Nobunaga's Ambition

Nobunaga's Ambition (信長の野望, Nobunaga no Yabo) is a turn-based strategy video game first released in Japan in 1983. It is part of a series of loosely adapted historical simulations produced by the Japanese video game developer Koei. It features a predominately Japanese voice track though English dubs appear during movie cutscenes. It debuted before Romance of the Three Kingdoms but it hasn't been localized as often.

Overview
Nobunaga's Ambition takes place during the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. As the title suggests, The player is tasked with achieving the ultimate goal of warlord Oda Nobunaga; the conquest and unification of Japan. Selecting Oda Nobunaga is optional, however, as the player is also able to choose from a variety of other regional daimyo of the time.

The game plays in a similar manner as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series but has a few distinguishing differences. Unlike the former, the imperial court plays a greater role in deciding the damiyos' fate. If the court favors them, players have the option to name someone an enemy of the state, call a ceasefire, or promote their rank. Players can also raise and train ninja to guard a damiyo's envoy. Since the main map doesn't display the statistics for each general, ninja are also used to spy on the enemy and report information on their progress. They can also reduce the order of their enemies' lands and disrupt relations between two other regional lords. Asking an officer to defect is also a greater gamble as the player's envoys risk getting captured by the enemy and may face death if they can't escape. Employing certain officers also requires a monetary fee for their services. Players can nominate their clan's Four Guardian Kings, arrange marriages, or choose to retire the clan's head and pass their leadership to another general.

Battles also take place in real time. Armies fight in a secluded area and are given the objective to defeat, siege, or defend. Storehouses and other fortifications can be taken to fortify the player's food supply. Officers can continue to use skills but performing them doesn't always pause the action on the field. The goal is to either fulfill the objectives given or end the battle within a set time limit. If neither side achieves victory, the battle is declared a draw. Iron Triangle continues the real time element but has battles take place on the overworld map, visually resembling the 3D map layout in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI. The newest title will also include options to reshape the landscape surrounding the player's cities and include "what if?" versions of certain characters. These versions play on theories and famous fictional interpretations known in Japan such as a female Kenshin and the Kagemusha Ieyasu.

Recently, games have also started to include Western settlers and various fictional figures who were said to be active during the time such as the Sanada Ten Braves. Other guest characters from past installments include figures from the Aynu culture, a few of the Forty-seven Ronin, Mongols from Genghis Khan's time, and figures from the Bakumatsu period in Japan, Sakamoto Ryoma and Kondo Isami. Characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms also crossover in select games. The online MMORPG includes magic for the players and mythological beasts for them to slay, one of which includes the snake beast, Yamata no Orochi.

For Nintendo Entertainment System

 * Nobunaga's Ambition
 * Nobunaga's Ambition II

For Sega Genesis / Mega Drive

 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Zenkokuban (Japanese release date December 19th, 1991)
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Bushou Fuuun Roku (Japanese release date September 15th, 1993)
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden (Japanese release date February 25th, 1994)
 * Nobunaga's Ambition (U.S. release date 1991)

For Super Nintendo Entertainment System

 * Nobunaga's Ambition
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenshoki
 * Nobunaga's Ambition: Lord of Darkness

For Sega Mega CD

 * Tenkafubu
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden

For Sony PlayStation

 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Haouden
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Tenshoki
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Returns
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Shouseiroku
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Reppuuden

For Sony PlayStation 2

 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Ranseiki
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Soutenroku
 * Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power - US Release Date February 5, 2008
 * Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle - US Release Date January 28, 2009

For Wii

 * Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle (with Power Up kit)

For PC

 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Returns
 * Nobunaga no Yabou: Sengoku Gunyuden
 * Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle
 * Nobunaga no Yabou Tendou - released in Japan on September 18, 2009. Free demo can be found here.
 * Nobunaga no Yabou Internet
 * Nobunaga no Yabou Online

For Game Boy

 * Nobunaga's Ambition (based on Sengoku Gunyuden)

For Bandai WonderSwan

 * Nobunaga's Ambition

For Game Boy Color

 * Nobunaga's Ambition (Sengoku Gunyuden conversion)

For Game Boy Advance

 * Nobunaga's Ambition (Bushou Fuuun Roku conversion)

For Nintendo DS

 * Nobunaga's Ambition
 * Kunitorisu Battle Nobunaga no Yabou
 * Nobunaga no Yabou DS 2 (Bushou Fuuun Roku conversion)

For PlayStation Protable

 * Nobunaga's Ambition VI
 * Nobunaga's Ambition VII (With Power-Up Kit)

Other Media

 * Nobunaga no Yabou mobile
 * Nobunaga no Yabou mobile: Sengoku Gunyuden
 * Nobunaga no Yabou mobile: Haouden
 * Nobunaga no Yabou mobile: Tenshoki
 * Nobunaga no Yabou Online Pachislot

Trivia

 * In 2007, players of the Online game could do a quest to claim a pet named "Hikonyan", a modern day mascot character seen around Hikone Castle.
 * Like earlier Romance of the Three Kingdoms titles, some of the games in the series use real life actors to to express certain events.
 * The newest title, Tendou, will have a tie-in with the film, Katen no Jo. The main protagonist will appear as a recruitable warrior and certain events from the film can appear in the game. These options are available as the game's downloadable content.