Nobukatsu Oda


 * This article is about one of Nobunaga's sons. For his younger biological brother, see Nobuyuki Oda.

Nobukatsu Oda is Nobunaga's second son and argued heir for the Oda family after his elder brother's death. He tries to support Katsuie's rebellion against Hideyoshi, but meets failure and is subdued. Though a vassal of the Toyotomi family, he secretly supported Ieyasu's rise to power until his defection prior to the siege of Osaka Castle.

Role in Games
Throughout the Samurai Warriors series, Nobukatsu is a necessary figure for the Tokugawa's victory at Komaki-Nagakute. Without his support, the Tokugawa will lose to Hideyoshi and they will automatically lose the battle. In the Xtreme Legends expansion, Ieyasu leaves Nobukatsu in charge of the Tokugawa main camp at Komaki-Nagakute while the lord heads into Mt. Komaki. As Nobukatsu guards the camp, he is forced to fight several retainers until Tadakatsu saves him.

Samurai Warriors 2 has him protect Kiyosu Castle from the enemy. Sakon charges for him and can be saved by the Tokugawa forces. Nobukatsu tries to charge head on for Hideyoshi in the third title, but Kiyomasa notices his movements and tries to dispatch Nobukatsu. He is present at Honnōji and survives the battle. Starting in Sengoku Musou 3: Empires, he adopts his father's eccentric speaking mannerisms and is portrayed in a more humorous light.

Nobunaga no Yabou 201X has him star in the Tensho Iga War event. Pompous and snobby Nobukatsu shoves his way into the SLO investigation team as though it were his birthright. He doesn't take kindly to their guide Yogiri, referring to her roughly as the "one from Iga". Throughout their UMA hunts, he talks highly of his father's splendor and berates Yogiri's humble lifestyle.

It is only when Yogiri openly shares her admiration for her sister and her own feelings of inferiority that Nobukatsu comes clean. He is deathly afraid of his father, believing that Nobunaga would disown him the moment he proved inadequate. Nobukatsu came to Iga in the hopes of defeating the UMA threat himself and proving himself worthy of the Oda name. He had cold feet living up to his self-imposed expectations until the SLO agents corner the source of the UMA horde. By then, he trusts Yogiri with his life. He personally acts as the decoy while Yogiri blinds the UMA with her sister's shuriken technique. Their teamwork weakens the UMA enough to withdraw temporarily.

When he and his father have a private chat, Nobunaga scolds his son's tomfoolery as a military leader. A hero is someone who works for the good of others, not profit for selfish glory. Nobukatsu is ordered to cooperate with the Oda-Iga defenses against the UMA horde; he chooses to rejoin with the protagonist's party after a beat of brooding. He sullenly observes Yogiri's professional modesty, learning from her the importance of expressing gratitude. After she heartens him to believe in his inner courage, Nobukatsu sincerely thanks her and finally calls her his friend. He assists the final charge against the UMA leader and bids her a fond farewell.

During Mitsuhide's rebellion in Mōri Motonari: Chikai no Sanshi, Ieyasu "rescues" Nobukatsu from the capital and spirits him away to Mikawa. When his younger brother dies in the battle against Terumoto's army, Nobukatsu allies himself with Ieyasu to resist. He has doubts that they are able to win but participates in battle due to Ieyasu's confidence. His allegiance provokes other remnants of the Oda to join the forces gathering in Mikawa. During the first confrontation with Terumoto's forces at Nōbi Plain, Nobukatsu guards a castle located on the plains and sends a continuous string of reinforcements. When beaten by the Mōri army, he is later identified to have died in battle.

Voice Actors

 * Shinichi Yamada - Samurai Warriors 2 (Japanese)
 * Hiroshi Okamoto - Samurai Warriors 3 (Japanese)

Quotes

 * "The miscreants flee before us! Push forward and take the head of the monkey himself!"
 * "Tch... So my power is not enough to slay it. Sister..."
 * "Tch. So this is the extent of my strength. Father..."
 * "Don't do this now! Hang in there! Please remember what we've worked so hard for!"
 * Yogiri, Nobukatsu, Matsuri; Nobunaga no Yabou 201X