Nobunaga's Ambition Overview
Nobunaga's Ambition is a turn-based strategy title set during Japan's 16th century Sengoku period, a time of fractured feudal states. The objective is to unify the nation under a single ruler, with players able to assume the role of the historical figure Nobunaga Oda or any of the other competing daimyos.
Gameplay unfolds in seasonal turns where a ruler can execute one command per cycle. Available actions encompass military and diplomatic efforts, such as strengthening armies through recruitment and training, acquiring equipment, managing public morale, forging alliances, or employing covert ninja operations for sabotage and assassination.
Each daimyo is defined by a set of personal attributes including Age, Health, and Ambition, which dynamically shift based on in-game events. The Age statistic introduces a challenging long-term consideration, as advancing years increase the risk of a ruler's death, potentially ending their campaign.
Conflict arises when one faction attacks another, triggering a tactical battle on a hex-based map viewed from above. These engagements require players to maneuver unit types that possess specific strengths and weaknesses, with terrain also influencing the outcome. Victory is achieved by eliminating opposing forces or compelling their surrender.
Players begin by selecting a campaign scope, choosing between a scenario with 17 regions or a more expansive one with 50. The core systems share similarities with Koei's other historical strategy series, Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
