KOEI TECMO and developer Kou Shibusawa revealed the “Overview Trailer” for their upcoming historical simulation NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening. Additionally, the 16th entry in Kou Shibusawa’s famed franchise is now available to preorder on PlayStation 4 and PC Windows via Steam, with preorders for Nintendo Switch to begin June 29th. NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening will be available digitally on July 20th, 2023.
In NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening, players will experience Japan’s chaotic Warring States Period by taking over the role of daimyō – a powerful Japanese feudal lord – and leading their own clan. In order to succeed in their quest to unify Japan, players can establish their “clan target”, allowing them to set a guideline for the administration of their clan. By achieving their objective, players obtain useful rewards, which will prove to be strategic to their quest of unification of the country – such as the ability to apply new policies, labor increase, and even gold acquisition. It’s up to players to start with an easy target, or aim for those that are more difficult and offer greater rewards.
By completing their “clan target”, players also earn “commendations”, which they can bestow to their retainers as “accolades”. Granting such rewards to their retainers not only strengthens their loyalty to the daimyō, but also allows them to gain aliases like “The Experience” or “The Statesman”, as well as improved abilities. In their quest, players are faced with choices, such as whether strengthening an experienced retainer who has already made many achievements to keep them in the front line, or giving that chance to a promising new retainer. As players make choices, retainers earn various achievements, which leads to their aliases changing as they enjoy more powerful benefits with new aliases like “The Veteran” or “The Humanitarian”.
Throughout the game, players also discover various famous temples and shrines like Atsuta Jingū, Tōdaiji, and Izumo Ōyashiro, scattered across the country. These temples and shrines are important strategic points called “landmarks”. By conquering a county with a landmark, players activate its effect bringing a variety of benefits to their clan, both civil and military. Players can strengthen the effect of a landmark by fulfilling certain conditions to level it up, which will not be without a significant gold cost. However, if an enemy takes control of a landmark, players will have to be prepared to fight an unexpectedly harsh battle.
