Having recently celebrated its 30th year anniversary, Nobunaga’s Ambition is one of the longest running franchises for Koei Tecmo Games in Japan, and during its lifetime it has received high praise by an ever-growing fan base across an array of platforms. Now, its latest chapter, Sphere of Influence,marks the series’ return to North America after 6 years of absence.

Set against a backdrop of a fragmented nation, players take the mantle of a Daimyo, a feudal lord of the Sengoku era (15th-16th century Japan), and fight for the great ideal of uniting the war-ridden country under one rule, and become Shogun. Providing the choice to play as either a historical personality or a uniquely created character, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence is both a full-scale historical simulation and a bona fide strategy title, and offers an extremely wide pallet of choices for the player to shape the world as they please.

Using Diplomacy to improve foreign affairs is a key ingredient to building a powerful clan in Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence. Although it’s a slow-burning process that doesn’t provide the fast-paced, exhilarating action that battles do, Diplomacy can wield very fruitful results. For example, players can cultivate relationships with nearby clans and tribes to ensure they won’t take up arms or join enemy armies. Good diplomatic relationships with other lords can also lead to forging longer lasting alliances, or coalition armies against a common enemy. Prolonged good relationships might allow players to assimilate tribes into their clan, thus increasing the population and sphere of influence of their fief.

Additionally, diplomatic ties to the imperial court – although costly – can lead to an increase in rank through the award of nobility titles. These titles can be acquired on behalf of the clan lord or passed on by the lord to subordinate officers to increase their loyalty and provide a multitude of benefits, including an increase in influence and a decrease in cost for various diplomatic actions.

On the darker side of Diplomacy, players can assign officers to covert operations and espionage. These can include reconnaissance missions, or attempts to entice and create discontent amongst enemy officers. Keeping officer loyalty and satisfaction high is the only way to prevent NPC spies from leading officers away from the players’ clan and ensuring betrayal won’t hit from those closest to the top!

The game is named after one of the most prominent and infamous figures of the Sengoku era (Warring States) of Japanese history, Nobunaga Oda. He fought to realize his dream of a united Japan and a new world. Though he fell before his dream was accomplished, he left behind a revolutionary legacy of castle towns and technological improvements, developing culture, modern warfare, and a new system of economics.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of influence, centering around creating a realistic, dynamic, and dramatic playing experience, requires a high level of concentration and skill as players will need to master three key verticals in order to become a well-rounded ruler and successfully beat the game: Creation, Diplomacy and War.

• In ‘Creation’, players must strengthen their clan’s standing, and deal with everyday issues like building farms & roads, growing the economy, entering trade agreements with neighbouring fiefs, etc.
• ‘Diplomacy’ is a playground for cultivating diplomatic relationships, employing spies, creating alliances, gaining the loyalty of subordinate officers, and growing in strength via marriage, oaths of fealty and treaties.
• Finally, to succeed in ‘War’, players must train troops, level up officers according to the clan’s needs, fortify defenses, strategically position armies, and attack (or defend) to further their goals and grow their dominion.