Review of Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power

I have been a fan of KOEI's Nobunaga's Ambition series. The series is like most of KOEI's games which means its either a hack'n'slash game like Dynasty Warriors or turn-based strategy like its very popular and long-running Romance of the Three Kingdoms series. Nobunaga's Ambition is more the latter. I can say that Nobunaga's Ambition was the one of the first turn-based strategy games to become popular. While Romance of the Three Kingdoms have had more entries in the series it will always be Nobunaga's Ambition which I prefer for being as detailed, engaging in its gameplay without ever becoming too complex and too micromanaging about every little detail.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power is a port to the North American market of the same titled game which was originally released in Japan several years earlier. This long gap between Japan and North American release will show how dated the graphics and user interface in comparison to the more recent Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI. While some gamers will turn their nose up at the graphics in this game I will say that graphics have never been a strong point of the Nobunaga games. There's enough of an updated look in Rise to Power to make it look like a PS2 game instead of a PS1 title. The gameplay is where Rise to Power really shines in terms of fun.

For players who do not have the patience to deal with managing the fiefs and military assets of their kingdoms this game and all games similar to it will be quite the bore. For those who enjoy the strategy aspect of such games then Rise to Power will be a joy to play. While not as micromanaging as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms titles this game has enough options in how to build up one's own fiefs in terms of commerce, agricultural and military to not dumb down the game. The game allows for commanders who may have low military skills to be actually be of help by making their higher political stats be the main component in how to manage a fief better. In this way it makes all types of commanders usable in some way instead of just making the ones who are powerful military leaders be the top-tier leaders.

One new addition to the Nobunaga series which made the game a bit more palatable later on is the option of "Kessen". Kessen allows players deep in the game to fight another daimyo in a battle take all skirmish. If a player wins said battle then the losing daimyo will reliquish control of all his fiefs to the victor. This makes the game become less tedious once a player and their opponents have gained so much territory that trying to conquer each and everyone would be a practice in grinding it out rather than dynamic gameplay.

The real-time feature of the battles themselves is a win-lose proposition. It's a win in that battles themselves doesn't take as long as the previous type which had been turn-based. Where it fails is in how the units themselves are controlled. Too many times friendly units retreating from a fight will get in the way of a fresher unit in their attempt to charge an opposing unit. This pretty much stops whatever advantage such a charge will have. The many instances of units getting in each others way way too many times sometimes throws tactics and strategy out the window. At times its better to just let the computer play your side and let the battle take place without the player controlling anyone.

While Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power is a dated North American port release for the PS2 its still has much to offer for fans of the series. It is to those fans that this game will be most enjoyable while players who usually can't be bothered by turn-based strategy games will most likely call a pass on this title.



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