Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi
Developer: Koei Tecmo Games
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Price: $59.99
Genre: Simulation
Also Available On: Steam
Nobunaga’s Ambition has been around for quite a while now. In fact, three and a half decades have passed since the first title in the franchise was released; written in BASIC and limited to Japanese personal computers, it managed to stake its claim as a competent turn-based strategy role-playing game set in the Sengoku era. And, to Koei’s credit, it knew well enough to translate its first-mover advantage to continuing success.
As the franchise’s 15th offering all told, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi once again involves notable characters in 16th-Century Japan. Unlike predecessor Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence-Ascension’s from-the-ground-up perspective, however, its focus is from the top down. It features a ton of new content and rebalanced mechanics, and touts several new systems and strategies. Players are able to use these at their leisure after choosing from one of six major occurrences in history, and then, within a particular scenario, which major or minor clan to head.
The ultimate objective of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi is simple: Players must capture, conquer, and eliminate opponents en route to becoming first among equals in Japan. In the process, they wind up making alliances, declaring war, establishing trade zones — in short, doing whatever is necessary to expand their influence and unite the country under one banner.
The premise of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi is straightforward, and so is the execution. Unlike previous releases, it offers a tutorial system that truly enunciates and explains options. It likewise employs more user-friendly mechanics, allowing for a more intuitive, not to mention enjoyable, interface. The menu and its branches have likewise been streamlined, allowing for better navigation and a clearer understanding of the implications of specific choices.
From a fleshed-out diplomacy system to an in-depth treatment of the economy, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi highlights its strengths as a simulator. The decision to ally with a certain party is, for instance, prompted by shared interest and not simply by expediency. Meanwhile, money is earned monthly via investments in trade zones, where monopolies can be established at the expense of rival clans. In the same vein, it offers easy-to-understand base and army management principles.
New to the Nobunaga’s Ambition series is the importance of a certain lord’s “Resolve,” which reflects his personality and mindset. Comprehending this and crafting strategy accordingly are keys to progressing in the game. Whereas one daimyo may favor army building, another may lean towards intensifying trade relations. Whereas one may want to strengthen diplomatic ties, another may have protectionist predilections. To maximize buff effects and subsequently move forward, players will want to act on the basis of their chosen clan’s strengths and weaknesses.
Admittedly, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi has its flaws. While parts of it have improved compared to Sphere of Influence-Ascension, a handful of design choices do limit it from being as good as it should be. For example, battles feature a morale bar, but the removal of tactics outside of initial planning effectively negates its purpose. Meanwhile, building provinces appear sound in theory, but harder to do in practice. Also absent is combat along territorial waters.
On the whole, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi comes off as a subtle reimagining of the series, sacrificing some depth in favor of greater accessibility. For those new to the franchise, it serves as a good introduction. Longtime followers, however, may be left wanting and wondering why it didn’t just add to Sphere of Influence-Ascension. It’s still one of the best historical simulation games in the market, but, depending on perspective, it’s either a glass on its way to being full or a glass on its way to being empty.
THE GOOD
- Reworked interface provides greater accessibility to newcomers
- Multiple historical campaigns to play through
- Daimyos that can be selected possess distinct personalities and preferences
- Polished presentation
THE BAD
- Design choices compel negative comparisons to Sphere of Influence-Ascension
- Some “improvements” may not be palatable to longtime followers of the series
- Can be tedious and too involved in minutiae
RATING: 7.5/10
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