NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION: Awakening
- July 19, 2022
- KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
"Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening" is a strategy game that allows players to manage and grow their own feudal Japanese clan with the ultimate goal of unifying Japan. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes various digital extras such as an artbook, commemorative book, soundtrack, exclusive scenario, and additional officer traits. Early purchases come with the "Battle of Tetorigawa" scenario.
Reviews
- The game offers excellent graphics and a smooth battle system, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
- It provides a deep and immersive experience set in feudal Japan, with a lot of historical accuracy and engaging gameplay mechanics.
- The game is a good entry point for newcomers to the series, combining elements from previous titles while simplifying some mechanics for easier understanding.
- The user interface is cluttered and cumbersome, making navigation and management frustrating for players.
- Many players feel that the game has been overly simplified compared to previous entries, reducing the depth of strategy and player agency.
- The AI can be inconsistent, often leading to unchallenging gameplay and a lack of dynamic interactions in diplomacy and battles.
- gameplay23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening" is noted for its depth and multiple victory conditions, providing ongoing challenges even after extensive playtime. However, it has faced criticism for simplifying certain mechanics, leading to a reliance on AI for management, which some players feel undermines the strategic depth expected from the series. While the game introduces new features and historical events that enhance the experience, it also suffers from a confusing UI and poorly explained mechanics, resulting in a mixed reception regarding its overall gameplay quality.
“But what truly sets Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening apart is its depth of gameplay.”
“And with multiple victory conditions to pursue, there's always a new challenge to tackle, even after dozens of hours of gameplay.”
“Gameplay-wise, in my opinion, it is the best entry in the series, combining fun gameplay and authentic historical events together.”
“The game is by no means perfect; the UI is confusing, the tutorial is poor, and some of the mechanics are poorly explained.”
“What that means in practice is that many aspects are greatly dumbed down and end up feeling like mobile game mechanics. There are many micro-managing elements that were removed in favor of automating them through delegations to your friendly AI generals.”
“Since these failures are in core gameplay systems, the overall experience is greatly handicapped and ruined.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, with many praising the detailed artwork and smooth battle visuals. While some users note that the graphics are good but not groundbreaking, there is a consensus that they represent an improvement over previous titles in the series. The user interface is also highlighted as being particularly effective.
“Graphics are excellent, user interface terrific, battle is smooth.”
“Graphic is better than previous titles in the series.”
“Nice game with very detailed graphics.”
“Graphics are good but not great.”
“Aside from the artwork representing individual leaders, most visuals are good but rarely great.”
“There's a slight improvement in graphics, but overall there's nothing substantively different in controls, only reconfigured without real advantage.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music, composed by renowned musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, significantly enhances the game's immersive experience, capturing the grandeur and drama of feudal Japan. While the soundtrack is praised as excellent, some users note limitations regarding its accessibility and the overall high price of the game.
“The soundtrack, composed by legendary musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, further enhances the immersive experience, evoking the grandeur and drama of feudal Japan.”
“Excellent music soundtrack.”
“The music is underwhelming and fails to create an engaging atmosphere during gameplay.”
“The soundtrack is only accessible through the game, making it inconvenient for those who want to enjoy it separately.”
“The battle music becomes repetitive and lacks variety, diminishing the excitement of combat.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is inspired by real events, adding a layer of authenticity and emotional depth to the narrative.
“Based on a true story.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with Koei's stability, citing frequent bugs, a lack of updates, and an inexplicable decision not to translate older games that previously had English releases.
“Koei has many faults, including buggy games, relatively few updates, and a bizarre refusal to translate older games that already had English releases on console.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, leading to frustration.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game's replayability to be high, citing diverse gameplay options, multiple endings, and varying character paths that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many appreciate the inclusion of unlockable content and challenges that keep the experience fresh. However, some players note that certain mechanics can become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing long-term engagement.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its depth, rich historical context, and strong character development, creating an immersive experience for players.
“But beyond that, there is a deep game with a great atmosphere, rich in history and full of character.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a positive experience with optimization, noting the absence of bugs and performance issues.
“I also encounter no bugs or performance issues so far.”
“The game runs smoothly on my system, and I appreciate the optimization efforts.”
“I've noticed significant improvements in load times and frame rates after the latest update.”