overview trailer was released showing off some of the game’s features.
Players will take on the role of a powerful Japanese feudal lord – daimyō – and lead their own clan during Japan’s chaotic Warring States Period. The goal is to unify Japan. To do that, players can establish their clan target, setting a guideline for the administration of the clan. If they achieve their objective, players obtain useful rewards that can be strategic to their quest; these rewards include things like the ability to apply new policies, labour increase, and gold acquisition. Start with an easy target, or aim for one more difficult to earn greater rewards.
Completing the clan target also earns commendations, which can be bestower to players’ retainers as accolades. This strengthens their loyalty to the daimyō and allows them to gain aliases (things like “The Experience” or “The Statesman) that come with improved abilities. Players are faced with many (many, many) choices, such as whether they should strengthen an experienced retainer who has already made many achievements so that they stay in the front line, or give the chance to a new retainer instead. As players make choices, retainers earn various achievements that lead to changing aliases and more powerful benefits (aliases like “The Veteran” or “The Humanitarian”).
Famous temples and shrines are scattered across the country; these include places like Atsuta Jingū, Tōdaiji, and Izumi Ōyashiro. These are called landmarks, and are important strategic points. If a player is to conquer a county with a landmark, they activate its effect and bring a variety of benefits to their clan, both civil and military. A landmark’s effects can be strengthened by fulfilling certain conditions to level it up, which can cost a lot of gold. If an enemy takes control of a landmark, players will have to prepare to fight an unexpectedly harsh battle.
Developed by Kou Shibusawa and published by Koei Tecmo, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening will be released for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on July 20.
