Kyūshū

The Conquest of Kyushu (九州征伐), also called the Pacification of Kyushu or the Kyushu Campaign, refers to the battle to claim the island of Kyushu from the main island forces during Hideyoshi's rise to power. Due to the distance between the island continent with the main island of Japan, Kyushu mainly fought several internal conflicts with the native families. After the collapse of several kokujin and one of the main powers in Kyushu, the weakened Yoshishige Ōtomo asked Hideyoshi for assistance after he lost one of his strongest vassals, Dōsetsu Tachibana. What followed was a chain of heavy conflicts between the Shimazu, the mightiest power in Kyushu, and Hideyoshi's massive army.

The games often focuses on a romanticized version of the last conflict in the campaign, which is the Battle of Nerojizaka. Kyushu was later the battleground for the Battle of Ishigakibaru, which took place during the Sekigahara Campaign.

Samurai Warriors
In every incarnation of the battle, Hideyoshi leads the campaign as his first step in uniting the entire land. He chooses to overwhelm the Shimazu with his numbers, hoping that they will surrender because of the massive army against them. However, Yoshihiro and his brothers aren't willing to give up without a fight, even though they know that surrendering is the best choice. The Shimazu brothers resist the invasion together and face their rivaled clan from the islands, the Tachibana family.

Samurai Warriors 2 has the Toyotomi army focus on taking Tsuruga Castle, which is guarded by Yoshihiro, away from the Shimazu. Since Ginchiyo is considered a necessary general for the battle, players are asked to ensure her survival. Adjacent to her is Iehisa Shimazu, who lures the lady general to cross the northern bridge between them. When she does, Yoshihiro orders the bridge to be destroyed and signals for an ambush. Saving her from the attack prolongs her survival in the battle. After Tsuruga Castle is taken, heading out from the east gate has Toshihisa Shimazu trigger an ambush. He cuts off the Toyotomi army escape by unleashing a rockslide to block their path. Meanwhile, the water geyser that once blocked the path to the Toyotomi main camp recedes. Yoshihisa takes advantage of the weak spot and orders Toyohisa Shimazu to invade the enemy's main camp. The volcano also erupts soon after and Yoshihisa orders the Shimazu to retake Tsuruga Castle. When the Toyotomi army approaches Yoshihisa's spot on the map, his younger brothers reappear to defend him. Routing them together ends the stage.

In the Shimazu side of the conflict, they have to retake Tsuruga Castle from the Toyotomi army. Since they have barricaded themselves from within, Yoshihiro orders the men to lure them out by defeating the generals outside. Defeating Nobuchika Chōsokabe has the gates open and spurs Hidehisa Sengoku to advance down the eastern path. Luring him further into the ravine allows the Shimazu to cut him off with the rockslide, triggers an ally general to appear for the ambush, and weakens the moral of Hidehisa. With the defenses thin, players are encouraged to take it from the remaining defender, Motochika. Taking the castle sparks Nene and Mitsunari's charge to reclaim it. Simultaneously, Toyohisa commences his charge for the main camp. However, he fails to read the geyser's flow as it erupts again. He is then caught in a pincer between Kanbei and Sakon. Heading north will have Ginchiyo upset and the players are asked to lure her out by defeating Ekei Ankokuji first. The bridge's destruction lowers Ginchiyo's morale, making her easier to defeat with Iehisa's ambush. Her defeat opens the doors for the Toyotomi main camp.

In Kotarō's final stage in his Story Mode, he moves his forces into Kyushu to unite the land under him, even though afterwards he gives control of Japan to Ieyasu. He fights against the Tachibana, the Shimazu, and Toyotomi remnants.

The Xtreme Legends expansion includes fictionalized events from the Battle of Hetsugigawa, which has Motochika and his son, Nobuchika, assist in the campaign as major players. Nobuchika excuses himself from the front lines to make other preparations for their troops. When Motochika runs past Tsuruga Castle, he stumbles upon a line of Shimazu snipers. Nobuchika shields his father from the line of bullets and dies. Motochika gains sympathy from Ginchiyo and Hideyoshi for losing his loved one in the conflict.

During the Tachibana version of the battle in Samurai Warriors 3, Ginchiyo and Muneshige fight in a fantasized version of the first battle in the campaign, the Battle of Iwa Castle. After losing his father to the Shimazu, Muneshige leads the army to retaliate and take the Shimazu's castles. Ginchiyo assists him by protecting their undermanned army and also guards the entry for their eventual Toyotomi allies. After the castles are taken, Hideyoshi and his men arrive to assist, shifting the tide of battle in their favor. When the Shimazu brothers are routed, they submit and Hideyoshi gains control of the area.

Warriors Orochi
Nobunaga seeks to find perfect additions for his anti-Orochi army here in Warriors Orochi. He and his army fight against Sakon, who has Zhang Jiao, Xiao Qiao, and Okuni lending their aid for his cause. Each major warrior within Sakon's coalition are supposed to be following his strategies, but the trio act on their own will during the battle. Kanetsugu appears as third-party ally for Nobunaga's army, sent by Kenshin to observe Nobunaga's activities. In the aftermath, Zhang Jiao and the others join Nobunaga's coalition against Orochi. As for Sakon, he is sent to help Sun Ce find his father.